Collections Assistant

<p>We protect everything from bats to buildings to beaches – and we want to share them with everyone too. But how do we care for our special places, while helping everyone to enjoy them and their fascinating stories? It’s no small task. In fact, it’s a big team effort and it’s why our Collections Assistant&nbsp; are so important.</p>
<p><strong>Hours: </strong>15 hours per week. Working atleast two weekends per month</p>
<p><strong>Salary: </strong>£18298 per annum</p>
<p><strong>Contracts: </strong>Fixed term contract for six months</p>
<p><strong>What it's like to work here</strong></p>
<p>One of the National Trust’s most visited places, Nymans was once a creative retreat for the artistic Messel family. The garden holds nationally significant plant collections and at its centre is the Messel family home – a partial ruin. Warm and welcoming, the remaining rooms offer a charming insight to the lives of the people that once lived there. The adjoining woodland, with lake and bird hides, is a place of peace and tranquillity, with plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife and flowers. The small gallery shows changing exhibitions throughout the year and a programme of activities reflects the exhibition themes.</p>
<p>As well as its famous garden and house, Nymans has a successful bookshop, plant centre, cafe and shop. Nyman's garden is a lover's delight, jam-packed with borders offering endless inspiration for your garden at home. This is a wonderful opportunity to work within an artistic environment where no two days are the same.</p>
<p><strong>What you'll be doing</strong></p>
<p>As a Collections Assistant, you’ll be working with a great housekeeping team in an incredible place, helping with the day-to-day cleaning and care of the collections. No detail will go unnoticed, and you’ll keep a keen eye on everything from the environmental conditions in a room, to signs of wear and tear. You’ll keep accurate records too.</p>
<p>In this visitor facing role, we’d love you to talk to visitors about the work you’re doing, and the collections we have. You'll also be part of the wider team of employees and volunteers, helping to cover where necessary.</p>
<p><strong>We'd love to hear from you if you have;</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>A keen interest in history, historic properties and conservation of their collections</li>
<li>A good understanding of preventive conservation</li>
<li>Knowledge of the approach required when working with fragile historic collections as well as Health &amp; Safety and emergency procedures</li>
<li>Good manual dexterity and eye-to-hand skills and ability to work from ladders and tower scaffold</li>
<li>The ability to support volunteers to perform at their best</li>
<li>Good interpersonal and communication skills, and are a great team player</li>
<li>A willingness to undertake continuing professional development and personal skills development and have an enthusiasm to learn</li>
</ul>