COLLECTIONS MANAGER

Part time: 4 days per week

Salary: £25,000 pro-rata (4 days/week)

Based at Chiddingstone Castle, Hill Hoath Road, TN87AD, Chiddingstone, Kent

Application deadline: Friday 22nd September

Interviews to be held: Wednesday 27th September

Primary responsibility for all aspects of the care of the Collections of Denys Eyre Bower atChiddingstone Castle.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • To understand and appreciate the Charity Commission’s Mission Statement of the Denys Eyre Bower Bequest: “To preserve and maintain Chiddingstone Castle and its contents, including the Collections of the late Denys Eyre Bower, in perpetuity for the benefit of the public”.
  • To be responsible for the display of the Collections
  • To abide by the Museums Association’s Code of Ethics
  • To ensure adherence to quality expectations and standards, with specific adherence to Museum Accreditation Standards
  • To commission external conservation of items in the Collectionsas required having gained permission to do so from the Board of Trustees
  • To keep all documentationof the Collections updated (including the collection management system MODES), following Spectrum standards
  • To manage all volunteers working with the Collections
  • To write interpretation of Collections where required
  • To deal with enquiries from the public and professionals including any stakeholders
  • To undertake research of items within the Collections and disseminate such information as required, ie to the public, the media or within a catalogue
  • To undertake preventative conservation of the Collections in order to minimise damage
  • To assist with writing copy for the Castle’s website, guide book and media to promote the Collections
  • To network with other museum and art gallery professionals and outside agencies
  • To assist the Education Officer in planning school visits
  • To develop and maintain positive working relationships with others and support team to reach common goals.
  • To contribute to fundraising efforts to meet targets set by the Board of Trustees
  • To ensure all Denys Eyre Bower’s property remains in a good state of maintenance and repair
  • To undertake such other duties as may from time to time be required by the Board of Trustees and to provide such reports, advice and information as may be reasonably required to enable the Board to discharge its statutory responsibilities

SKILLS

  • High standards of personal conduct and confidentiality, as detailed in the Museums Association’s Code of Ethics
  • A positive and enthusiastic attitude, lively personality and flexible manner
  • Able to multitask, work well under pressure and make educated decisions, sometimes at short notice
  • Able to work unsupervised
  • Strong communication skills, both written and oral
  • Excellent organisational skills and problem-solving abilities
  • Excellent people management skills – able to provide clear direction

EXPERIENCE

  • A relevant qualification to a minimum of degree level
  • A minimum of 4 years’paid experience in a similar role
  • A specialism in one or more of the collection subjects would be ideal
  • Experience in managing budgets
  • Experience of hiring, training and supervising staff/volunteers
  • ITliterate including experience in Collections Management Systems, ideally MODES
  • Experience in working in a small team

Please send CV and a cover letter to by Friday 22nd September.