Curator (Korean Collections)

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. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally.   

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

The Role and 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, 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 (MGE) 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 will be part of a professional team with responsibility for the curation of the Oriental Museum’s internationally important collections of North African and Asian art and archaeology, including two ACE Designated Collections. The fixed-term post is generously supported by the National Museum of Korea and the successful candidate will focus upon our Korean collections, providing expertise and advice as directed by line management.

The role is based at the Oriental Museum. There may be a requirement for the post holder to work evenings, weekends and bank holidays, as business demands. The collections-based nature of the role means that there will be limited scope for hybrid working.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

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:  
•    30 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year.   
•    The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
•    We offer a generous pension scheme, As a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled  into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS). 
•    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. 
•    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.  
•    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 access to holiday camps for children aged 5-16 throughout the year. 
•    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). 
•    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.  
•    A salary sacrifice scheme is also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.  
•    If you are moving to Durham, we can help with removal costs and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas. 

Durham University is committed to equality,  diversity and inclusion 

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

Qualifications/Experience

1.     Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).

2.     Demonstrable specialist knowledge of Korean material culture.

3.     Some knowledge of written and spoken Korean.

4.     Professional museum practitioner with knowledge and expertise in the delivery and development of services, events, and activities exhibitions and collections focused events and publications within the organisation.

5.     Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting change and service improvements. 

6.     Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.

7.     Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships and to positively influence the University’s reputation.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

8.     Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.

9.     Strong digital competence across a range digital devices and apps including Microsoft 365 applications and museum database systems.

10.     Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition.

11.     Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.

12.     Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.

13.     Ability to contribute to planning at an operational level.

Desirable Criteria 

·         Fluent in written and spoken Korean.

·         Experience of implementing policy and procedures and involvement with future changes for a service area.

·         Experience of delivering or supporting the delivery of teaching at HE level.

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. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria. 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 throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates. 
   
What you need to submit    

• A CV: and    
• A supporting statement or covering letter which outlines how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification.     
    
  Contact details    
  For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Rachel Barclay, Senior Curator. Rachel can be contacted via email [email protected] 
  

Typical Role Requirements  

Service Delivery/Development

•        Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
•        Provide specialist advice and guidance relating to your professional area of expertise in line with the University’s policies, regulations and values.
•  Manage the delivery of specified services to a high standard and ensure that they are delivered in a customer focussed way.
•  Provide the best possible service by continually reviewing what is required from [staff, students and others who you work with] and contribute to ideas and service improvements.
•  Undertake object-based research to support exhibitions, displays, events programmes and publications.
•  Support international research and exhibition collaborations.
•        Contribute to the development and delivery of international projects and research.
•        Facilitate research access to the collections for both UK and international researchers.
• Deliver undergraduate teaching and teaching-led research.
• Support colleagues from Durham University’s International Office and Development and Alumni Relations Office as required. 

Planning and Organisation

• Contribute to the development of operational and strategic plans and service level agreements.
• Undertake a comprehensive review of the Oriental Museum’s Korean Collection. Seek feedback from staff, students and other key stakeholders so that the service is being adapted to meet customer expectations and to plan future requirements.
• Plan and deliver a refresh of the Oriental Museum’s Korean Gallery.
• Advise on the future development of Korean Collections. 
• Meet the development needs of your stakeholders providing training when required.
• Manage budgets and expenditure including buying (and returning) goods and services.

Communication/Liaison

•      Use your operational expertise to lead and participate in business meetings, working groups and sub-committees.
•       Liaise with colleagues and stakeholders at the National Museum of Korea. Use the best media and method to communicate with internal and external stakeholders.
•       Supporting academic research projects with partners in Korea. Use your expertise to participate in and monitor communities of practice and partnership working, both internally and externally.

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 Privacy Notices - Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.    

SECONDMENT
The post is full time, fixed term for a two year 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.