Collections Assistant - Solihull Solihull
Job description
Collections Assistant - Solihull
Summary
We protect everything from bats to buildings to beaches – and we want to share them with everyone too. But how do we care for our special places, while helping everyone to enjoy them and their fascinating stories? It’s no small task. In fact, it’s a big team effort and it’s why our Collections Assistant are so important.
What it's like to work here
This vacancy is included in a trial of the ‘Disability Confident’ scheme (level 1).
If you have a disability, and your qualities, skills and experience are a good fit with the 'Who we're looking for' section below, we will guarantee you either a telephone or face to face interview. Please contact us at [email protected], when you apply, to let us know, quoting the reference number for this vacancy.
Reporting to the Collection and House Officer, you'll work alongside two other Collections Assistants. You'll join the Collections and House team, which works across both Packwood House and Baddesley Clinton. Although your contractual location will be Baddesley Clinton, there will be opportunities to work at Packwood on an occasional basis.
There will be opportunities to learn on the job and additional development opportunities will be available when they arise in areas of interest to the individual. We run training sessions each year on how to care for particular items when there is a need within the team. For example, in 2022 we had tapestry training and silver training.
Baddesley Clinton is a moated manor house within a lively Warwickshire estate. The house contains the rich history of the Ferrers and Ferrers-Walker family. Inside you will find many beautiful items including the detailed paintings by Rebecca Ferrers and stained glass installed over many centuries.
The rest of the property offers an imaginative visitor experience, with trails, activities and outdoor games throughout the year. The busy barn restaurant serves a variety of dishes, with many ingredients grown in the property’s vegetable garden.
What you'll be doing
As a Collections Assistant, you’ll be working with a great housekeeping team in an incredible place, helping with the day-to-day cleaning and care of the collections. No detail will go unnoticed, and you’ll keep a keen eye on everything from the environmental conditions in a room, to signs of wear and tear. You’ll keep accurate records too.
In this visitor facing role, we’d love you to talk to visitors about the work you’re doing, and the collections we have. You'll also be part of the wider team of employees and volunteers, helping to cover where necessary.
Please also read the full role profile, attached to this advert.
Who we're looking for
We'd love to hear from you if you have;
- A keen interest in history, historic properties and conservation of their collections
- A good understanding of preventive conservation
- Knowledge of the approach required when working with fragile historic collections as well as Health & Safety and emergency procedures
- Good manual dexterity and eye-to-hand skills and ability to work from ladders and tower scaffold
- The ability to support volunteers to perform at their best
- Good interpersonal and communication skills, and are a great team player
- A willingness to undertake continuing professional development and personal skills development and have an enthusiasm to learn
The package
The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.
- Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
- Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
- Tax free childcare scheme
- Rental deposit loan scheme
- Season ticket loan
- Perks at work discounts i.e. gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
- Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
- Flexible working whenever possible
- Employee assistance programme
- Free parking at most locations
- Independent financial advice
Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.
