Conservation Assistant - England

Location: Blyth NE24
Company Name: National Trust

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 Conservation Assistants are so important.

*This is a part time contract, 20 hrs per week, fixed term ending 15-Nov-2020.*

What it's like to work here:This captivating 16th century Tudor manor house is renowned for its fine collection of textiles and elegant gardens. The team is focused on conservation projects, as well as providing an exceptional family-friendly visitor experience. The new café serves a delicious selection of produce grown in Packwood’s kitchen garden. Packwood House is part of a trio of properties alongside Baddesley Clinton and Coughton Court, so collaborative working between staff and volunteers is encouraged.

Click here for more information about this location

What you'll be doing:As a Conservation Assistant, you’ll be working with a great housekeeping team in an incredible place, 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. You'll also be part of the wider team of employees and volunteers, helping to cover where necessary.

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

If already a National Trust Employee you may be able to take the role as a secondment.

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

• Previous experience as a Trainee Conservation Assistant or equivalent

• 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 interpersonal and communication skills, and are a great team player

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

The packageBenefits

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.

Benefits include flexible working whenever possible plus free parking at most locations. You’ll be entitled to discounts in high street stores and cinemas, National Trust shops and NT cafes, and have free entry to NT properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18).

Your health and wellbeing is important to us and is supported through generous annual leave and the option to buy additional days (minimum contract length applies), a cycle to work scheme, subsidised health cash plan, a loan towards rental deposits and confidential access to a free support service 24 hours a day should you need it.

Your future financial health is helped by an employer matched - up to 10% of basic salary - contributory pension scheme and you can further your career with training and development tailored to you.

All of this and the opportunity to give something back to your community with up to 5 days of paid volunteering per year !