Collections Information Assistant

at  Horniman Museum and Gardens

Posted: 18/10/2024 14:49
Start Date: Not Available
Salary: £28,000 per annum
Location: Horniman Museum and Gardens, Forest Hill
Level: Entry Level
Deadline: 11/11/2025 10:00
Hours: 35
Benefits: See “Working for Us” on the Home menu
Job Type: Full time
Job title and reference: Collections Information Assistant (ref: CCE13.24)
Salary range: £28,000 per annum
Hours of work: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent
The Horniman Museum and Gardens is a unique attraction in south east London where world cultures and the natural world are brought together for everyone to enjoy. The Museum holds internationally important collections of anthropology and musical instruments, as well as a popular natural history gallery and Aquarium. The 16 acres of beautiful Gardens feature a tropical Butterfly House and offer stunning views across London. The Horniman is the holder of the prestigious Art Fund Museum of the Year 2022.
We are seeking an enthusiastic, hands-on Collections Information Assistant to help us improve the records and documentation relating to our museum objects and archive.
Your main responsibility will be to create and improve records on the Horniman’s database, Mimsy XG. You will have an enthusiasm for good data, an understanding of what it can do, and experience of creating and managing it. You will also be involved with hands-on tasks such as object packing, marking and movement.
Experience of working in a museum is not essential, but an interest in museums and their collections is. The Horniman’s current focus is Nature + Love, a project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to redisplay our Natural history Collections, so a passion for natural science would be ideal.
Essential skills for this post include the ability to work methodically and to deadlines while maintaining high standards, and to be flexible in working as part of a team or independently.
The closing date for completed applications is on 11 November 2024.
Interviews will be held on 10 December 2024.
The Horniman is an equal opportunities employer and we value and celebrate diversity. We want to better represent the communities in which we work but recognise that there is still much work to do in this area. We welcome and encourage all applicants and particularly encourage you to apply if you are from a community that is often disadvantaged by society or of ethnically diverse background.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job title Collections Information Assistant
Section Knowledge and Information Management
Reports to Documentation Officer
Responsible for Volunteers (Occasionally)
Hours of work Full time (35 hours per week)

SECTION DESCRIPTION

The Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) section provides knowledge and information management support to the Horniman, helping staff to record, retrieve and re-use what they know and want to share with each other and with the wider public as well as finding what other staff know and have recorded.
The section includes expertise in Museum Documentation, Information Technology (IT), Photography, and Library, Archive and Records Management.

The section is responsible for:

• Documenting the Horniman’s collections, accredited and un-accredited:
• Anthropology
• Natural Science
• Musical Instruments
• Living (Gardens, Animal Walk and Aquarium)
• Archive
• Library
• Handling
• The development, maintenance and security of the Horniman’s IT network
• Supporting staff in the use and understanding of knowledge and information through training, and the development and application of policies, procedures and standards
• The acquisition, installation, development and support of knowledge and information tools and systems

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS

• One or more A levels in a scientific subject (E)

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Good digital skills, especially with Microsoft Office (E)
• A demonstrable enthusiasm for museums and their collections and a desire to work within that environment. (E)
• Experience of data entry, or a similar task requiring care and attention to detail (E)

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Good interpersonal skills; able to build effective professional relationships with staff at all levels (E)
• The willingness and ability to undertake manual duties according to Health and Safety guidelines, including the handling of museum objects, after appropriate training. (E)
  Additional Shortlisting Criteria

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience of documenting museum collections (D)
• Experience in a Library and/or Archive (D)

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• The ability to manage time effectively, balancing short and long term goals (E)
• The ability to read a job specification carefully and provide clear evidence of experience against each criteria (E)
• The ability to work as part of a team and to support others in their work. (E)

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• A methodical approach to tasks, following guidelines and procedures precisely and consistently, combined with a willingness to undertake repetitive tasks. (E)
• The ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines whilst maintaining high standards. (D)

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Based mostly in the Horniman’s Study Collection Centre in North Greenwich, the Collections Information Assistant will aid the Documentation Officer, Archivist, Librarian and Photographer in the delivery of Knowledge and Information services to the Horniman, chiefly through cataloguing and general data entry and data management. The Collections Information Assistant will also work closely with the Collections Management team recording the locations of collection items and assisting with their packing and movement, and with the Digital team providing content to go on-line. Upcoming projects will include a focus on the documentation of the Natural History collections.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collections Documentation and data management (75%)
• Recording collections and collections related items and information, including images, in the Horniman’s collection management system (Mimsy), to SPECTRUM standards and utilising other systems and tools as appropriate
• Working with curatorial staff and other staff/authorities to catalogue and data clean the various collections
• Physically check objects against their records on the collections management system Mimsy, updating and enhancing records with new information (e.g. measurements).
• Assisting the Documentation Officer identifying and resolving documentation issues (e.g. duplication of numbers)
• Recording locations and movement of collections items
• Assisting with the ongoing disposal of items no longer required
• Assisting with regular and special audits and inventories of collections and collections data
• Photographing collections under the guidance of the Photographer
• Supporting the recording of exhibitions, displays and events
• Preparing collections information for the Horniman website and for digital collaborations
• Object marking and processing of new acquisitions.
• Collections Management Support (15%)
• Undertake routine location, packing, movement and storage of objects as required.
• Assist with processing objects through the stores prior to final storage or display.
• Supervising volunteers (10%)
• Assisting in the recruitment and training of volunteers
• Supporting trainees in their tasks and wellbeing
• Ensuring volunteer outputs meet required standards

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Act in a professional manner and uphold the Horniman’s Code of Conduct
• Follow and promote safe systems of work and observe health and safety regulations
• Any other duties that may be required to ensure the effective running of the section
  Job activities may vary and evolve over time to meet business needs.

The section is responsible for:

• Documenting the Horniman’s collections, accredited and un-accredited:
• Anthropology
• Natural Science
• Musical Instruments
• Living (Gardens, Animal Walk and Aquarium)
• Archive
• Library
• Handling
• The development, maintenance and security of the Horniman’s IT network
• Supporting staff in the use and understanding of knowledge and information through training, and the development and application of policies, procedures and standards
• The acquisition, installation, development and support of knowledge and information tools and system