Collections Assistant

You'll be providing an invaluable experience, working within a historic country house. Working alongside a dedicated & passionate collections care team, you will demonstrate & show interest in caring for our historic collection.

Not only providing an engaging attitude, you will demonstrate skill in providing historic information about the property and it's collections through day-to-day conservation care and visitor engagement.

Wallington's collection include paintings, furniture, textiles, books and internationally important ceramics.

What it's like to work here:You'll be working with a small team of house- based conservation team in a rare & unique opportunity here at Wallington.

Handling National and Internationally important collections including paintings, furniture, textiles, book & ceramics. With over 18,000 items including works by Turner, Reynaolds, Morris, Chippendale, Raeburn, Gainsborough to name a few.

You'll provide a warm, friendly and engaging attitude as you will be, at times visitor faced, demonstrating historic information and the day- to-day conservation care of the historic collections.

There will be development opportunities to attend conservation collections days with the National Trust in caring for historic houses and collections.

What you'll be doing:As a Collections Assistant, you’ll be working with a great housekeeping team in an incredible place, 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 from the environmental conditions in a room, to signs of wear and tear. 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.

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

Who we're looking forWe'd love to hear from you if you have;

• A keen curiosity in history, historic properties and conservation of their collections
• A good understanding of preventive conservation
• Awareness 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
• Willingness to develop and grow professional and personal skills

The packageThe 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 audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

• Free entry to National Trust properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

• Tax free childcare scheme

• Rental deposit loan scheme

• Season ticket loan

• Perks at work discounts i.e. gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts

• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.

• Flexible working whenever possible

• Employee assistance programme

• Free parking at most locations

• Independent financial advice