Collections Assistant

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 and their fascinating stories? It’s no small task. In fact, it’s a big team effort and it’s why our Collections Assistant are so important.

We have an exciting opportunity to join an experienced, passionate, and enthusiastic Collections Team at The Children's Country House at Sudbury, The Museum of Childhood and Norbury Manor. You will assist with day-to-day cleaning and care of the property and undertake vital conservation work. The team thrive in a fast-paced environment that is full of variety, with an opportunity to work with a vast range of historic materials, meaning no day is the same. 

You'll work 22.5 hours per week. The working pattern will be over 4 days and will involve some weekend working (1 in 3 on a rotated basis) and some Bank Holidays. 

Reporting to the Collections & House Manager, you'll be working alongside two other Collections Assistants, x2 Collections & House Officers, x1 Senior Collections & House Officer and a fantastic group of Collections Care & Conservation Volunteers.

The Children's Country House at Sudbury and Norbury Manor are both unique properties. One a previous country home of the Vernon Family, offering a delight of 17th-century craftsmanship, exquisite plasterwork, wood carvings and classical story-based murals. Our second property Norbury, is a stone-built Medieval Hall held by the Fitzherbert Family. We additionally look after The Museum of Childhood, a delight for all ages with something for everyone. Visitors can discover something new or relive nostalgic memories by exploring the childhoods of times gone by. The Children’s Country House opened in 2022, giving us an opportunity to see how children experience and engage with historic houses. We want to create a fun and immersive heritage day out, sharing our stories and historic collection in a way that allows children to feel comfortable to explore and be curious. We are now looking to review and evaluate the first phase.?

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As a Collections Assistant, you’ll be working alongside a welcoming and friendly Collections & House Team in an incredible place. You'll ensure high presentation standards by undertaking the day-to-day cleaning and care of the historic collection. You'll follow the latest preventive conservation guidance, maintaining a keen eye on areas such as environmental conditions in rooms, pest-checking and monitoring wear and tear to our historic collection. You’ll maintain accurate record-keeping. This role does involve some working from ladders and tower scaffold. 

In this visitor facing role, we’d love you to talk to visitors about the work you’re doing, and the collection we have. You'll also be part of the wider property team, supporting where necessary.

We'd love to hear from you if you're;

• a team player, but can also work on your own initiative
• well organised and adaptable?  
• customer focused with a positive attitude?  
• willing to learn new skills?  
• good manual dexterity and hand-to-eye skills and ability to work from ladders and tower scaffold 

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)

•Tax-free childcare scheme

•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.