Museums Galleries Scotland
Museums Galleries Scotland

Charity registered in Scotland SC015593

Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) is the National Development Body providing support to more than 450 museums and galleries across Scotland.  We are a charitable trust with funding support from the Scottish Government to enable the delivery of a 10 year National Strategy.

Current vacancies

Skills Development Manager

  • Full time
  • £38,876
  • Hybrid: Edinburgh
  • Closing 15th July 2025

Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) is the National Development Body for Scotland’s museums and galleries. We support a sector of 449 museums and galleries, through strategic investment, workforce development, advice and advocacy. We are a forward facing and inclusive organisation, committed to the ongoing development of a positive culture for our team.

We are recruiting for a Skills Development Manager who encourages good practice and drives continuous improvement in skills development and promotes a culture of learning and development within the sector.

The Skills Development Manager is a key interface between MGS and the sector, building rich and valuable networks and delivering a wide range of skills development programmes and activities for the benefit of the sector. The Skills Development Manager develops and manages partnerships with key stakeholders across the heritage landscape that maximise the quality of our products and programme delivery.

A core focus of this role is the development , delivery and evaluation of all our workforce development programmes. This will involve coordinating and codesigning with the Museums and Galleries sector, existing partners and exploring new partnership opportunities.

The post holder is joining MGS as we launch an exciting new programme aimed at building sector resilience, exploring new delivery models and facilitating more entrepreneurial approaches. Part of the role will be developing skills development activity in relation to this programme in collaboration with colleagues from across MGS teams.

A skilled communicator who is self-motivated, shows initiative and builds strong and effective relationships, the Skills Development Manager continually seeks out opportunities and more agile ways of working to develop content and enhance the MGS skills offer.

Overview of Responsibilities

  • Act as an interface between MGS, the museums and galleries sector and key stakeholders on skills development
  • Support the delivery of all accredited and non accredited learning opportunities across MGS’s service provision
  • Work with the sector to deliver skills development priorities and embed a culture of learning and development
  • Maintain an overview of the skills and knowledge needs for the museum sector and create, identify, develop and evaluate programmes and opportunities to meet these needs
  • Manage the development, delivery and evaluation of a marketable schedule of training courses and programmes; and assist colleagues to deliver subject-specific workshops
  • Contribute to research and development work carried out by sector-relevant organisations
  • Budget holder responsibilities – involved in both planning and management
  • Support MGS to deliver the Workforce strand of the National Strategy
  • Stakeholder relationship management

The above mentioned tasks and responsibilities constitute an overview and not an exhaustive list. Workload and priorities are ultimately determined by the annual MGS Operational Plan.

Relationships

  • Build and nurture effective working relationships across the organisation and with external partners
  • Collaborate with other staff to support and deliver MGS projects, programmes and the National Strategy
  • Contribute to the organisation’s expertise in the sector by sharing knowledge, information and good practice.
  • Work fairly and with integrity and adapt style to different people, cultures and situation

Skills and Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of developing, delivering and managing a wide range of skills development programmes with defined learning outcomes, to a diverse range of learners
  • Working knowledge of Scottish Government skills priorities and wider skills landscape
  • Experience of composing bid applications and procurement documents
  • Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
  • Excellent communication skills including good presentation, influencing and facilitation skills
  • Excellent written communication skills with the ability to clearly communicate
  • Microsoft Office

Preferred

  • Knowledge of the museums and galleries sector in Scotland
  • Experience of evaluating training programmes and identifying areas for improvement
  • Experience of working with vocational and accredited qualifications
  • Confident speaking in public and hosting meetings online and in person
  • Advocates for lifelong learning and professional development
  • Experience of working with volunteers

We work with staff to help everyone reach their potential in the workplace and welcome conversations with individuals about their needs, circumstances and aspirations.

