Collections Officer – Museum Curator – Canal & River Trust

Looking for a new opportunity handling the history of the Waterways?

The Canal & River Trust is one of the UK’s largest charities, we maintain 2,000 miles of historic canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs, along with museums, archives and the country’s third largest collection of protected historic buildings – preserving them for future generations.  Our waterways are exciting, vibrant places to work.

We are currently looking for a Collections Officer to join the Collections & Archives team covering National Waterways Museum, Gloucester and our Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne.

The National Waterways Museum and Canal Museum hold the most comprehensive collection of artefacts and archives that tell the story of Britain’s canals and navigable rivers over the last three hundred years.  The collection consists of over 12,000 objects – including sixty-eight historic boats, painted canal ware and other social & industrial history items.

Come work with an enthusiastic team keen on preserving our history!

Find our more:

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/stoke-bruerne 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/national-waterways-museum-gloucester/visiting-the-national-waterways-museum-gloucester

Location & coverage

Our Collections Officer will be based at our Gloucester (preferable) or Stoke Bruernesite, with the expectation to travel intermittently between sites to attend meetings or to conduct fieldwork. This will involve helping support the Trust’s visitor attractions containing collections items on the Southern canal network.

Business travel will be reimbursed within the HMRC rules for non-taxable business travel cost.

See the network here>>

Working with the Collections Manager you will develop, manage and care for object collections in the Trust’s Museums and Attractions in the South, in accordance with Accreditation and Designated status.

An ability to engage in history and communicate confidently to different audiences and stakeholders will form a key part of the role.

Key Accountabilities:

• Responsibility for delivering good collections care for the Trust’s collection to meet museum sector standards.
• To coordinate and manage the work of volunteer groups involved in delivering collections care and housekeeping, documentation and interpretation.
• Responsibility for delivering good collections documentation according to museum standards for the Trust. This includes, delivering collections documentation plans, maintaining basic documentation standards using paper systems and the museum’s collections management system, Collections Index+.
• Working with the Collections Manager to lead on the development of interpretation, including permanent and temporary exhibitions.
• Answer research enquiries, facilitate researcher visits and coordinate loans into and out of the museums.
• To represent the Collections Team at networking and heritage sector events and to contribute to fundraising for collections activities.
• To assist the Collections Manager in any other collections and interpretation related activities appropriate to this post.
• Displaying the Trust values and behaviours at all times.
• Ensuring that diversity and inclusion are integrated into all aspects of Trust life and promoting inclusion by challenging behaviour, practices, actions, or decisions that are counter to the objectives of the Trust’s policies and values.
• Be able to travel to various sites and attractions in the designated Southern area. Advising Trust colleagues on the best way to look after and display the collections. Travelling is therefore an essential part of the job.

Knowledge, Experience & Skills

Essential:

• Experience of working with museum collections, including all aspects of collections care and documentation.
• Experience of contributing to temporary and permanent exhibitions.
• Experience of working with volunteers.
• Experience of working social history and industrial collections.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of museum collections management systems.
• Knowledge of Museum Accreditation standards.
• A postgraduate qualification in museum studies or similar, or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of Interpretation, making collections accessible to all members of the public
• Knowledge of digital collections care, interpretation and access.
• Experience of collections research.
• Experience of fund raising and grant applications.

General:

• Able to plan and prioritise work, to work under pressure and to deadlines.
• Pro-active, enthusiastic and positive approach.
• Ability to work independently and show initiative.
• Good communication skills and the ability to work with people from a range of backgrounds.
• IT proficiency including Microsoft Office. Good written and verbal presentation skills.

To Apply:  

Click here to complete the application form & upload current CV>>

If you have any questions about the role please contact [email protected]

In addition to your annual base salary of £23,465, we also offer a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, and numerous other employee benefits, including several salary sacrifice benefits.  We are also open to flexible working arrangements.

Further details on benefits can be found here>>

At the Trust we care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do as a Trust. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community. All candidates will be treated on the basis of their merits, skills and abilities and solely by being assessed against the requirements for the job

When you join the Canal & River Trust you become a member of an engaged team working to preserve our heritage for future generations.  Come and share your passion and knowledge with a team that makes a difference to millions of people every day.

Find out more about the work we do on our website>>