Collections & House Officer

Summary

We're looking for a Collections and House Officer to join the team at Wimpole Hall, bringing to life the history and significance of this much-loved place. You'll care deeply about achieving high standards, and helping to make beauty and history accessible to all.

You'll work Monday to Wednesday, with regular weekend working, and will share a 7-day duty manager rota with the Senior Collections & House Officer and another Collections & House Officer.

Because Wimpole is in a rural area, please think about how you’d be able to get here for work, before you apply for this job.

If you wanted to know more you can contact the team to arrange a conversation by emailing .uk

What it's like to work here

Reporting to the Senior Collections and House Manager, you'll join the team at Wimpole Estate. Wimpole is one of the busiest pay-for-entry sites in the National Trust and flexibility is needed to meet the changing visitor operations requirements. You'll take on a share of all functions of collections management and care, supervising 170 volunteers, and supporting the team of four Collections Assistants. As a part of this compact team, you'll share responsibility for delivering an outstanding 362-day-a-year visitor experience. The majority of your work will be done in Wimpole Hall, but you'll also work across the rest of the Wimpole Estate where required, particularly to support with collections in the garden, Home Farm and wider estate. 

The high functioning team regularly delivers the core day-to-day operational work as well as getting involved with conservation and experience-based projects. The team is comprised of experienced staff who take a lot of joy from supporting and developing one another.

Click here for more information about this location

What you'll be doing

As the Collections and House Officer, you’ll be responsible for opening the house every day, and making sure there are enough people in the right places to give visitors a consistently good experience. 

Supervised by a Senior Collections and House Officer, you'll be responsible for routine conservation, preventive conservation and the annual programme of deep cleaning. Your attention and expertise will help to ensure excellent standards of care throughout the house.  

You'll collect and record information gathered during cleaning and housekeeping, to improve our knowledge and understanding of the house and all that’s in it. You’ll use preventive conservation methods to improve how we look after everything, and how we present it to visitors.

As a duty manager, you'll be responsible for the opening and closing of the house, and you'll support the collections team, including making sure that the visitor offer is always presented at its absolute best. You'll also be the fire marshal and the designated person for all health, safety, security and welfare matters, and the first responder to support volunteers in handling visitor enquiries and managing service recovery. You'll brief the volunteers and look after their on-the-day needs, as well as keeping an eye on the rota and liaising with the rest of the team to identify future gaps. You'll be the person who operates the stair climber to facilitate access for visitors who need help to get up and down the flight of steps at the entrance to the house. You'll also liaise with the estate duty manager, taking a lead for the collections and house team in co-ordinating estate wide needs, especially for emergency situations. You may also be asked to cover the role of estate duty manager. Local, site-specific, training will be given to make sure you're competent to effectively perform these essential duties.

Who we're looking for

We'd love to hear from you if you’re: 

• someone who puts people first, and who knows what’s needed to make sure everyone receives great service  

• able to work as part of a team, with skills in day-to-day supervision and management 

• good at talking to, and getting on with, all kinds of people 

• comfortable with managing costs and spending 

• full of ideas about how to make spaces and objects accessible to more visitors 

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.

•Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

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

•Rental deposit loan scheme

•Season ticket loan

•EV car lease scheme 

•Perks at work discounts such as 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 Trust places

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