Engagement Officer (Part-Time, Contract)
Organisation: Heritage Lab Ramsgate
Reporting to: CEO, with oversight from Communications & Marketing Manager
Location: Ramsgate Works (Ramsgate) and/or home-based,
with regular local travel
Contract Type: Freelance / Contract (not employed) – up to 3
years. Notice period 6 weeks.
Time Commitment: 2.5 days per week minimum 46 weeks per year
Contract Fee:
£15,000 pa rising to £15,600 in year 2* and £16,224 in year 3* [*subject to funding confirmation]
About the Role
Heritage Lab Ramsgate is seeking a proactive and community-minded Engagement Officer to support the development and delivery of our heritage-led regeneration work as part of the “Connecting Ramsgate’s
Heritage” programme.
This is a flexible, part-time contract role suited to someone with strong local knowledge, excellent relationship-building skills, and a passion for regeneration, heritage, community development, and civic engagement.
The Engagement Officer will play a central role in strengthening connections between local organisations – particularly through the Ramsgate Heritage Community Buildings Forum (RHCBF) – supporting collaborative projects, and ensuring that community voices shape the future of Ramsgate’s historic built environment.
Key Responsibilities
1. Forum Development & Coordination
• Lead the coordination and day-to-day running of the Ramsgate Heritage Community Buildings Forum (RHCBF)
• Lead the development of a stakeholder research and engagement plan, identifying
underrepresented groups and opportunities to widen participation
• Develop, alongside Heritage Lab Ramsgate, a clear strategy and forward plan for the Forum,
bringing together public, private and voluntary sector stakeholders
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Forum members and wider stakeholders
• Organise and support meetings, including agendas, papers and follow-up actions
• Support the development of a pipeline of heritage-led projects emerging from the Forum
• Assist with the coordination and administration of any grants secured by the Forum
• Develop constructive relationships with the Ramsgate Neighbourhood Board and relevant officers
2. Engagement, Communications & Marketing
• Work with the Communications & Marketing Manager to develop and deliver an engagement and communications plan
• Lead and support social media content creation and posting, ensuring consistent and engaging output
• Maintain and manage a social media calendar aligned to projects, campaigns and events
• Support and update website content, ensuring information is current and accessible
• Draft and support the production of press releases and media communications
• Contribute to and coordinate newsletters and regular communications
• Develop engaging content (written, visual and storytelling) to communicate impact and activity
• Support the development of key messages and narratives about Heritage Lab Ramsgate’s work
3. Community Engagement & Participation
• Plan and deliver events, workshops and engagement activities
• Design and deliver public surveys and consultation exercises to gather community insight
• Support and coordinate volunteers linked to the project
• Ensure community voices are captured and reflected in project development
4. Operational & Team Support
• Contribute to the day-to-day operation of Heritage Lab Ramsgate, including supporting office
management duties at Ramsgate Works as part of a small team
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across projects and priorities
• Support delivery of the wider “Connecting Ramsgate’s Heritage” programme
5. General
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role as reasonably required by Heritage Lab Ramsgate
Person Specification
Essential
• Strong local connection to Ramsgate/Thanet
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Experience in engagement, community development or partnership working
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience in communications, content creation or digital engagement (e.g. social media, newsletters, website updates)
• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience)
Desirable
• Experience working in heritage, regeneration, culture or community development
• Experience supporting forums, networks or membership organisations
• Experience of working with grant-funded projects
• Existing networks or relationships within Ramsgate/Thanet or the wider Kent area
Practical Requirements
• Ability to attend meetings in person (noting that some locations may have limited accessibility)
• Ability to travel locally
• Ramsgate Works has stair-only access
Contract Status
This role is offered on a freelance, self-employed basis. The successful applicant will be engaged as an independent contractor, paid by monthly invoice in arrears and will not be an employee or worker of Heritage
Lab CIC. The contractor will be responsible for their own tax, National Insurance and appropriate insurances.
There is no obligation on Heritage Lab CIC to offer ongoing work, nor on the contractor to accept it. The contractor will have flexibility in how services are delivered, subject to agreed outputs and milestones, and may undertake work for other clients.
For informal enquiries please call Rob on 07962253838 “strictly no agencies”.