Archivist/Collections Officer
- Salary:
- £25000.00 - £30000.00 per annum
- Location:
- Bruton
- Company:
- The Newt in Somerset
Description:
The Newt in Somerset - Archivist/ Collections Officer
The Newt in Somerset is a new and unique destination already attracting a recognition at the highest level. Our 300-year-old estate complete with woodland, lush gardens and breath-taking views welcomes guests from all over the world. Our hotel is a home from home where our team deliver outstanding service in informal surroundings. Gardens, orchards, and treetop walkways inspire whilst roaring fires and our wellbeing spa offer tranquility. Food is a passion across the estate, whether hotel or our restaurants or farm shop. Much is sourced from the estate and trusted local suppliers.
Department Description
The Archive at the Newt is unique and multifaceted. It comprises of the Hobhouse Archive, acquired with the property and relating to the history of Hadspen Estate and the Hobhouse family, owners of the property from 1785 to 2013. It also manages The Newt’s growing collection of archives, objects, artworks and antiquarian and historic books and supports the operation of the business’ existing and planned museums.
Position Summary
The Archivist/Collections Officer will work alongside the Keeper of The Newt Collections in all aspects of work in The Archive at the Newt. We are looking for a dynamic and adaptable candidate with experience in a museum or archive, who has the flexibility to meet the pace and evolving priorities of The Newt. You should be very familiar with the use of Collections Management Systems and will be responsible for cataloguing Archive, Object and Book collections to industry standards. You will take a leading role in collections care: ensuring appropriate storage and display conditions, undertaking environmental and pest monitoring, taking responsibility for preventive conservation, identifying items for conservation, and undertaking light conservation duties according to experience. An efficient but accurate researcher, you must be able to respond to ad hoc internal research requests on any given topic. You will contribute towards interpretation for on-site exhibitions and displays, as well as creating online content for the Archive’s website. You must be a confident and engaging public-speaker, able to deliver talks and presentations to colleagues and members of the public. The Archive at the Newt is housed in a fantastic new facility, complete with a spectacular visitor reading room. The reading room will welcome research visitors to the archive and library as well as hotel guests seeking a quiet study space. You will play an active role in facilitating all visits, assisting with research enquiries, managing the Archive’s visitor diary and ensuring that the reading room is comfortable and well-equipped. You will be responsible for undertaking such administrative duties as arise from the fulfilment of all the above, including processing invoices, liaising with suppliers, ordering materials, budget management etc. The successful candidate will enjoy close collaboration as one of a two-person team but will also thrive working independently with little supervision and have the inter-personal skills to collaborate widely across the business’ different departments.
Key Responsibilities:
Essential
Excellent Benefits package available from day one including:
The Newt in Somerset is a new and unique destination already attracting a recognition at the highest level. Our 300-year-old estate complete with woodland, lush gardens and breath-taking views welcomes guests from all over the world. Our hotel is a home from home where our team deliver outstanding service in informal surroundings. Gardens, orchards, and treetop walkways inspire whilst roaring fires and our wellbeing spa offer tranquility. Food is a passion across the estate, whether hotel or our restaurants or farm shop. Much is sourced from the estate and trusted local suppliers.
Department Description
The Archive at the Newt is unique and multifaceted. It comprises of the Hobhouse Archive, acquired with the property and relating to the history of Hadspen Estate and the Hobhouse family, owners of the property from 1785 to 2013. It also manages The Newt’s growing collection of archives, objects, artworks and antiquarian and historic books and supports the operation of the business’ existing and planned museums.
Position Summary
The Archivist/Collections Officer will work alongside the Keeper of The Newt Collections in all aspects of work in The Archive at the Newt. We are looking for a dynamic and adaptable candidate with experience in a museum or archive, who has the flexibility to meet the pace and evolving priorities of The Newt. You should be very familiar with the use of Collections Management Systems and will be responsible for cataloguing Archive, Object and Book collections to industry standards. You will take a leading role in collections care: ensuring appropriate storage and display conditions, undertaking environmental and pest monitoring, taking responsibility for preventive conservation, identifying items for conservation, and undertaking light conservation duties according to experience. An efficient but accurate researcher, you must be able to respond to ad hoc internal research requests on any given topic. You will contribute towards interpretation for on-site exhibitions and displays, as well as creating online content for the Archive’s website. You must be a confident and engaging public-speaker, able to deliver talks and presentations to colleagues and members of the public. The Archive at the Newt is housed in a fantastic new facility, complete with a spectacular visitor reading room. The reading room will welcome research visitors to the archive and library as well as hotel guests seeking a quiet study space. You will play an active role in facilitating all visits, assisting with research enquiries, managing the Archive’s visitor diary and ensuring that the reading room is comfortable and well-equipped. You will be responsible for undertaking such administrative duties as arise from the fulfilment of all the above, including processing invoices, liaising with suppliers, ordering materials, budget management etc. The successful candidate will enjoy close collaboration as one of a two-person team but will also thrive working independently with little supervision and have the inter-personal skills to collaborate widely across the business’ different departments.
Key Responsibilities:
- To catalogue the Archive, Object and Book collection using a CMS
- To oversee collections care
- To undertake historical research as required
- To curate displays, both on-site and online
- To deliver talks/workshops to staff and the public
- To manage visitors to the Archive
- To undertake administrative tasks relating to the Archive
- To support and deputise for the Keeper as required
Essential
- Experience in museum, archive, library or similar
- Relevant degree and/or postgraduate qualification
- Experience using a Collections Management System
- Ability to work alone, unsupervised, proactively and to a high standard Flexible and supportive team player
- Confident and well-presented
- Experience using library management system
- Conservation experience
- Curatorial experience
- Administrative experience
- Experience supervising volunteers/managing people
- Financial experience: raising POs, using accounting software, managing accounts
Excellent Benefits package available from day one including:
- Exceptional working environment,fresh estate grown meal provided each day
- 30% discount in the shops across the estate
- 30% discount at restaurants across the estate
- 30% discount on Newt cyder and Babylonstoren wine
- 50% discount in the Spa Anniversary stay in the hotel each year, Dinner bed and breakfast.
- Discounted hotel stays for staff
- Family pass to access the estate Entry passes for friends and family to access the estate Family Events 3 times per year
- Access to internal/external training qualifications and programmes
- Cross Training and career development opportunities
