Assistant Curator

Job Title: Assistant Curator
Department: University Library and Collections
Grade: Grade 6  
Salary range: £28,929 - £35,308 per annum
Working arrangements: Fixed term for 12 months on appointment. Role includes working  across multiple  sites, often in non-office environments.  Role involves working on step ladders.

Closing date: Sunday 19th March 2023          
Potential interview date: Wednesday 12th - Thursday 13th April 2023   

The University 
 
At Durham University we are proud of our people.  A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other.  

Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.  Whether you are at the very start, middle or end of your career, there is a role for you. We believe everyone has their own unique skills to offer.  

We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University.  Further information about the University can be found here
 
The Role and the Department 
 

In January 1833 Bishop William van Mildert donated 160 volumes to found the University Library, located on Palace Green and in the same year Durham’s first university museum opened to the public. Today the University Library and Collections offers spaces, collections, expertise and services supporting education, research, the wider student experience and cultural and educational outreach. Collections and services operate across a wide estate of libraries, archives, museums, galleries and exhibition spaces, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site on Palace Green. Our nationally and internationally recognised collections span early books, archives and manuscripts, museum objects and art, print and electronic materials and include a repository of digitised materials, research outputs and research data. Our users encompass anyone engaging with our collections, services and facilities in person or remotely, this includes university staff, researchers from around the globe, students in higher education from Durham and other universities, school pupils and teachers, Durham’s local residents and tourists.

We are an ambitious and developing team with a focus on providing the best experience for our students, researchers and the wider community. We are valued partners working with students, professional services and academics across the University, and professionals and organisations regionally, nationally and internationally.

The University Library and Collections is made up of six sections: Collections; Customer Services; Education, Learning and Engagement; Research and Systems; Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions; and Finance and Administration. Staff work flexibly between the sections, 7 enabled by cross-cutting groups, Collections, Education, Engagement, User Experience, Operations, Research, Staff Development and a Programme and Project Steering Group.

The Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions team, under the leadership of the Head of Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions, is responsible for world-class museum and art collections, supporting their care, curation, and discovery, as well as facilitating public and research access to those collections. Our spaces include the Oriental Museum, Palace Green Library (including the Museum of Archaeology) and Durham Castle Museum. We work with pre-school children, primary and secondary schools, undergraduates, postgraduates, researchers and the wider community, both within our venues and through our loans and outreach programmes, as well as increasingly through digital engagement.

The post holder supports the Curator of Contemporary Art in the management of the University’s Western Art Collection. The post holder will have responsibility for, and work alongside, the Project Curator in the continuation and completion of a full collection audit and the associated tasks this involves.

 
Working at Durham   
 
A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits:  
 
•    27 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 39 days per year.  The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
•    No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered.  We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. 
•    Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme. 
•    On site nursery is available and children’s clubs in the summer holidays. 
•    Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers). 
•    There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally.  There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University.  All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.  
•    The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community 
•    Discounts are available via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions.  
•    We offer generous pension schemes.  

Durham University is committed to equality diversity, inclusion and values 

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.   As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do.  We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct.  At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI. 
 
We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.  If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application.  If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

What you need to demonstrate when you apply/Person Specification 
 
When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role.  Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description.  Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.   
 
Your application should cover the following criteria: 
 
Essential Criteria

1.    Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
2.     Demonstrate knowledge of museum and gallery collections management and collections care practices
3.    Demonstrable specialist knowledge of 20th and 21st century western art.  
4.    Demonstrable knowledge of differing artist printing methods and techniques.
5.    Proven IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office and museum database systems
6.    Masters degree or equivalent in Museum/Gallery Studies or related discipline or equivalent experience.
7.    Experienced museum or gallery professional with knowledge and expertise used to contribute to the delivery and development of services within the organisation.
8.    Demonstrable ability to provide advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues.
9.    Ability to effectively network and exchange advice and information for development purposes.  
10.    Ability to contribute to planning at operational level.
 

Desirable Criteria

1. Experience of auditing and cataloguing a museum/gallery collection of significant size, to SPECTRUM standards.

2. Hold a full UK driving licence and be comfortable driving a manual gear shift van.

How to apply 
 
To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above.  Where there are desirable criteria we would also urge you to provide any relevant evidence.  Please don’t forget to check if there is any weighted criteria (see above). 
 
While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.   
 
Submitting your application  
 
We prefer to receive applications online.  We will update you about your application at various points during the process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails  
  
What you are required to submit: 
•    A CV  
•    A covering letter or statement which shows examples of how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification   
 

Contact details  

 
If you would like to have a chat or ask any questions about the role, Alix Collingwood-Swinburn, Curator (Contemporary Art) would be happy to speak to you;  [email protected]  
 
Typical Role Requirements 

Role includes working  across multiple  sites, often in non-office environments.  Role involves working on step ladders.

Core responsibilities:

• Experienced museum practitioner, planning and co-ordinating of projects and work streams with inter-related activities.
• Plan and organise own workload with or without involvement with project work streams.
• Reactive and proactive service provision with others to deliver an excellent stakeholder experience.
• Relationship building, network participation internally and externally to build and update knowledge and skills.
• Implement and monitor institutional and industry standard protocols, procedures, processes and regulations.
• Monitor and report incidents.
• Supervisory responsibilities for services, resources and people.
• Provide ongoing support to team members.
• Carry out collections-focused investigations, searches and research information and data.
• Take responsibility for day to day decision making within own area of responsibility for operational aspects of service delivery, translating external requirements into practical application and advice.
• Implement and monitor recognised procedures to ensure compliance
• Contribute to business meetings and working groups to help shape service delivery and stakeholder expectations.
• Plan and organise own workload
• Responsible for keeping financial and budget records and reconciling consumable expenditure queries.

Role responsibilities:

• Manage relevant stakeholder relationships
• Act as a recognised point of contact between the University and key internal and external stakeholders, including college and department staff. .
• Contribute to and deliver internal and external presentations promoting the Durham reputation, disseminating best practice, research and updating university senior management. .
• Gather, record and analyse customer feedback from all service users.
• Identify potential service improvements, make recommendations.
• Train team members to develop skills to achieve excellence according to an agreed workplan.
• Responsible for curating the set-up, order, display and information pertinent to the service area and / or activity.
• Work with other functional areas and families across the University to ensure the most diverse and accessible promotion of services, events and activities.
• Ensure the safety and security of the Western Art Collection, responding to incidents and providing reports.
• Record data and information accurately, provide reports and distribute information to key stakeholders in the process of service.
• Use a range of digital media and tools to communicate with a diverse range of key stakeholders, both verbally and in written format
• Any other reasonable duties.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.durham.ac.uk/about-us/governance/information-governance/privacy-notices/privacy-notices/job-applicants/   which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.   
  

SECONDMENT
The post is full time, fixed term for a 12 month period and may be offered on an internal secondment basis subject to the agreement of the current line manager.
 

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.