Are you looking for a new project? Would you like to put your lifelong experience and leadership qualities to good use whilst giving something back to your community?

Maybe you’ve recently acquired more time after the children have gone to school or flown the nest, or you work part-time, have taken early or full retirement? How would you like to use your people management,organisational and creative skills running the highly successful Somerscience Festival in Somerset?

Now in its third year, the free Somerscience Festival brings the wonders and possibilities of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) to rural communities in Somerset. We particularly seek to inspire young people to think STEM could be part of their future. This year we attracted 5400 visitors in family groups, with 93 exciting activities provided by 67 organisations. At the same time the festival provided the means for 268 STEM professionals to meet, network and inspire each other. In 2025 we expect more and seek someone dynamic and visionary to be ambitious for the festival’s future direction.

As Festival Director your role is to oversee the organisation of the entire event, leading a talented and committed voluntary implementation team who bring specialist knowledge of logistics, administration, evaluation and impact measurement, website management, education and events organisation. You lead on developing the programme content, liaison with contributors and sponsors, promotion of the festival via strategic partnerships, broadcast and social media, recruitment of event assistant volunteers and management of the team’s activities. You particularly are responsible for the public profile of the festival.

There is no ideal background and you don’t need to be a STEM professional, although you should believe strongly in the importance of these disciplines to our world. What we are looking for is someone who can take charge and marshal all the skills they have gained through their working and personal life, and their own creativity and initiative, to deliver a complex event efficiently, using the resources of the team and with the support of a knowledgeable board of trustees from The Somerscience Trust. The Festival
happens in early May each year so main organising activity takes place between September and May. You decide your working hours and how you spread tasks across the week or weekend, incorporating the natural peaks and troughs of activity that occur over the months. An average commitment of 10-15 hours per week is likely. A Somerset base makes sense, although most of the work can be accomplished working remotely with occasional in-person meetings or site visits.

What you’ll get from Somerscience:

• The opportunity to have a real impact on young people in your community
• The satisfaction of being key to the success of Somerset’s only rural science festival
• A different professional experience
• Expanding network and connections
• Friendly team and supportive trustees, including mentorship from outgoing Director
• The chance to make your time matter
• A flexible role that can fit in with your other priorities
• Autonomy and the opportunity to harness the expertise gained throughout your life
• Fun

Intrigued? Why not contact Colleen Bower, current Festival Director and Chair of Trustees, on 07375 890751 or email tcolleenbower@gmail.com for an informal chat and much more information?

It’s time to flourish!