Collections Assistant - Whitley Bay

Summary

Seaton Delaval Hall Seaton Delaval may have been one of the architect Sir John Vanbrugh’s smallest country houses; but it was home to the large- than-life Delaval family, and we bring their theatricality to life every day. Join our Collections and House team in looking after our Grade I listed County House, including our newly re-opened West Wing.
Our Collections Assistants care for our buildings, spaces and collections items; be it with a duster and hoover or through pest management and environmental monitoring, every day provides a new experience.
This fixed term contract is a perfect job for someone looking to start their career in conservation, giving you practical hands on experience in the day to day operations of a busy National Trust property. Joining a well-established Collections & House Team, you will be supported in your role as you help us care for our spaces. You will help shape our approach to preventative conservation as we work with more visitors than ever before. 
Candidates will be invited to interview anytime from the 24th July, so we'd encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

What it's like to work here

This Northumbrian country house is one of the National Trust’s more recent acquisitions. Seaton Delaval Hall has recently undergone a real transformation; with £7.8 million invested in conservation and developing the visitor experience, including the new Brewhouse Café and the Delaval Playdium play area. This is a place of theatre, imagination and fun that brings together a spirit of adventurous programming and events, alongside the drama of the place, that keeps visitors coming back again and again. 
Seaton Delaval Hall continues to go from strength to strength having welcomed 100,000 visitors in the last year, for the first time. With our expanded visitor offer you will play a vital role in helping to look after our buildings and collections so they can continue to be enjoyed by everyone.
With a full time working pattern, predominately Sunday- Thursday, you will be working alongside two other Collections Assistants, with the support of a Collections and House Officer to help with the daily cleaning and collections care. 
You'll report to our Collections and House Manager. In this visitor facing role you will talk to visitors about the work we do, sharing how we look after our spaces and collections. You will also be part of a wider team of employees and volunteers, helping to cover where necessary. 

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 for

• 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
• 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 
• Good eye for detail 
• Enthusiastic with a willingness to learn 
• Helpful & friendly.

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 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.

Wherever you’re from, and whatever your background, we want to hear from you. 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.