Collections Access Assistant

Preston Park Museum & Grounds continues to be one of the most popular visitor attractions within the Tees Valley. The Museum reopened in 2012 following a £7 million capital redevelopment programme, funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund and Stockton Borough Council and it has since been recognised as a Museum of the Year finalist.

The successful candidate will join the Collections team based in the purpose built Spence Store at the Museum.

They will support the Collections Officer in caring for over 100,000 objects held within the Museum Service, covering a range of projects from conservation and display to object recording and interpretation.

The Collections team also work closely with the wider Museum team, delivering a variety of activities as part of the popular events programme.

The role requires a highly motivated, organised and flexible person who can adapt to and deliver on a wide range of requirements.

They should be able to demonstrate that they have the ability to work alone or as part of a team delivering at a busy and popular visitor attraction.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. To care for the Museum Service collection, ensuring their correct storage, security, use and display, in line with Service procedures.

2. To assist in the managing of the housekeeping schedules in displays and in the stores

3. To undertake preventative conservation including environmental monitoring and pest monitoring.

4. To assist with the setup, data migration and data clean-up of the Collections Management System.

5. To undertake the documentation and cataloguing of the Service collection, including accessioning and reconciliation onto MODES in line with Service and SPECTRUM guidelines.

6. To participate in the continued improvement of the Service's collection, in line with the Collections Development Policy and current priorities.

7. To work with the Collections Officer to regularly review Collections Policies in line with Accreditation and Service priorities.

8. To participate in collections' rationalisation in liaison with the Collections Officer, including updating the inventory, research, selection and de-accessioning of items, as necessary and in line with Service procedures.

9. To assist the Collections Officer in answering enquiries relating to the collection and assist researchers by providing controlled access to the Service collection.

10. To function as a member of the Museum team and to assist with the development and delivery of a range of access activities and display opportunities, giving visitors and users the chance to find out more about and enjoy the Museum collection including tours and talks.

11. To drive the Museum van to achieve Museum objectives

12. To undertake any training and development necessary to meet the duties and responsibilities of the post. To assess and make provision for the training needs of colleagues for which the post holder is responsible.

13. To supervise the work of volunteers, work experience placements and researchers.

14. To assist the Collections Officer with the securing of, or return of, loan material.

15. To be a member of the emergency disaster team.

16. To lead on various collections management projects as delegated by the Museum Development Manager and Collections Officer.

17. To take reasonable care of your own health and safety and co-operate with management, so far as it is necessary to enable compliance with the Authorities Health and Safety rules and legislative requirements.

18. To be aware of and adhere to all SBC financial, legal and administrative policies and procedures.

19. To undertake any such other duties and responsibilities commensurate with the grading and nature of the post.

20. To ensure that all customers both internal and external, receive a consistently high quality level of service, commensurate to the standards required by Stockton-On-Tees Borough Council.