Hoard Conservator - Organics Scientist

Birmingham Museums Trust is seeking to appoint an Organics scientist.

The Staffordshire Hoard is the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon treasure ever found. The organics scientist post will use FTIR and microscope identification to look at the remaining organic material on the objects, these are organic pastes, residues and osseous organic materials in an attempt to identify the materials present.

This position will be vital to unlock the information and widen the understanding of the material and manufacture of the hoard objects.

The position will form a team within the conservation department to work alongside the BMT conservation team and the wider Hoard research team and finds specialists.

A full description of the role and responsibilities can be found in the attached job description together with the person specification.

For further information and to apply, please visit our website; www.bmag.org.uk/about/vacancies

The closing date is Friday 7th November 2014 at 9am.
Interviews will be held on the week commencing 24 November 2014.

Please submit your completed application form to recruitment@birminghammuseums.org.uk

Hoard Conservator- organics research post
Reporting to: Hoard Conservation Coordinator

Areas of responsibility: Based at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, the post holder will be required to provide metals research for Stage 2 of the Staffordshire Hoard conservation and research program.
Salary: £25 - £32k pro-rata, based on experience

Accountabilities:
1. To work with the Hoard Conservation Project co-ordinator to ensure that the aims of the project are met within the guidelines of the Stage Two Hoard Conservation and Research Plan.
2. To undertake the analysis, documentation and packing to appropriate standards as required.
3. To participate as requested in any public programme work associated with the project

Key Responsibilities:
1. Catalogue all organic materials present on the hoard objects
2. To undertake FTIR analysis of the discovered pastes and residues, along with literature review of any known identified organic materials from Anglo-Saxon materials.
3. Undertake identification of all osseous materials discovered under microscopic investigation as far as possible.
4. To work with colleagues within the conservation department and wider museum staff to ensure that the hoard conservation work and security is not compromised.
5. To supervise student placements and volunteers working on the hoard to ensure appropriate standards are being maintained.
6. To enter collection information onto the BMT Collections Management System and online database.
7. To participate in public engagement events during weekdays and weekends. Including participation in 'live' conservation carried out in studios, galleries, or videoed for the internet and prepare and participate in presentations to interested groups. To assist in the delivery of open days, tours, activities, workshops and other events
8. To facilitate visits by researchers, conservators, high profile visitors and filming requests as requested.
9. To complete and produce documentation to the required standard and maintain health and safety data relating to the Control of Substances Hazardous to health (COSHH), risk assessments, manual handling and ionising Radiation Regulations (IRR). To observe and maintain safe working practices in work areas and elsewhere in accordance with the approved and accepted health and Safety policies and regulations (COSHH & Risk Assessments)
10. Carry out such other associated duties as may from time to time incidentally arise, develop, or be assigned.
11. To undertake any specialist and/or general training as required by the post

All of the above is not an exhaustive list of duties and the postholder will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by their changing role within the organisation and the overall business objectives of the organisation.

Purpose of this Job Description:

Birmingham Museums Trust (BMT) considers this document as a 'snapshot' of the job and the tasks listed are not an exhaustive list. It aims to provide a clear guide at the time of writing to all that is involved about the requirements of the job. It will also be used to communicate expectations about performance and will be used to monitor effective performance.

Person Specification
Essential Criteria
Desirable Criteria

Qualification
Essential - You will have a strong and relevant science background with experience in a research and/or analytical laboratory environment. Experience in the application and use of a range of analytical techniques including FTIR are essential. You will have experience in some of the following: SEM-EDX, X-radiography, XRD, Raman or FTIR spectroscopy, microscopy techniques.

Essential - Membership of relevant national or international professional organisation e.g.
Experience and Knowledge
Essential - Demonstrable scientific experience and competence in a relevant specialist area
Essential - Experience and knowledge of Health & Safety procedures, including COSHH, risk assessment, manual handling and other relevant legislation within a work place context
Essential - Experience in report writing for publication
Desirable - Experience in working on Archaeological conservation projects.
Desirable - Experience of data entry to museum collection databases
Desirable - Managing students, interns and volunteers

Skills
Essential - Excellent organisational skills, ability to work with initiative, prioritise tasks and work to deadlines.
Essential - Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate to a wide variety of people.
Essential - IT literate and familiar with the use of MS office and databases
Essential - Ability to work with a wide range of people and must be a strong team player who can contribute ideas and who is self-motivating
Desirable - Experience and enthusiasm for public programme work and video blogs or the desirability to learn.

Aptitude
Essential - Confident and outgoing at presenting information
Essential - Self-motivated and able to work independently from time to time
Essential - Willing to develop strong working relationships inside and outside the team to achieve common goals
Essential - Enthusiasm for and knowledge of BMT collections and galleries

Circumstances
Essential - Available to work flexibly, including weekends, evenings and bank holidays
Essential - Able to travel throughout the area to visit other sites as required.

Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults
Essential - Fully understands their role in the context of safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults
Essential - Ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children, young people and vulnerable adults

Equal Opportunities
Desirable - An understanding of Equal Opportunities