In 2026, The Exchange will host Helios a spectacular new artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram. At five metres in diameter, it reveals stunning, detailed imagery of the Sun’s surface, combining sunlight with an immersive surround sound composition. The accompanying exhibition and events programme will delve into sun-related research themes, including helioseismology, space weather, solar energy, and climate adaptation.

Job Summary

This role supports the Public Programme team in engaging diverse public audiences with the work of the University of Birmingham at The Exchange. Responsibilities focus on welcoming visitors, preparing for and delivering events and activities, and supporting evaluation processes.

The role may involve evening and weekend work. Shifts are agreed in advance and offered on an ad hoc basis, depending on the programme of planned events and activities.

Main Duties

• Work with the Public Programmes Team and The Exchange Venue Team on the setup and delivery of events.
• Provide a warm and friendly welcome and be a point of contact for visitors, families, speakers, artists, community groups as well as freelancers and academics running events.
• Carry out participation / evaluation questionnaires with attendees.
• Distribute surveys to exhibition visitors and event attendees.
• Observe exhibition visitors and take notes.
• Assist with delivery of engagement activities for a wide variety of audiences.
• Provide a range of administrative and practical duties to ensure events run smoothly.
• Co-ordinate booking sheets and maintain attendee logs using agreed systems.
• Organise materials and set out and replenish items.
• Signpost visitors, and encouraging visitors to participate in future activities.
• Assist with welfare and access requirements.
• Feed into future programming and projects.
• Ensure that all duties comply with the Health and Safety, Data Protection Act and other legislation.
• Identify and report any health and safety/operational concerns.
• To undertake any such duties as may reasonably be required by the project team.

Required knowledge, skills, qualifications & experience

• To be positive, enthusiastic, friendly and to enjoy meeting and talking to people.
• Experience of working in public facing capacity on events with communities and the public.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong listening ability.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to engage a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Enthusiastic to explain the work and significance of the University of Birmingham to a wide range of audiences.
• Ability to work effectively across different teams.
• Experience of self-management and administration within a busy and evolving environment.
• An active interest in how Universities engage with public audiences.
• Able to demonstrate energy, determination, and resilience.
• Able to demonstrate the External Relations Values and Behaviour (innovative, responsible, collaborative, open and ambitious).
• Confident using IT, primarily Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Outlook and Teams.
• Ability to think identify health and safety/operational concerns.

Further Details

Interviews will be held on 23rd and 24th September 2026.

For any informal queries, please contact Kate O’Connor (k.oconnor.1@bham.ac.uk)

The University of Birmingham restricts all students to working up to 20 hours per week during term time for a maximum of 13 consecutive weeks. If your application is successful and your course does not follow the usual academic term timetable (e.g. PGT, PGR or PhD student), you and your supervisor must formally agree vacation periods if this role exceeds 20 hours per week. In addition to this, please be aware if you are an international student you will be required to apply to the Registry for the appropriate authorised absence.

You are only eligible to apply to this role if you are a current University of Birmingham student. If you are not a University of Birmingham student your application will not be considered.

To work you will need to carry out a right to work check. These checks will need to be completed prior to work commencing.

Regarding the use of AI in applications, we review hundreds of applications and shortlist candidates based on their unique perspective, motivations and potential. Cover letters generated through, or edited by, AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT or CoPilot) are easy to identify. They produce generic answers and will not score highly enough to progress. You may use AI tools for research, but all written content in your application must be your own work. Authenticity and originality are key to standing out in this process.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we’re unable to contact all applicants individually. You can check the progress of your application by logging into the Worklink jobs portal using the same email address you used to apply. If you haven’t heard back within six weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.