Collections Assistant

Salary: GBP33,657.50
Closing date: Wednesday, 10 June 2024
Contract type: Permanent
Wellcome Collection is a free museum and library exploring health and human experience, where you can enjoy exhibitions, museum and library collections, public events, and a vibrant shop and café. We also publish books and online stories.
This is a great time to join Wellcome Collection as we embark on an exciting period of change. Wellcome Collection has recently introduced a new ten–year strategy and this role will play an important part in bringing to life our vision of a world where everyone's experience of health matters.
Wellcome Collection is part of Wellcome Trust, a global charitable foundation that supports science to build a healthier future for everyone. Wellcome Trust plans to spend GBP16bn over the next ten years, funding new discoveries in life, health, and wellbeing, and taking on three global health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate and health.
These challenges need the bold science we support, but they won't be solved by science alone.
We are looking for 2 Collections Assistants to join our team on full time, permanent basis.
Where in Wellcome will I be working?
You will be working within the Collections and Digital department. One role will sit in the Conservation and Collection Care team, managed by the Collection Storage Manager, with a focus on collection care.
One role will sit in the Collections Information team, managed by the Collections Information Lead (Inventory), with a focus on inventory.
You will work closely with Conservators, the Collection Information team, Registrars, Digitisation Support, and Collection Development, to support delivery of our ambitious programme.
What will I be doing?
The Collections and Digital department support inclusive access to the collection by understanding its content and materiality. We want to reach new audiences, inspire, engage, and challenge people to think about health and what it means to be human.
You will:
Assist with Conservation and Collection Care work e.g. repackaging of material, shelving boxes, undertaking sample condition surveys and environmental monitoring – full training and guidance will be provided.
Work across both the early printed books, ephemera and visual material inventories identifying, recording and helping to resolved documentation issues such as those with inaccurate or missing data.
Support the Collection Storage Strategy by moving collections, attending site visits, improving locations information and using movement control processes.
Share knowledge of inventoried collections through presentations and blogs, and take part in team initiatives such as prioritisation of material for cataloguing, and documentation of materials with an inclusive and accessible approach.
Is this job for me?
You are someone who thrives on working in diverse, flexible and multidisciplinary teams.
You will have a strong ethos of working in partnership with your teammates and colleagues to meet the team's objectives. We strongly welcome people with operational and strategic experience in managing workflows, processes and people as part of a larger effort.
We are looking for someone who will have:
Experience of handling collection items in a cultural environment, preferably in a museum, library or archive setting
Experience of inventory documentation, condition survey/reporting, cataloguing, accession listing or indexing work preferably in a museum, library, or archive setting
Experience of large–scale collection moves, digitisation or decants and the associated documentation requirements with a high level of accuracy in repetitive tasks
Experience of preventive conservation and awareness of collection care processes
A proficiency in using spreadsheets and collection databases, with proven experience of data entry or editing. Specifically for the Collections Information role, experience of editing MARC21 library data is appreciated
The ability to contribute to a diverse and inclusive culture across the organisation, working in partnership across departments.
To apply please upload your current CV and complete our short application.
Interview dates: Week commencing Monday, 29 July 2024
You can view the full job descriptions for both the Collections Assistant (Care) and Collections Assistant (Information) on our website.
You can read more about the benefits we offer our employees on our website
Our Hybrid Way of Working
We understand that our colleagues have commitments and personal interests outside of work and we strive to build a flexible working environment, in which people can perform at their best. We are currently working 2 days per week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) from our Euston Road offices (as part of our hybrid Ways of Working) with the remaining 3 days working either remotely or in the office.
From 1st September 2024 we will move to 3 days in the office (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) with the remaining 2 days working either remotely or in the office.
Diversity and Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do
Diversity and Inclusion is a priority at Wellcome. We are committed to cultivating a fair and inclusive environment, where everyone can be themselves and thrive. We are happy to discuss flexible working options for all roles. We work to ensure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible to everyone. This includes making adjustments for people who have a disability or long–term condition. Please visit our website for more information on adjustments and accessibility, or contact us at .