NATIONAL TRUST
Are you a proven manager of collections or houses? Can you bring your conservation knowledge to this close knit team? We need someone who can champion fantastic collections care and practise, visitor welcome and the day to day operation of managing volunteers to give great experiences.
Accommodation is provided to the post holder for the proper or better performance of his or her duties in accordance with Trust criteria and HMRC rules
Working pattern will be Sunday to Thursday, with occasional weekends.
What it’s like to work here
We’re looking for a Senior Collections and House Officer to join the team at Killerton. You’ll be responsible for the daily conservation and cleaning of the house along with managing 2 Conservation Assistants and working with our volunteers. You will report to the Collections and House Manager and be a Duty Manager on a rota with other key staff.
Fashion-famous and full of colour, at 6,400 acres, Killerton is one of the National Trust’s largest special places. Located close to the vibrant city of Exeter, the 18th century house, garden, parkland and wider estate welcomes in excess of 500.000 visitors a year. Its size and scale makes Killerton a truly wonderful place to work; within the formal visitor experience area sits Killerton House, grade II listed Georgian mansion and former home to the Acland family. Close by is the grade I Chapel of the Holy Evangelists and the grade II Stable Block, all set within the grade II Registered Park & Garden. Killerton House is an accredited museum, which houses a nationally significant collection of fashion, as well as nationally important landscape paintings and portraits. With such a wide range of objects and interests, it’s the perfect place for Collections & House specialists to grow their career.
What you’ll be doing
As the senior lead of the House Team, you’ll manage a team of Collections & House Officers, Collections Assistants and volunteers to implement preventive conservation and cleaning programmes in the house to ensure excellent standards of care, delivering strategies to improve conservation. You’ll be responsible for the planning and implementation of conservation projects, collections care and daily opening of the house ensuring appropriate resources are in place to provide a consistent and excellent visitor experience.
You’ll collect and accurately record information to inform our understanding of the house and the collection and use preventive conservation techniques to improve how we conserve, interpret and present the property. Leading by example you’ll ensure a culture of excellent customer care, engaging our visitors with conservation and the values and behaviours of the National Trust.
Who we’re looking for
We’d love to hear from you if this sounds like you;
- Have outstanding people leadership skills and experience of working with and managing volunteers.
- Have operational experience of collections management and care in an historic environment including relevant collections management systems.
- Can demonstrate a solid understanding of preventive conservation and its practical, strategic application in the form of routine and deep cleaning programmes.
- Have good knowledge of Health and Safety and Emergency Procedures.
- Good organisational skills, with strong attention to detail.
- Have good communication skills.
The package
The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.
- Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
- Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
- Rental deposit loan scheme
- Season ticket loan
- EV car lease scheme
- Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
- Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
- Flexible working whenever possible
- Employee assistance programme
- Free parking at most Trust places.
