Download Curator,RBBM_Job description_May14

Job Description
Role: Curator
Reports to: Head of Collections, Archives and Library
Services
May 2014
Business Function: Collections,
Archives and Library Services
Pay Band/Starting Salary: Band F,
£31,508
Type of Contract: Permanent / fulltime (40 hours)
Location: Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Murdoch's
Lone, Alloway, Ayr KA7 4PQ
Terms and Conditions:
- The post is subject to the standard terms and conditions provided with the application
pack.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
This job exists to undertake work that improves the knowledge and application of the Trust’s
historic interiors and material culture collections, to ensure high standards of presentation and
display, and to promote and facilitate best practice in collection management. This post, which is
based at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway will have a special remit for the
collections in South West Scotland, including those with a strong literary focus and will have a
nationwide remit to promote contemporary art throughout our properties, both in the built
environment and in our landscape settings.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Key Purposes of the Job will be met by:
Service Delivery
o Enabling intellectual access to the Trust’s historic interiors and material culture collections,
by acquiring and disseminating authoritative information to NTS staff, members and the
general public.
o Providing advice and guidance across the south west area on the display of the collections,
planning and delivering new displays and rearrangements as required.
o Assisting with and initiating temporary exhibitions interventions and displays of
contemporary art, working with staff across other professional disciplines and across Trust
properties.
o Assisting with the management of new acquisitions, liaising with donors and funders as
required.
o Undertaking projects associated with collections, especially on Robert Burns, our literary
collections and contemporary art, working alongside other specialist disciplines and in line
with NTS conservation priorities.
o Assisting with the administration of loans to and from the collections.
Conservation
o Acquiring and developing knowledge about Robert Burns, our literary collections and
contemporary art, and their cultural significance, through research and publishing.
o Helping to develop and implement best collections management practice across the Trust, in
line with the NTS Conservation Principles.
o Assisting with the documentation of the Trust’s collections, according to SPECTRUM
standards, undertaking cataloguing tasks to help address the documentation backlog.
o Coordinating the Museum Accreditation applications for the existing and new scheme and
compiling returns to ensure accreditation status is retained.
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Contributing to wider management planning processes and the development of operational
policies and guidelines aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the built properties and their
contents.
Raising the external profile of the collections by delivering public lectures and talks.
Developing good working relationships and networks with other local, national and
international heritage and cultural bodies.
Contribute to the security of collections within designated properties.
Commercial and Marketing Support
o Helping to raise funding support for new acquisitions and collections activity, through
grants, donations and sponsorship.
o Providing support for marketing-led temporary exhibitions, as appropriate.
o Helping to deliver an annual reduction in like for like energy consumption.
People Management and Change
o Communicating, coaching and enthusing NTS staff and volunteers in best collections
management practice and policy.
o Working effectively across departmental disciplines.
o Liaising diplomatically with an extensive range of external stakeholders.
The current duties of this job do not require a criminal records (Disclosure Scotland) check to be
carried out.
SCOPE OF ROLE
Technical Knowledge
o Demonstrable experience of curatorial and collections-management responsibilities in a
museum/gallery and an excellent understanding of the contemporary art world.
Postgraduate degree in Museum and Gallery Studies or AMA highly desirable.
o Competent object recognition and analytical skills, with proven ability and willingness to
curate a wide range of object types.
o Sound understanding of SPECTRUM documentation standards and the requirements for
Museum Accreditation.
People Management
o No direct line reports; supervision of volunteers and work placement students as
appropriate.
Financial Management
o Contribute to the cost-effective use of revenue budgets; initiation of forward estimates for
core work plans, as required.
o Management of budgets for small to medium-sized projects, as appropriate.
o Responsible attitude towards personal expenses.
SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
Essential
 Educated to at least degree level in Art History, Visual Culture or demonstrable similar
experience;
 Demonstrable experience of collections management and access within a museum, gallery or
cultural environment.
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Excellent organisational, administrative and time-management skills with the ability to
prioritise workload to meet changing demands and deadlines.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and highly developed inter-personal skills.
Experience of research from first sources – track record of publications desirable.
Experience of object cataloguing and use of collections management databases.
Demonstrable experience of handling original objects and planning exhibition displays.
Visual, creative thinker.
Ability to function effectively both independently and as part of a team.
Competent user of Microsoft Office products.
A willingness to travel across Scotland.
Demonstrable high levels of interpersonal and communication skills and confidence in dealing
with a wide range of staff, visitors and other stakeholders.
Current driving licence valid for driving in the UK.
Desirable
 A museum or Heritage management or curatorial post-graduate qualification (or equivalent) or
advanced certificate.
 Broad knowledge of Scottish literary history and Western European fine art and a specialist
knowledge of contemporary art, to the equivalent of at least degree level.
The Key Responsibilities, Scope of Job, and Required Qualifications, Skills, Experience & Knowledge
reflect the requirements of the job at the time of issue. The Trust reserves the right to amend these
with appropriate consultation and/or request the post-holder to undertake any activities that it
believes to be reasonable within the broad scope of the job or his/her general abilities.
Applications
Interested applicants should forward a completed application form to Human Resources Department
(Applications), The National Trust for Scotland, Hermiston Quay, 5 Cultins Road
Edinburgh, EH11 4DF, by mail or by email via [email protected], by first post (i.e. 10.00am) on
16 June 2014. Interviews are likely to be held at Central Office, Edinburgh during early July 2014.