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 Assistant  are so important.

This role is based on annualised hours, where the amount of hours you work each month may vary, however your salary will be paid in 12 equal instalments over the year. You'll work 780 hours per year. We anticipate a rota-based system which includes regular weekend and Bank Holiday working. There will be more hours in the summer season.

Reporting to a Senior Collections and House Officer, you’ll be working day-to-day with the team at Paycockes House and Garden and occasionally at our other portfolio properties in Essex and Suffolk. You’ll work as part of a small friendly team, but some of your time will be spent working alone. There will be opportunities to learn on the job and additional development opportunities will be available when they arise in areas of interest to you. You'll have the responsibility of being a key-holder, which means that if there are no other colleagues present on any given day, you may need to set and unset the alarms upon your arrival and departure.

Your primary place of work will be Paycockes House and Garden in Coggeshall, but one day per week you'll visit the two other local properties; Grange Barn in Coggeshall and Bourne Mill in Colchester. There will also be opportunities to spend time with the portfolio Collections Team at Melford Hall in Suffolk. 

As a Collections 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.

We'd love to hear from you if you're;

• a team player, but can also work on your own initiative
• well organised and adaptable?  
• customer focused with a positive attitude?  
• willing to learn new skills?  
• good manual dexterity and hand-to-eye skills and ability to work from ladders and tower scaffold 

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

•Tax-free childcare scheme

•Rental deposit loan scheme

•Season ticket loan

•EV car lease scheme 

•Perks at work discounts such as 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 Trust places

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