Oral History Project Coordinator

JOB DESCRIPTION

Oral History Project Coordinator

Intergenerational Oral History on the Isle of Wight

Post Title: Oral History Project Coordinator

Responsible to: Museum Manager, Carisbrooke Castle Museum

Hours: 1.59 days per week/£175 per day (83 days)

Salary: £14,525

Contract: Freelance contract (1 year)

GENERALDESCRIPTION

Carisbrooke Castle Museum is seeking to recruit a coordinator for an oral history project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The appointment will be part-time and will be for 12 months on a fixed term freelance contract. The position will be based at the Carisbrooke Castle Museum and the post-holder will work alongside the Isle of Wight Council Heritage Education Officer, who is also based at Carisbrooke Castle Museum, to jointly coordinate the project.

The successful applicant will have previous experience in coordinating an oral history project, preferably HLF funded projects and experience of running community heritage projects. The successful applicant will be jointly responsible for coordinating all aspects of the oral history project, including recruiting and training volunteers and working with young people and older audiences in an outreach capacity.

THE PROJECT

The project is a partnership between the Isle of Wight Heritage Education Service, Carisbrooke Castle Museum and young people in Years 7&8 at a local High School. It will provide an opportunity for young people to develop the skills and knowledge required to become oral historians. It will involve the young people in our partner school working with older people in their communities to enable them to explore and learn about their local heritage. The young people will be trained through a series of workshops in oral history techniques and reminiscence practice. They will conduct oral history interviews and then then share them in a variety of ways which could include curating an exhibition, making a documentary, using performing arts and making interviews available in a variety of ways digitally.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

•Train and recruit volunteers to support all aspects of the project

•Source and purchase the resources required for undertaking oral history interviews

•Liaise with school staff and care setting staff to provide a programme of sessions for young people both at school and in the community (care settings)

•Organise and provide training opportunities for young people in oral history interviewing

•Support young people to use museum objects to run reminiscence sessions for older people and develop discussion points and questions to guide reminiscence sessions and interviews

•Support young people to record, using various means, the memories (oral testimony) shared during the sessions and then process this material

•Support young people to interpret the interview material in a variety of ways, which could include digital outputs, an exhibition, written or visual materials

•Liaise with museum staff to ensure interviews and recording agreements are archived according to relevant procedures

•Ensure all project activity is recorded including a photographic record of activity

•Assist in the management of the project budget

•Report regularly to museum trustees and assist in the production of a final report

•Assist with publicising the project including online and in social media

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

Essential / Desirable
Experience in managing heritage projects, preferably in oral history and/or funded by the HLF.
Understanding of oral history methods and practice; previous experience using or creating oral history
Experience interviewing subjects in extended interviews, preparing research and questions for such interviews, experience with digital audio file formats for archives, as well as for internet access
Knowledge of the technical equipment required to conduct, edit and collect oral history is essential.
Experience of recruiting and supervising volunteers.
Experience of working with older people in a community setting.
Experience of working with young people in a community setting.
Excellent organisational and management skills and the ability to meet deadlines.
Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
Good IT skills.
Ability to work well on your own initiative.
Ability to work within a team and manage partnerships
Full UK driving licence and use of a vehicle
Willingness to undertake an enhanced CRB check / Previous experience of working on or with exhibition design or producing materials for schools.
Experience organising events.
Skills in audio and visual editing, previous experience editing website content and managing social media.
Experience with monitoring and recording projects.
General administrative experience
Awareness of relevant Health and Safety issues related to the position.
Awareness of working with vulnerable groups and the legislation in relation to this

APPLICATION

To apply, please send the following:
a covering letter describing why you feel you would be suitable for the role and your current CV;

by email to by4:00pm Thu 15th September 2016

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview on Thu 22nd September. We expect the role to begin in October 2016, or as soon as possible thereafter.