Address The Role
What you’ll do
Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required
How to apply
Benefits
Employment Visa
The Role
Applications are invited for the position of Collections Co-ordinator, as part of The Old College Project at Aberystwyth University. The Collections Co-ordinator post is part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Welsh Government ERDF funded “Old College” project. The post is initially a two year post, part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund which is then planned to become a permanent post as a key member of the Old College management team, funded by the on-going revenue streams.
This role will co-ordinate the research to identify key artefacts and stories from the 80 university collections, to support and enable the delivery of the exhibitions and interpretation of the collections for the project “New Life for Old College”. The post holder will be responsible for the co-ordination of the research supported by volunteers, staff and students, working closely with the Old College project team and with specialist consultants engaged to provide the design, interpretation and installation of exhibitions in the 6 gallery spaces.
The post holder will have knowledge and experience of working with collections and volunteers and preferably of research and interpretation of collections or archives. The research phase will be supported and guided by an experienced museum and collection management consultant, and a University Collections Group representing the “keepers” of the various collections across the university departments.
To make an informal enquiry, please contact Jim O’Rourke at roo26@aber.ac.uk.
Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date.
What you’ll do
This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.
Main Duties & Responsibilities
The post holder will coordinate gathering knowledge about the University’s historic collections with support from volunteers, staff and students for using the information to inform collection management activities and for use by interpretation and exhibition designers. Key tasks are divided across content curation, networking and collections management.
Content:
- Gathering information on University collections and history and, working closely with the Old College Project Team, co-ordinating the content, themes and interpretation for the relevant Old College galleries.
- Leading consultation workshops for the galleries with the University collection staff, relevant academic staff and other stakeholders.
- Coordinating engagement between the exhibition designers and university departments and relevant staff and supplying object lists and other content to support the work of the designers.
Networking:
- Facilitating the engagement of relevant departments and staff to identify opportunities within the Old College project to develop academic skills and provision in heritage and cultural areas.
- Establishing and developing partnerships with other heritage institutions and HEIs. This includes finding opportunities for project partnerships and collaboration such as skills training and establishing relationships for loaning exhibitions and objects for the temporary galleries.
Collections Management:
- Prepare reports for Old College project team and University Executive on the progress of work to develop appropriate Collections Management procedures.
- Research and pilot collections management procedures for the less well documented collections with the support of relevant staff and student volunteers.
- Coordinate meetings to discuss collections management needs with the university collections staff.
- Establish and develop partnerships with other HEIs and heritage institutions to establish best practice and skills training as well as potential areas for collaboration.
The post-holder will also be required:
- To undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.
- To be committed to the University’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post.
- To be committed to your own development and that of your staff through the effective use of the University’s Effective Contribution Scheme.
- Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.
Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required
Essential
- A degree in a relevant subject or equivalent relevant experience.
- Knowledge of, and experience in, museum collections administration and management
- Planning, managing and coordinating education or cultural activities
- Using archives, museum collections or historic buildings to engage people with heritage.
- Developing exhibitions programmes and interpretation.
- Experience of delivering community based activities.
- Effective communication skills, both orally and on paper, to a wide range of audiences.
- Ability to organise time effectively
- Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level C1.*
Desirable
- A Post-Graduate qualification in Heritage or Museum Studies.
- Experience of archives in a Higher Education Institution (HEI)
- Experience of managing activities involving volunteers and community groups.
- Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level C1.*
- More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:
How to apply
To promote a flexible workforce, the University will consider applications from individuals seeking full time, part time, job share, or term time only working arrangements.
Applications for this role must be made through jobs.aber.ac.uk. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.
Benefits
- Flexible working policy
- 36.5 – hour week for full-time roles
- Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
- Commitment to Professional Development
- Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
- Staff recognition and reward schemes
- Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
- Staff relocation bursary
- Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
- Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus.
Please keep reading
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.
We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.
Employment Visa
Under the UK Government’s points-based system scheme, this role does not meet the criteria to be sponsored by Aberystwyth University (AU) for a Skilled Worker Route (SWR) application.
