Collections Assistant

Summary Do you have an interest in heritage, culture and conservation work? 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 andtheir fascinating stories? It’s no small task. In fact, it’s a big team effort and it’s why our Collections Assistants are so important.

What it's like to work here The National Trust is the largest conservation charity in Europe, supported by over 11,000 staff and 40,000 volunteers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. For over 125 years, we have looked after coast and countryside, gardens and historic housesfor everyone to connect with and enjoy.

We’re for everyone, for ever. We want everyone to feel welcome and to enjoy access to our places, and we’re keen to welcome new and current visitors in ways that are meaningful and relevant to them.

The role of Collections assistant will be based at The Argory, an atmospheric Irish gentry house and wooded riverside estate near Dungannon. On occasion you may also be asked to help with collections care at other properties in the Mid Ulster portfolio,working alongside the house team at our special places.

What you'll be doing As a Collections Assistant at The Argory, you’ll be working with a great housekeeping team at a wonderful property, 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 fromthe environmental conditions in a room, to signs of wear and tear on the collection. You’ll keep accurate records too.

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.

Working weekends and bank holidays is an essential requirement for the post holder.

**Please also read the full role profile, attached to this advert.**

Who we're looking for We'd love to hear from you if you have;
- A keen interest in history, historic properties and conservation of their collections
- A good understanding of preventive conservation
- Knowledge of the approach required when working with fragile historic collections as well as Health & Safety and emergency procedures
- Good manual dexterity and eye-to-hand skills and ability to work from ladders and tower scaffold
- The ability to support volunteers to perform at their best
- Good interpersonal and communication skills, and are a great team player
- A willingness to undertake continuing professional development and personal skills development and have an enthusiasm to learn
The package The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audienceswe serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

Wherever you’re from, and whatever your background, we want to hear from you - and it doesn’t matter if you’re jam first, cream first, or even if you don’t like scones at all. Everyone is welcome.

Benefits for working at the National Trust include:

- Flexible working whenever possible
- Free parking at most locations
- Free entry to our properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
- Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.