Collections Assistant (Supplementary Collections)

Opportunity ID

267

This role is an excellent opportunity to join our busy Collections Management team for a year and learn how to carry out a range of core museum tasks in a national museum. You will work with staff across our departments and branches, seeing how different museum specialisms work together to care for and interpret collections.

You will have some experience or interest in collections management, and with supervision and training we will provide, you will be able to carry out the documentation of IWM’s handling and props collections. You will research the collection to understand the provenance of each item to contribute to a collections review and you will support the exit of items not required.
You will work collaboratively with many IWM staff (including conservators, curators and other collections professionals, exhibitions and public engagement and learning teams) so that your work supports our collections development and documentation strategies.

You will assess the collections, identifying potential hazards (after you have received appropriate training), and prepare items for safe transport. You will make sure all items are documented, researched and, where applicable, exited according to our procedures.

The role is based at IWM Duxford and will require travel to our other branches.

• Carrying out hazard assessments of IWM’s props and handling collections, complying with internal procedures and relevant legislation, and packing collections for transport.
• Completing the documentation of the collections using IWM’s collections management system (Axiell Collections) complying with internal procedures and maintaining accurate records.
• Conducting due diligence research to establish the provenance of items, including researching IWM’s archive and consulting colleagues (curators, exhibitions and public engagement & learning teams).
• Carrying out the exit of items not required by IWM according to internal procedures.
• Working transparently and collaboratively with internal IWM teams to ensure interdependencies are identified and reviewed regularly allowing for efficient and effective completion of collections documentation.
• Maintaining and delivering a schedule for the completion of collections documentation.
• Resolving obstacles in an effective and compliant way, knowing when to consult relevant colleagues and refer to appropriate managers.

For a full list of duties and the person specification (which your application will be marked against) please view the Job Description.

June 7th 2023, 9:00 AM

Interviews for this post are planned for the 14th June 2023

The benefits listed below are discretionary and IWM reserves the right, with due notice, to vary or withdraw them at any time. All such benefits apply during the course of your employment only.

• Our generous full-time equivalent annual leave allowance is 25 days per annum plus public holidays rising to 30 days after 5 years.
• IWM is a member of the Civil Service Pension Scheme. Employer pension contributions to the civil service pension scheme vary but are normally between 20% - 24.5% dependent on salary and length of service.
• Access to select a range of benefits to suit your personal circumstances and lifestyle via our benefits platform, IWM4me. IWM4me offers IWM staff a wide range of health, protection, and lifestyle benefits, many at corporate rates not available on the high street.
• Free sanitary products provided at all sites.
• An interest free season ticket loan scheme after successful completion of the probationary period.
• 20% discount in IWM’s shops.
• 25% discount in IWM’s cafes.
• Free entry to the majority of Air shows at IWM Duxford.
• Free entry to a large number of other museums & galleries and their exhibitions which we have reciprocal arrangements with.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity benefits linked to length of service.
• Access to our in-house training programmes and development.
• IWM staff are entitled to membership of the Benenden Healthcare Society (subject to their terms & conditions.
• Eligibility to join the Civil Service Sports Club, securing additional discounts and benefits.
• Cycle 2 Work Scheme.
• Access to social events run by groups with IWM.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. This role is subject to:

A basic check, which shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions.

IWM is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunities.

We miss out when people feel IWM isn't for them, and are committed to removing and reducing barriers to make IWM open to everyone.

Our Access and Inclusion strategy has been developed to promote openness, equal opportunities to access, inclusivity and encourage diversity in everything that we do, from employment practices, the services we provide to our visitors to the facilities we make available to public.

At IWM we seek to address the need for greater diversity within our workforce as well as the wider museum and heritage sector. In all our practices we embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity and we welcome applications from suitable candidates of all backgrounds.