Festival Of Communities Assistant

Job Context 

The Centre for Public Engagement (CPE) at Queen Mary University of London sits within the Office of the Principal, and is an established team working across the institution to offer support and guidance to colleagues developing public engagement activities. The CPE works across Queen Mary’s three faculties and professional services to support a culture of high quality, mutually beneficial engagement.  

The Festival of Communities is an annual event organised by Queen Mary in collaboration and partnership with local community organisations in Tower Hamlets. The festival is designed to celebrate life in Tower Hamlets, and bring local residents together with staff and students at Queen Mary. It features interactive, hands-on activities linked to research taking place across the university, community activities and stalls, and family friendly activities such as face painting. More information can be found at www.qmul.ac.uk/festival 

Job Purpose

The Festival of Communities Assistant will work in the Centre for Public Engagement (CPE), supporting the delivery of the Festival of Communities taking place on the 8th June 2024. The Festival operations are run each year by the CPE along with a local event production company. This role will support the CPE team in the planning and run-up to the Festival as well as taking on an operational role during the event itself. 

The role will primarily be based in the CPE office in Mile End and Dept W, with flexibility to work remotely when needed.  

We anticipate this role being 0.2 FTE in the first instance (from April), with the potential to increase the number of hours closer to the Festival (May - June) if the candidate has this flexibility.

Main Duties & Responsibilities 

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  Respond to queries from Queen Mary staff and students, and local organisations about taking part in the Festival. 

  
  


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  Support the wider promotion of the Festival of Communities internally and locally, liaising with local organisations and schools, arranging the distribution of leaflets and posters and online presence. This includes dropping off Festival packs to each school. 

  
  


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  Arrange for railing banners to be put up with support from a local event management company.  

  
  


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  Support the Festival of Communities social media platforms and create new content. 

  
  


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  Respond to communications queries in the shared Festival email inbox. 

  
  


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  With support from the CEM, liaise with exhibitors (both internal and external), providing event information and coordinating the drop-off of equipment. 

  
  


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  Prepare logistics for the Festival, including but not limited to, signage, exhibitor lists and other equipment needed. 

  
  


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  Work as part of the Festival of Communities delivery team, ensuring exhibitors and Festival Crew are supported and using initiative to solve problems as they arise. 

  
  


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  As part of the delivery team, ensure a positive experience for all visitors and exhibitors during the Festival of Communities weekend (8th June). 

  
  


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  Support the set up and pack down of the Festival, in Stepney Green Park. 

  
  


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  Create and share post-Festival communications internally and externally. 

  
  


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  Undertake other duties to support the Centre for Public Engagement within the scope of this role, as determined by the Community Engagement Manager and Public Engagement Manager. 

  
  


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  Demonstrate a commitment to QMUL’s ideals of equity and diversity. 

  
  

The above list of responsibilities is not exhaustive and the jobholder may be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the level of the role, as reasonably requested by their line manager. 

This job description sets out the duties of the post at the time it was drawn up. Such duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or level of the responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and cannot in themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.  

For any enquiries please contact: 

Ife Akinroyeje  - Community Engagement Manager 

Email – i.akinroyeje@qmul.ac.uk 

Or email - festival@qmul.ac.uk  

Essential

• Appropriate relevant academic/vocational qualifications (A Levels, NVQ Level 3, BTEC Level 3) or considerable relevant experience, or equivalent vocational experience in a similar environment  

Desirable

• Degree or equivalent qualification, or significant relevant experience in a similar environment 

Below lists the essential and desirable requirements needed in order to perform the job effectively. Candidates will be shortlisted based on the extent to which they meet these requirements.

Essential

• Experience supporting event logistics and operations 


• Excellent interpersonal skills - able to interact with a diverse range of contacts from multiple disciplinary backgrounds 


• Ability to adapt to competing priorities and use own initiative to find solutions 


• Excellent communication skills – written and verbal 


• Excellent IT skills, including effective use of spreadsheets, email, word processing and databases (Microsoft Office) 


• Proven analytical and problem-solving capability  


• Able to demonstrate excellent attention to detail 


• Required to be flexible in working hours and work across different sites as necessary. 

Desirable

• Experience in creating posts for social media 


• Experience of public engagement, outreach or related activities 


• Experience in a customer or visitor-focussed environment 

Essential: Requirements without which the job could not be done. 

Desirable: Requirements that would enable the candidate to perform the job well.