Collections and Exhibitions Assistant

About the Museum

The Haynes Motor Museum is a world renowned, multi award winning museum and visitor attraction located in South Somerset.

Our Vision is to inspire people to explore, discover and experience the motor car, to empower them to learn and invite them to question.

Our Mission is to enable our audiences to experience and explore the motor car’s development and the evolution of automotive design, engineering and technology. We will stimulate a desire to reflect on the motor car’s influence on social history and we will fuel a curiosity to consider how the motor car and automotive technology might impact the world, its environment, and its people in the future.

Why We Are Recruiting

Haynes Motor Museum is undertaking the journey from “car collection to museum” which will reimagine the visitor journey. This will involve the redevelopment of the permanent displays and creation of temporary displays. It will also involve improvements to the management and care of the Collection. This role will assist with both the care and documentation of the Collection and the practical aspects of exhibitions development and installation. You will provide vital support behind-the-scenes to ensure the success of new exhibitions. Through generating the documentation needed to reinterpret the collection and by helping with object care and exhibitions installation, this role will play an essential part in the redevelopment of the Museum.

The Museum has been recently awarded Accreditation. The role will help to ensure we continue to meet Accreditation and Spectrum standards by carrying out the collections management work set out in our Documentation Plan and Care and Conservation Plan.

Reporting to the Curator, who is head of department, you will be working alongside the Visitor Experience and Volunteers Officer and working with the broader Museum team across departments. You will also work with Volunteers who carry out a range of collections-based tasks spanning from documentation to object moves.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking to recruit a museum professional with an understanding of collections management and exhibitions development. With a practical “hands on” approach, you will be able to work to Spectrum requirements and best practice in a cost effective and sustainable manner.

You will be able to work collaboratively and communicate effectively. You will have experience working with external contractors. You will have good critical thinking and research skills with an ability to produce fluent exhibition scripting to create engaging and relevant interpretation.

You will have experience working in a museum, preferably in a transport, engineering, science, technology, industrial or related museum. You will be committed to enabling visitors to access stories about the objects in our care.

This role is physically demanding as we frequently move large collection objects and equipment for new exhibitions and events.

This is the ideal time to join the team at the initial foundation stage of the Museum’s transformation with the exciting opportunity to gain extensive practical experience in a wide range of collections and exhibitions tasks. This role has the potential to grow into a position that takes the lead on future exhibitions.

Benefits

• 29 days holiday (increasing each year)

• Free on-site parking

• Staff discounts in the on-site café and gift shop

• FREE entry into the Museum for you and your family

• Training and development

• Pension scheme

Primary Purpose of the Role

You will assist the Curator to manage the Collection and enable future access to the Collection through improved documentation and collections care, with the aim of improving information on the collection objects for future exhibitions. You will assist with the development and installation of both permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Responsibilities

• Assist with collections management tasks in line with Spectrum and museum best practice including:

- cataloguing to enable the management of, and access to, collection objects

- processing acquisitions and loans

- collections reviews, including significance assessments

- environmental monitoring and pest management

- object movement

• Support the development and installation of both temporary and permanent exhibitions

• Create fluent and accessible written interpretation for a range of audiences

• Contribute to research and cross-check volunteer research

• Communicate and collaborate with external contractors such as exhibition designers

• Respond to public enquiries about the Collection

Key Skills and Experience

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a high degree of ability and experience in all areas laid out below.

Essential

• A practical, enthusiastic “hands on” approach
• Confident interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
• An ability to produce good and fluent exhibition scripting
• Ability to work effectively as part of a close-knit team
• Good research skills
• Excellent accuracy and attention to detail
• Excellent IT and data entry skills
• Understanding of carrying out collections management tasks in line with Spectrum
• Understanding of safely handling and caring for collections
• Experience of working with external contractors
• Experience of responding to public enquiries

Desirable

• Experience using MODES or other Collections Management System
• Practical experience of exhibition work in a museum environment
• Experience working in a transport, engineering, science, technology, industrial or related museum

Hours & Structure

The role is full time (40 hours per week) with some evening and weekend working within the role, including keyholder and duty responsibilities.

You will report directly to the Curator and work with members of other departments daily.

We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: £22,500.00-£25,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Store discount

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Yeovil: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 30/07/2023