HOW YOU WORK

MGS has a behavioural competency framework which describes how we expect people to go about their work day-to-day. Staff must demonstrate the following skills areas at an appropriate level:

  • Works collaboratively
  • Communicating with impact
  • Respect, inclusion and integrity
  • Effective decision-making
  • Sector focus
  • Drive for results
  • Innovation, agility and building capability

All staff are expected to champion and help deliver MGS’s commitments to anti-racism and climate.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Travel – regionally is required. Approx. 40 days per year.

Shortlist

Capacity Programme Assistant

  • Full time
  • £25,232
  • Hybrid: Edinburgh
  • Closing 17th July 2025

Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) is the National Development Body for Scotland’s museums and galleries. We support a sector of 449 museums and galleries, through strategic investment, workforce development, advice and advocacy. We are a forward facing and inclusive organisation, committed to the ongoing development of a positive culture for our team.

We are recruiting a Capacity Programme Assistant who will work with the Senior Capacity Programme Manager and Capacity Programme Officer in the Museum Development team to facilitate delivery of a new capacity-building programme designed to support Scotland’s museums to become more resilient organisations in line with the strategy for Scotland’s Museums and Galleries Strategy.

The strategy provides a framework for the sector and MGS to work to ensure the future relevance and resilience of the sector. It centres around three thematic strands of Connection, Resilience and Workforce.

The Programme Assistant provides administration support for projects and programmes in the new Capacity Programme.

This will include administration for training courses and events, including managing bookings and participant requirements. The Programme Assistant will be involved in collecting and maintaining programme data which will be required for programme evaluation. The post holder will communicate via email and telephone with a range of people from the museum sector and external partners as part of the capacity programme team.

Shortlist

Marketing Assistant

  • Full time
  • £25,232
  • Hybrid: Edinburgh
  • Closing 30th July 2025

Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) is the National Development Body for Scotland’s museums and galleries. We support a sector of 455 museums and galleries, through strategic investment, workforce development, advice and advocacy. We are a forward facing and inclusive organisation, committed to the ongoing development of a positive culture for our team.

We are recruiting for a Marketing Assistant who will be responsible for providing support across all MGS’s communications and marketing activity.

This is an exciting opportunity to help raise the profile of Scotland’s museums and galleries and highlight the positive impact they have across our communities. You will also play a role in helping to promote the work of MGS, including the launch of a new ambitious programme to support the sector.

You will bring experience from working in a marketing or communications environment and have a positive, ‘can-do’ attitude. Effective communication skills are essential as well as familiarity with a range of marketing tools and good administrative and organisational skills. The ability to multitask and demonstrate enthusiasm and initiative constitutes a natural part of the job.

Shortlist

Accreditation Officer

  • Full time
  • £30,233
  • Hybrid: Edinburgh
  • Closing 11th August 2025

About the Role

Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) is the National Development Body for Scotland’s museums and galleries. We support a sector of 455 museums and galleries, through strategic investment, workforce development, advice and advocacy. We are a forward facing and inclusive organisation, committed to the ongoing development of a positive culture for our team.

The Museum Accreditation Scheme is the UK industry standard for museums and galleries, managed through a partnership of assessing organisations across the UK. Delivery of the Accreditation Scheme in Scotland is a core part of Museums Galleries Scotland work and underpins the National Strategy priorities.

We are recruiting for an Accreditation Officer to assist in supporting sector development by encouraging museums to participate in the Accreditation Scheme, providing advice, and undertaking assessments. Having excellent reading and numeracy skills with the ability to analyse and evaluate large volumes of information will therefore be essential in this role.

The Accreditation Officer is both proactive and reactive, communicating widely with the sector to support the achievement of the standards and facilitating strong, positive relationships with museums. You will bring experience of delivering excellent customer service and knowledge of the museum and gallery sector in Scotland to achieve this.

You will contribute to the development of the systems for processing assessments and to the organisation’s knowledge management systems so experience of maintaining and developing processes will be vital.

Shortlist