Job Vacancies

When job vacancies are available at the museum, they will appear on this page.

 

Vacancy: Museum Assistant

Type: Full Time (Permanent)

Location: Winchester, Hampshire

Salary: £19, 250

Closing Date: 22 January 2021

HorsePower is a small regimental museum in Winchester city centre. The Museum Assistant manages the museum’s daily operation and reports to the Regimental Secretary / Honorary Curator.

Responsibilities include opening the museum to the public, encouraging visitor attendance through interaction, activities and advertising, cleanliness of the museum in particular with regard to COVID-19 procedures, looking after the displays, caring for the reserve collection and documentation, answering historical and visitor enquiries, updating the website and Facebook page, organising the volunteers’ rosters and running a small retail operation.

We are looking for someone who is self-motivated, able to work independently and has experience of working in a customer facing role in a heritage attraction. The successful candidate will have strong organisational skills, be confident in the use of IT and social media, and have an interest in military history.

A copy of the job description is available below.

To apply please email your CV with names and contact details of two referees, and a letter on not more than one sheet of A4 stating your suitability for the position.

Closing date for applications: 9am Friday 22 January 2021.

Interviews will be held on Thursday 28 January.

For more information contact Peter Garbutt at curator@horsepowermuseum.co.uk or 01962 828539 www.horsepowermuseum.co.uk

A PDF download of the job opportunity and description can be found via this link: Museum Assistant Job Opportunity and Description

Job Description

Job purpose

To assist the Curator with the management and development of the museum, offering visitors and users a high quality customer focused service and maintaining high standards of collections care

Responsibilities

  • Open and close the museum as advertised, ensuring its security and the security of exhibits
  • Manage the museum shop, ordering and maintaining cost-effective stock levels
  • Handle admissions and retail sales cash
  • Encourage visitor attendance through good interaction, interesting activities for adults and children and advertising via all media channels
  • Answer enquiries relating to the museum and its collections
  • Monitor environmental conditions and maintain high standards of housekeeping and cleanliness in the museum, in the archives room and in the reserve collection store
  • Be aware of and exercise personal responsibilities under Health & Safety regulations for self and visitors, including COVID-19 protective measures, procedures and restrictions as long as required
  • Maintain the MODES documentation system up to date
  • Assist in the development of museum exhibitions
  • Update the museum website regularly
  • Run the museum Social Media pages
  • Organise and lead group visits as required
  • Organise volunteers’ rosters, and ensure that volunteers are kept informed of changes or developments in the museum
  • Liaise with staff in other museums in Peninsula Barracks
  • Contribute to Winchester’s Military Museums collaborative marketing and other activities
  • Carry out any other tasks in support of the museum that may be reasonably expected of the post holder

The appointment is permanent, subject to a six-month probation period. Working hours are 37½ hours per week Monday to Friday, with occasional evening and weekend duties for which time off in lieu will be given.

Person Specification

Essential qualification, experience and skills

  • Degree or equivalent experience (5 years working in a museum assistant role)
  • Experience of dealing with the public in a heritage or museum environment
  • Interest in the history of the British Army
  • Good written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines
  • Computer literate, with good knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, databases, digitisation and social media
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
  • Ability to use basic DIY tools

Desirable qualification, experience and skills

  • Driving licence
  • Experience of working with volunteers
  • Experience of working with museum collections
  • Experience of using MODES documentation system
  • Experience of managing an improvement project