Advertisement for Assistant to the Curator of The Rifles Collection, Winchester

Purpose of the job

The Rifles Collection based in Winchester is a small military museum undergoing Accreditation, designed to create a collection which promotes learning and engages with visitors to be moved, inspired and challenged with the living heritage that is the story of The Rifles, the Regiment and its people; soldiers and dependants. The job will be based at The Rifles Regimental Headquarters in Winchester.

We wish to appoint an Assistant Curator to work 25 hours a week to support the curator in displaying, cataloguing and caring for the collections and in providing access to them and other archive collections to individuals and groups in the museum and to remote audiences via the web.

Main duties

  • Checking and maintaining objects on display in the museum as well as preparing cases and installing objects in the museum display and exhibitions.
  • Assist in organising group visits to the museum and in organising talks, lectures, events and workshops.
  • Assist in answering written, email and telephone enquiries received by The Rifles Collection.
  • Ensure accurate labelling and recording of objects in storage, display and during any move as well as assisting with object paperwork.
  • Lead on the documentation project of the museum store, ensuring that all items are correctly catalogued on MODES and labelled.
  • Take responsibility for the care, housing and safekeeping of the collections and the movement of objects for temporary exhibitions.
  • Digitalise the newspaper and other paper archives and ensure born-digital archives are maintained.
  • Working with and developing of volunteers and interns in the museum.
  • Supporting the work of other colleagues in The Rifles Museums Network and Regimental Headquarters.
  • Developing the museum’s online presence through its website and social media.
  • Attending training courses or seminars as necessary.
  • Support the museum in running events, exhibitions, talks and open days, as well as being innovative in developing events and exhibitions to maintain visitors’ interest.
  • Supporting and working on grant applications for the museum.
  • To undertake in a flexible manner such other duties as may be assigned by the Curator, the Regimental Secretary or the Assistant Regimental Secretary Heritage.
  • Be security conscious and ensure familiarity with all Health and Safety policies and procedures.

The Applicant

The successful applicant will demonstrate the following essential and desirable requirements:

Essential:

  • A degree/equivalent qualification in a relevant field or comparable work experience within the heritage sector.
  • Knowledge and experience of museum, archive or library collections, in particular with regards to access, conservation and information provision to accreditation standards.
  • Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise demands effectively and respond swiftly when necessary.
  • Accuracy and attention to detail.
  • Personable and confident with good communication skills.
  • Ability to work as a member of a team.
  • Physical ability for moving objects.
  • Excellent IT skills including Word and Excel.

Desirable:

  • Professional qualification as a curator, archivist or librarian.
  • Proven interest in military history.
  • Knowledge of social media, apps and WordPress.
  • Experience of cataloguing, using online databases and automated museum systems, in particular MODES.
  • Awareness of current practice for collection display, storage and conservation.

Terms and Conditions

You will be employed by RHQ The Rifles, initially on a 6 month probationary period. The salary will be £13,500. Working hours will be based on a week of 25 hours with time off in lieu for overtime hours. You will be entitled to the equivalent of 4 weeks paid leave per annum. This post includes a pension scheme into which you will be automatically enrolled but will have an option within the first 28 days to withdraw.

Applications

Applications by Wednesday 30November in either digital form or hardcopy to: Miss Melanie Marsh, Curator, The Rifles Collection, RHQ The Rifles, Peninsula Barracks, Romsey Road, Winchester, SO23 8TS, email:

For further information contact: Miss Melanie Marsh, , 01962 828505

Interviews: In December

Appointment: by Friday 16 December and with a start date in the first week of January. It is expected that the appointed post holder be able to spend a day with the Regimental Headquarters and the museum prior to the museum closure for Christmas on Friday 16December.