The Centre for Computing History (CCH) is a friendly and accessible museum with a strong focus on learning. Our core purpose is to use our collections, displays, learning programmes, and events to explore the social, cultural and historical impact – the lived experience - of developments in computing from the past 80 years. Future generations will wonder how this massively important and transformative cultural development happened in just 80 years. Through hands-on and inclusive experiences, we explore how these powerful devices became an inextricable part of all our lives and changed our world. 
 
The staff team at CCH consists of 6.8 full-time equivalent employees, most working part-time hours, supported by nearly 50 volunteers. 

About Broken Tech: Broken Earth  

CCH’s collection celebrates the incredible evolution of computing technology over the past 80 years. However, with tech embedded in all our lives, and the UK predicted to generate over 30,000 tons of e-waste a week by the end of this year, the museum is keen to work with local people and organisations to explore how to reinterpret our collection and tell alternative stories about the environmental impact of tech.    

This exciting initiative is funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund, run by the Museums Association. The fund aims to encourage participatory practice in museums, and this concept lies at the heart of this project. Participatory practice means involving visitors and communities in the creation and interpretation of museum exhibitions, programs, and events content – asking for stories about objects in the collection, rather than assuming we know what the most important stories are. This approach is inclusive, encourages visitors to feel ownership and helps museums discover untold stories about their collections.   

This project will engage the local community in exploring the environmental and social impacts of the tech boom, in Cambridge and the wider world, and co-designing an approach to acknowledging the impact of technology at the museum. It gives us a platform to raise awareness and create change, while increasing the involvement of the local community in our work.   

What are the specific environmental issues we want to explore? 

• Electronic or e-waste, and other environmental concerns

• Resources needed for future Innovation 

• Digital Carbon Footprints

• Local History

Our museum celebrates the importance of Cambridge-based companies in the rise of the tech sector. However, what’s sometimes called the ‘Cambridge Phenomenon’ also has a negative side, and it’s important that we invite local people to tell a wide range of stories as we preserve the history of computing. Our budget includes funds to reimburse participants. 

It’s not possible to say what exactly will happen during this two-year project, because it will be designed by the people who get involved! We will be holding events to capture ideas, start to gather stories, and are planning recycling and awareness raising events, most likely electronics repair cafes. We are already speaking with local charities and other organisations who are keen to support the project, but we want to work with as many community groups, local people, media, schools and businesses as possible.

The Role

The Project Coordinator will be responsible for the day-to-day running of Broken Tech: Broken Earth. Reporting to the CEO, the post-holder will work across the organisation: the CEO, Partnerships, Learning, Collections and Volunteering teams. At the end of this two-year grant, we will have involved the local communities in activities which allow us to co-design an approach to telling the story of tech’s impact on the local and global environment through our collection and getting people to act on e-waste. 

Main Areas of Responsibility

• Supported by the CEO and teams at CCH, drive the project, ensure it runs to time, hits key targets and achieves its aims.  
• Manage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and project partners. 
• Work with partners and other teams to engage local community members in the project. 
• Support monitoring and evaluation activities to understand the impact of the project and facilitate learning. 
• Work with internal and external teams to plan, coordinate and deliver engagement events for families, local community groups and schools. 
• Record progress using our Beacon CRM. 
• Supported by the Partnerships & Development Manager, prepare reports back to funders, trustees and other stakeholders. 
• Work within budget/timescales and assist the Finance Manager in managing the project budget. 
• In partnership with CCH staff, recruit and manage volunteers to assist with the project.
• Contribute to an effective partnership between CCH and the Museums Association, including attending Museums Association meetings as necessary.
• Undertake any other related responsibilities commensurate with the evolving objectives of the post and the evolution of the CCH, as may reasonably be requested by the CEO or Partnerships & Development Manager.
• Work with due regard for CCH's core values and objectives. 
• Ensure compliance with all CCH policies including Health and Safety, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), Safeguarding and working with volunteers and young people.  
• Work flexibly where appropriate in the evening, weekends and during school holidays to ensure full and supportive delivery of the project.

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The post-holder may be required to undergo an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.

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Person Specification:  (*A = Application I = Interview   T = Task )