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Form of work
SalaryAre you someone who cares deeply about achieving high standards, and helping to make beauty and history accessible to all? Would you like to be part of a dedicated professional team working at one of the National Trust’s finest houses, looking after its collections of art and objects, and presenting them to visitors? If so, you could become a Collections and House Officer at Sizergh, bringing to life the history and significance of this much-loved place.
Hours: 22.5 hours per week. Lone working does occur, and regular weekend and bank holiday working is required. Your working days will be Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the months when the house is open to visitors, typically March-October. December weekend working may also be required.
Salary: FTE £22,152pa Actual £13,291pa
Contract: 1 year fixed term contract with the potential this will be extended
Interviews: 14th March
If you have any questions about this role please contact: Georgina.Gates@nationaltrust.org.uk
What it's like to work here
Sizergh is an imposing medieval and Tudor house situated at the gateway to the Lake District. The 1,600-acre estate includes our largest limestone rock garden and a national collection of ferns. Sizergh has been home to the Strickland family for almost 800 years. It is a living, breathing and evolving house which continues to be a family home while also welcoming over 75,000 visitors per year through its doors.
The grade 1 listed building holds a collection of over 2200 objects, some of national and international significance, with the famous Inlaid Chamber taking the ‘jewel in the crown’ status of this architecturally intriguing mansion. The impressive carved overmantels and sumptuous wood panelling provides the backdrop to centuries of fascinating history and the stories of all those who have called Sizergh home. The large collection of paintings, Gillow furniture, Jacobite relics and Flemish tapestries are just some of the chattels that make the house at Sizergh such a special place.
This is a lively property with a varied events programme and thriving café, and the property are looking for team members with energy and enthusiasm.
What you'll be doing
As the Collections and House Officer, you’ll be responsible for opening and closing the house every day and making sure there are enough people in the right places to give visitors a consistently good experience. You’ll also manage volunteers and help them on their volunteering journey with us, while ensuring the house is compliant and a safe place to work, volunteer and visit.
Supervised by the Collections and House Manager, you'll be responsible for routine housekeeping, daily preventive conservation and the annual programme of deep cleaning. Whether you’re cleaning gutters on the roof, supervising contractors or handling delicate works of art, 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. And you’ll be sharing stories about the past with anyone who’s interested, as well as your personal experience of working here.
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.
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