Collections Assistant (NLHF Engagement)

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Job Description Collections Assistant (NLHF Engagement) - Job Number:

University Library and Collections

Grade 4: £12,421.50 - £12,866.50 (pro rated to £24,843 - £25,733 for full time)

Fixed Term - Part Time, Contract Duration: 60 weeks

Working Arrangements: The role will include evening and weekend working. Due to the hands on nature of the project, there will be limited scope for hybrid working.

Closing Date 05 Mar :59:00 PM

Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Successful applicants will require DBS disclosure. Further info:

The University At Durham University we are proud of our people. A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting - Durham is a university like no other. Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, a key hub of activity within our region and nationally. Whether you are at the very start, middle or end of your career, there is a role for you. We believe everyone has their own unique skills to offer.

Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page .

The Role and the Department In January 1833 Bishop William van Mildert donated 160 volumes to found the University Library, located on Palace Green and in the same year Durham's first university museum opened to the public. Today the University Library and Collections offers spaces, collections, expertise and services supporting education, research, the wider student experience and cultural and educational outreach. Collections and services operate across a wide estate of libraries, archives, museums, galleries and exhibition spaces, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site on Palace Green. Our nationally and internationally recognised collections span early books, archives and manuscripts, museum objects and art, print and electronic materials and include a repository of digitised materials, research outputs and research data. Our users encompass anyone engaging with our collections, services and facilities in person or remotely - this includes university staff, researchers from around the globe, students in higher education from Durham and other universities, school pupils and teachers, Durham's local residents and tourists.

The University Library and Collections is made up of six sections: Collections; Customer Services; Education, Learning and Engagement; Research and Systems; Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions; and Finance and Administration. Staff work flexibly between the sections, enabled by cross cutting groups.

The Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions team, under the leadership of the Head of Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions, is responsible for world class museum, art, college and natural science collections supporting their care, curation, and discovery, as well as facilitating public and research access to those collections. Our spaces include the Oriental Museum, Palace Green Library (including the Museum of Archaeology) and Durham Castle Museum. We work with pre school children, primary and secondary schools, undergraduates, postgraduates, researchers and the wider community both within our venues and through our loans and outreach programmes, as well as increasingly through digital engagement.

The Museum of Archaeology cares for over 40,000 objects spanning 10,000 years of Durham's history. This post is part of Connecting Communities with Durham's Archaeological Heritage , a major redevelopment project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Sir James Knott Trust. The two year project will transform the Museum of Archaeology into an inclusive, sustainable space that improves access to Durham's 10,000 year story. Through co curation, digital interpretation and community engagement, the project aims to remove barriers to participation and create opportunities for schools, volunteers and local communities to connect with archaeology in meaningful ways.

The Collections Assistant will work in partnership with the Curator of Archaeology and Natural Sciences, collaborating with the Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions team and the Learning and Engagement team to deliver project objectives. The role focuses on increasing access to Durham's archaeological collections and creating meaningful opportunities for engagement. The postholder will support co curation workshops with schools, volunteers and community groups, helping to shape displays and interpretation that reflect diverse voices. They will assist in developing and delivering an inclusive programme of activities, including object handling sessions, family events and creative workshops, working closely with the Learning and Engagement team to ensure alignment with curriculum and community needs. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a landmark project and gain hands on experience in museum practice.

Based at the Oriental Museum, this role involves regular travel within Durham City, including displays at Palace Green Library and collections stored off site in the local area. Due to the hands on nature of the role, there will be limited scope for hybrid working. In addition, because of the nature of the project and its public engagement activities, there may be the requirement for regular weekend and evening working to ensure successful delivery as of the project. Further information about the role and responsibilities is provided at the end of this job description. The line manager for this post will be the Curator of Archaeology and Natural Sciences.

Working at Durham A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University:

• You'll receive 27 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year - a total of 39 days. The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
• You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions.
• Our on site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5 16.
• We provide wide ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24 7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference to the local community.
• Our family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• If you are keen on advancing in your role or career, we have a genuine passion for developing our colleagues from qualifications to IT skills, courses and apprenticeships.
• We offer generous pension schemes with varying contribution amounts to help you plan for your future.

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.

As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University's Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under represented in our workforce, including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. If you have taken time out of your career and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application.

What you need to demonstrate when you apply To be considered for this role, here are the skills/experience we're looking for:

Qualifications/Experience

1. Five GCSEs at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics or equivalent experience.
2. Experience of working in a team, delivering customer focused services.
3. Experience of managing time to meet deadlines and working under pressure without compromising on quality.
4. Experience of working in a fast paced, public facing team.
5. Experience of delivering engagement workshops and activities with a range of audiences, preferably in a museum, archaeology and/or heritage setting.
6. Experience of working in a museum, archaeology, cultural or heritage setting . click apply for full job details