Reviving Narrowboat Kilsby
Jump on Board! Join our Crew! Voyage Venturers needed!
Job Opportunity
HERITAGE PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR
Free-lance contract: Fixed term 24 months starting January 2026
Part-time: Average 6 days per month
Fee: circa £20,000 subject to contract
Location: Remote & on-site as required
Application deadline Noon Wednesday 26th November
Notify shortlisted candidates Monday 1st December
Interviews (in person location tbc) from Friday 5th
Job offers (subject to references
and contract terms) w/c 12th December
Introduction to the Jericho Living Heritage Trust and the Kilsby Project
The Jericho Living Heritage Trust (JLHT) is a registered charity founded in 2008 to bring together all aspects of the local community of Jericho. The Trust celebrates the neighbourhood’s enduring traditions and works to maintain its rich and diverse artistic, cultural, and industrial heritage for future generations.
In 2019, JLHT acquired Kilsby, a rare historic narrowboat in a dilapidated state. Led by its Steering Group, we began planning for its transformation into a community-owned living heritage asset to be enjoyed across Oxford’s canal and riverside neighbourhoods, and throughout the city and region for years to come.
Our mission is to restore and reimagine Kilsby as a floating venue for storytelling, heritage engagement, and community activity — blending traditional conservation principles with modern sustainability and creativity.
Learn more at www.kilsbyboatproject.com.
Rooted in the history and waterways of Oxford, the Kilsby Project seeks to:
Restore Kilsby’s hull and traditional features, including the boatman’s cabin, stern, and elum
Install a modern, low-emission electric propulsion system
Create a versatile and accessible interior for creative and community use
Support a programme of activities connecting people with heritage through performance, workshops, and co-creation
Capture and evaluate the transformation process from start to finish and share our learnings
Operate as a volunteer-supported, community-led, and income-generating asset
The project is being developed with accessibility, environmental sustainability, and inclusive participation at its heart. It builds on the legacy of Oxford’s former accessible boat The Venturer, and responds to a growing movement of community-led waterway projects across the UK — from floating puppet theatres to solar-powered heritage boats.
The Post
In September 2025, our campaigning efforts were rewarded when the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) announced a grant of £210,000, which — alongside generous private gifts and “shiploads” of voluntary input — will fund the next major phase of Kilsby’s restoration and repair.
This grant enables JLHT to create two part-time project management posts to work alongside our volunteer team and leadership for the next two years:
A Technical Project Manager, overseeing the boatbuilding and restoration contracts
A Heritage Project Manager, to lead on coordination, engagement, planning, and delivery
We are now seeking a motivated and organised individual for the Heritage Project Manager role — someone ready to hold the reins of this ambitious and inspiring project.
You’ll work closely with the Steering Group and Project Lead, Steph Pirrie, to ensure smooth operations, compliance, communication, and delivery across all phases.
This role includes coordinating stakeholders and volunteers, managing freelancers, supporting community engagement, and leading communications and evaluation (including production of a short film).
This is not a role for the faint-hearted — but it promises to be immensely rewarding, full of scope, enjoyment, and creative potential for the right individual. While time-limited to this NLHF phase, our aim is for this work to lead naturally into Kilsby’s full fit-out and launch as a year-round community asset.
Key Responsibilities
1. Project Planning & Coordination
Work closely with Project Directors to manage timelines and ensure alignment with strategic goals.
Maintain a clear project schedule, tracking progress and flagging risks or delays.
Coordinate input from the Steering Group and key stakeholders.
2. Funding & Reporting
Lead on reporting to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), ensuring timely and accurate submissions.
Monitor project outputs and outcomes against NLHF expectations and evaluation plans.
3. Contractor & Restoration Oversight
Liaise with technical contractors during the restoration process, ensuring quality assurance and compliance.
Work alongside the Technical Project Manager to ensure all works meet agreed specifications.
Maintain clear communication between technical teams, volunteers, and delivery partners.
4. Community & Volunteer Engagement
Work directly with volunteers and local organisations, particularly during the fit-out and delivery of public programmes.
Coordinate volunteer roles such as skippers, crew, interpreters, and facilitators, ensuring statutory training is in place.
Champion inclusive community involvement throughout the project.
5. Event & Programme Delivery
Plan and deliver major public and community events, including the Oxford Canal Festival showcase.
Manage the development and delivery of the pilot programme of activities in 2027, including heritage cruises, open days, and workshops.
6. Communications & Public Profile
Oversee project communications with the Communications Group — including press, updates, and community engagement.
Contribute to storytelling and public engagement that celebrates the project’s progress and people.
Manage collaboration with a specialist filmmaker, ensuring outputs support evaluation and visibility.
Produce the quarterly project newsletter and manage the project’s social media presence.
Oversee and archive digital assets such as photographs, film, volunteer-generated content, and documentation.
7. Evaluation & Legacy Strategy
Deliver the evaluation in line with NLHF requirements, covering social impact, technical learning, and community outcomes.
Synthesize findings into a long-term development strategy to support sustainability and future funding.
Person Specification
Essential Skills & Experience
Project management experience in heritage, community, or cultural projects
Proven ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders — including funders, volunteers, and technical specialists
Experience working directly with volunteers and community organisations
Familiarity with funding compliance and reporting (ideally NLHF or similar)
Experience in heritage documentation or interpretation projects
Strong event planning and delivery skills
Excellent organisational and time-management abilities
Self-motivated and collaborative, able to lead key deliverables independently
Desirable Skills & Experience
Knowledge of boat restoration, heritage, or waterways projects
Resident of Jericho or surrounding neighbourhoods (on or off the water)
Experience in participatory heritage or community engagement
Background in public engagement, arts, or heritage programming
Experience in film production management
Equal Opportunities
JLHT is committed to equal opportunities. We aim to treat all job applicants and workers equally, irrespective of race, colour, gender, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origin, age, gender reassignment, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability.
All staff and volunteers share a responsibility to prevent discrimination and report any incidents against individuals or groups.
Contract Details
Time commitment: 6 days per month over a two-year period
Location: Remote, with on-site responsibilities during key project phases
Fee: Circa £20,000
How to Apply
Please send your CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role to stephpirriemusic@gmail.com by deadline 26th November 2025
Key Stages
Date
Notify shortlisted candidates Monday 1st December
Interviews (in-person, location TBC) From Friday 5th December
Job offers (subject to references and contract terms) Week commencing 12th December