Posted: 02/02/2022 16:19
Salary: £31,534 to £39,795
Location: National Museum Of Scotland, Chambers Street
Level: Collections Care/Conservation
Deadline: 20/02/2022 23:59
Hours: 37.00
Benefits: membership of Civil Service pension scheme
Job Type: Permanent
National Museums Scotland is one of the leading museum groups in Europe. With one of the largest and most diverse collections in the world, we are responsible for the acquisition, preservation and display of a substantial part of Scotland’s cultural, historic and national heritage.
Millions of local and international visitors enjoy our four museums each year, and we also introduce our collections to a much wider audience than can physically visit our museums through, touring exhibitions, loans, community engagement, digital programmes and research.
Over the last decade, we have invested over £120 million in our sites and have more than doubled our visitor numbers, with over 3 million people now visiting our four museums. Alongside this, we have continued to transform how we communicate and engage with our audiences. 2019 has seen the completion of our Masterplan for the National Museum of Scotland with the opening of three new galleries dedicated to Ancient Egypt, East Asia and the Art of Ceramics.
Based at the National Museum of Scotland this permanent, full-time post will support the work of the Scottish History and Archaeology Department. Working within the Department’s Modern and Contemporary History Section, concerned with the material culture and history of Scotland from c.1750 to the present day, duties will include responsibility for collections; acquisitions; exhibitions; research; publications; and answering public enquiries. The post-holder will regularly undertake duties at the National Museum of Rural Life, East Kilbride. The ability to travel is essential.
The successful candidate will bring knowledge and enthusiasm about the broad history and material culture of Scotland, to work with a focus on the period covering aspects of later nineteenth and early 20th century history, and specialist knowledge of rural history collections from c.1750 to the present day.
With a track record of delivery in research, you will develop an ambitions research agenda focused on understanding and interpreting the collections in line with our Research Strategy and with an emphasis on externally-funded collaborative research. Your strategic collecting will build the national history collections for future interpretation, including support for contemporary collecting with reference to rural life issues. You will contribute to the wider activities of the section and the department, including development in the longer term. of our vision for new gallery displays of the material history of Scotland You will support the section’s commitment to our programme of special exhibitions.
Applicants should have a degree of minimum 2:1 standard and a postgraduate qualification in History, Museum Studies, Heritage Management or a cognate field, in addition to proven relevant work experience. A doctoral degree in a relevant subject will be an advantage. This is an early-mid career post and applicants should have experience of working in a museum or similar environment, and be knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the study and communication of Scottish history and culture.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate best practice in collections management. It is expected that applicants will have experience of undertaking research, responding to public enquiries and preparing and delivering presentations. Equally essential are ICT skills in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and Outlook together with knowledge of collections management databases. Applicants must be able to demonstrate ability to plan and organise their own workload, manage projects and build relationships within and outside of National Museums Scotland. A driving licence will be highly desirable.
Expected Outcomes:
▪ Contribution to curatorial and management activities
▪ Extended knowledge of collections and related subjects
▪ Enhanced documentation of the modern and rural history collections, especially the rural and working life collections, with particular reference to collections evaluation and review
▪ Knowledge applied and disseminated in research and public programmes
▪ Management of collections in line with National Museums Scotland standards
▪ Effective management of staff and volunteers as required
▪ Effective curatorial support for the National Museum of Rural
Life Reports To: Head of Section
Facts and Figures
Budget: On occasion delegated responsibility
Staff Managed: Volunteers and contractors
Indirect Staff Managed
Other: Responsibility for a section of the national collections of historical importance, financial value, and scholarly significance
Thinking Skills (Judgement / Decisions Made):
▪ Judgement and interpretation of specified collections to analyse their strengths, care requirements, context, potential development and / or research direction
▪ Knowledge of external context to inform daily work and subsequent recommendations (e.g. where / how to publish? Whom to borrow from? Why acquire? Who might fund?)
▪ Application of National Museums Scotland collections management policies and procedures
▪ Communication and organising skills, internal and external
▪ Recognition of issues which require upward referral
Communication and Contact
Internal:
▪ Line manager, head of department and other curators
▪ Collections Services department
▪ Science & Technology department
▪ General Manager and staff based at National Museum of Rural Life
▪ Director of Collections
▪ Research and Academic Liaison Manager
▪ Exhibitions & Displays department
▪ Learning & Engagement department
▪ Digital Media Department
External:
▪ Visitors and enquirers
▪ Others museums and related organisations (e.g. rural and agricultural history
societies and stakeholders)
▪ Potential sponsors, donors and vendors
▪ Borrowers and lenders
▪ Volunteers
Most Challenging Parts of the Job:
▪ To manage multiple priorities
▪ To manage specified collections, extend their accessibility, and develop further
specialist knowledge
▪ To resolve problems and develop solutions within National Museums Scotland guidelines
Other Requirements, e.g. Multi-site Working, On Call, etc:
Must be willing to travel as the duties require, e.g. National Museum of Rural Life and other National Museums’ sites, courier duties, documentation of loans offsite, fieldwork, or as a representative of National Museums to external bodies
Please see here for the full recruitment pack
