Development Manager

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Sheffield Town Hall, one of the city’s five Grade I listed buildings, is undergoing a major refurbishment programme to secure its long‑term future as a civic, cultural and democratic landmark. The project will safeguard the building’s historic fabric while delivering a more sustainable, accessible and welcoming Town Hall for the people of Sheffield.

Once reimagined and reopened, the Town Hall will be a “Town Hall for All”: a building that better reveals its heritage and collections, improves access to cultural assets, and provides high‑quality civic, community and event spaces that strengthen Sheffield’s civic life.

We are seeking a Development Manager – Town Hall Heritage to lead the heritage and cultural workstream of this flagship project, ensuring that conservation, interpretation, engagement and future public use are embedded at the heart of the restoration from concept stage onwards.

The Development Manager will lead the heritage and cultural workstream of the Sheffield Town Hall project, ensuring that the building’s historic fabric, collections and stories are protected, understood and meaningfully revealed to the public.

Working closely with the Project Director, architects and conservation specialists, you will oversee the documentation, conservation planning and interpretation of the Town Hall’s historic features, furnishings, artworks and collections. You will provide specialist heritage advice throughout the design process, supporting well‑judged decision‑making and balancing conservation priorities with the future operational and public use of the building.

The role includes leading heritage‑related funding and development activity
, contributing to stakeholder and community engagement, and shaping plans for the future cultural and civic use of the refurbished Town Hall.

You will also lead proposals to reopen the Town Hall Joiners’ Workshop
, developing a programme focused on the repair of historic furniture and the promotion of traditional building crafts and skills. This work will be delivered in partnership with the Council’s Corporate Repairs team, apprentices and local craftspeople.

The initial 18‑month fixed‑term contract aligns with RIBA Stage 2 (Concept Design) of the project.

• Lead the management, documentation and care of the Town Hall’s historic collections, furnishings and artworks.
• Commission and oversee conservation research and specialist restoration work, working with accredited conservation professionals and statutory bodies.
• Provide specialist heritage advice and input to the design and decision‑making process across the capital project.
• Develop proposals for a heritage‑focused apprenticeship and skills programme linked to the Joiners’ Workshop.
• Shape and deliver interpretation, engagement and learning approaches that improve public access, understanding and inclusion.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with key partners, community groups, funders and heritage organisations.
• Lead heritage funding applications and manage associated budgets and reporting requirements.
• Contribute to strategic planning for the future civic, cultural and operational use of the refurbished Town Hall.
• Provide clear reports, updates and risk information to the Town Hall Project Director and senior stakeholders.

You will bring strong professional experience in heritage, conservation or cultural development, alongside the ability to operate confidently within a complex public‑sector capital project.

You will have:

• Demonstrable experience working with historic or listed buildings
  , heritage assets or collections, with a sound understanding of conservation principles, heritage legislation and planning requirements.
• Experience of contributing to or leading heritage or cultural projects
  , ideally within a refurbishment or capital development context.
• Proven ability to manage projects, budgets and competing priorities, and to provide clear, well‑judged advice to senior stakeholders.
• Experience of developing or supporting…