Learning and Handling Collection Assistant

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Learning and Handling Collection Assistant

Horniman Museum and Gardens

Region: London

Salary / Fee: From £28,000 to £28,000 per annum

The Horniman Museum and Gardens is a unique organisation in southeast London where global 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.

As M+H Learning Programme of the Year 2024, The Formal Learning team delivers ambitious, high-quality programmes for c.40,000 learners each year, from EYFS to University level, including those in home or alternative education. Our programme is engaging, learner-led, and constantly evolving, making the most of our sector-leading Handling Collection, and learning from the colleagues and communities we work with.

About the Role

As Learning and Handling Collection Assistant, you will be integral to the operational delivery of our schools and home education programmes. You will ensure our busy learning programme operates smoothly, greeting school groups when they first arrive at the Museum, and proactively seek to improve the experience of learners through information and resource development, and ongoing evaluation. You will also deliver virtual workshops to school groups across the UK!

You will also be trained to lead on the documentation, development and research of the Horniman’s renowned Handling Collection- one of the biggest in the UK- of around 3,500 objects. You will work with colleagues across teams, supported directly by the Senior Curator of Social Practice, to widen access to the collection, and to improve our understanding of the objects we hold through projects with curatorial colleagues, learners, researchers and communities.

This role also has significant opportunities for development and is a brilliant role for someone early in their career to explore and gain experience and training in a range of Museum skills and areas, from learning delivery to collections work, to social practice.

Key Responsibilities

Operational support of the Formal Learning programme (40%)

1. Welcome and brief groups of learners and accompanying adults to a high standard
2. Assist with the set up and pack down of objects, equipment and education spaces. This involves moving furniture, pushing trolleys, and handling objects including taxidermy.
3. Liaise with wider teams to ensure the smooth running of our programme
4. Support the delivery of projects with targeted audiences, including the School Holiday Clubs programme and Home Education work
5. Independently deliver virtual workshops for learning audiences (with training)

The Handling Collection documentation and management (35%)

1. Lead on the documentation of the Handling Collection, working closely with Collections and Documentation colleagues and curators to clean, record and share information
2. Administer the Handling Collection acquisitions, disposals and loans processes and oversee the adherence to Handling Collection Policy and Procedure guidelines
3. Ensure due diligence in the disposal and acquisition of objects, in liaison with curatorial teams, specialists and community members
4. Lead the Handling Collection group, develop the collection’s content, storage, and display
5. Plan and manage the delivery of the annual Handling Collection audit
6. With the wider Content team, participate in the care of the Handling Collection

Evaluation of the Formal Learning programme (5%)

1. Support with the evaluation of the Formal Learning programme, gathering and cleaning qualitative and quantitative data
2. Carry out evaluation in partnership with the wider team and external evaluation consultants
3. Compile evaluation reports on Formal Learning programming and projects

Handling Collection Development work (20%)

1. Identify priority areas for research of the Handling Collection in partnership with the Formal Learning and wider Content Team
2. Proactively develop and improve the documentation and research of the Handling Collection in partnership with the Formal Learning and wider Content Team, community partners, student placements and volunteers
3. Advocate for the Handling Collection, and increase knowledge and understanding of the collection both internally and externally
4. Support the wider Content and Museum Teams to utilise the Handling Collection in their work

About You

We are looking for someone who is eager to learn, who shares our passion for connecting learners to collections, commitment to community-led practice, and drive to decolonise Museums. At the heart of your work must be the drive to ensure equitable access to Museums for all children and young people.

Key Qualities, Skills, and Experience

1. Evidence of high levels of literacy and numeracy (E)
2. Museum or history-based qualification (D)
3. Basic understanding and genuine interest in evolving approaches to Museum ethics (E)
4. Experience working with others to support the delivery of projects (E)
5. Experience of communicating with visitors, audiences or customers in a public setting (E)
6. Able to deal with a variety of ongoing activities in a calm, organised yet flexible manner (E)
7. Excellent customer service skills, especially when under pressure (E)
8. Experience communicating with children (D)
9. Basic understanding of Museum documentation (D)
10. Ability to regularly carry out manual handling tasks, including the movement of chairs, tables and equipment (E)
11. Ability to work independently, and to self-start on new projects (E)
12. Ability to work with accuracy and high attention to detail (E)

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for this role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

The closing date for completed applications is 10am on Monday 13th January. Interviews will be held on Wednesday 22nd January 2025.

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 minority background.

Become a member of a supportive and resourceful network of museum and heritage educators.