Collections Assistant

We protect everything from bats to buildings to beaches – and we want to share them with everyone too. But how do we care for our special places, while helping everyone to enjoy them and their fascinating stories? It’s no small task. In fact, it’s a big team effort and it’s why our Collections Assistants are so important.

This role will be based primarily at Nuffield Place, with occasional work and travel to the other Thames Valley Portfolio properties. Due to our remote locations, it is strongly advised that you have your own transport. Please note - the working pattern for this role is Wednesday to Sunday during the open season.

Interviews are expected to be held on Thursday 2nd March.

What it's like to work here:The Thames Valley is a major tourist destination, with historic houses, parks and gardens, cycling, walking and boating on the river. It’s a beautiful area in which to live and work, with numerous small villages and towns in the countryside, yet good transport links to London by train and close to the east-west M4 motorway. The nearby thriving town of Reading with its range of housing types and prices, university and sporting facilities is the most important source for local visitors coming to the National Trust properties in this area. Basildon Park is just 12 miles from Greys Court, with nearby Nuffield Place – the third in the group, forming a close triangle of properties spilling out north across the valley.

What you'll be doing:As a Collections Assistant, you’ll be working alongside our friendly housekeeping team of staff and volunteers in an incredible portfolio, helping with the day-to-day cleaning and care of the collections. No detail will go unnoticed, and you’ll keep a keen eye on everything from the environmental conditions in a room, to signs of wear and tear. You’ll keep accurate records too.

In this visitor facing role, we’d love you to talk to visitors about the work you’re doing, and the collections we have. As you'll be part of a small, tight-knit team at Nuffield Place, you'll also play a key role in supporting our visitor operations, assisting the Site Manager with opening and closing the site, working closely with volunteers and being a part of the cleaning rota as required.

Please also read the full role profile, attached to this advert.

Who we're looking forWe'd love to hear from you if you have;

• A keen interest in history, historic properties and conservation of their collections

• A good understanding of preventive conservation

• Knowledge of the approach required when working with fragile historic collections as well as Health & Safety and emergency procedures

• Good manual dexterity and eye-to-hand skills and ability to work from ladders and tower scaffold

• The ability to support volunteers to perform at their best

• Good communication skills

• A willingness to undertake continuing professional development and personal skills development and have an enthusiasm to learn

The packageThe 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 properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

• Tax free childcare scheme

• Rental deposit loan scheme

• Season ticket loan

• Perks at work discounts i.e. 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 locations

• Independent financial advice