Position at Halahan Associates

Assistant Collection Manager
Collection Care and Management project
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire UK

5 days per week for 6 months

Based in the collection store with visits to the nearby factory
site.

The Middleport Pottery site was constructed in 1888 for a local
ceramics company, Burgess and Leigh Limited in the heart of Burslem,
Stoke-on-Trent. The Grade II listed site was at serious risk of
closure and the historic fabric was in a state of disrepair. In June
2011 the Prince's Regeneration Trust acquired the site having put
together a private and public funding package. It has now embarked
on an ambitious restoration and regeneration programme where
Burleigh will remain on site and the unused buildings will be
developed to provide attractive accommodation for workshops,
enterprise space, craft and community areas, a cafe, a gallery and a
heritage visitor centre.

The collections associated with the site are made up of plaster
blocks and moulds used in the manufacturing process; ceramic objects
made in the factory; paper and photographic archives; transfers;
metal printing plates and cylinders used to print the transfers; an
assortment of furniture from the offices and workshops; some
equipment and tools.

The majority of the collections have been moved to an off-site store
in the former Spode works in central Stoke-on-Trent. Halahan
Associates are working with the Prince's Regeneration Trust to
manage and care for the collections. The project includes:
unpacking, recording, storing, researching, assessing the
collections to develop plans for care, conservation and use. We have
a part-time Collection Manager and are working with volunteers and
interns as part of the regeneration programme.

A post for an initial period of 6 months is available for a full
time Assistant to work with the Collection Manager in the store to
help implement the various processes of care and management of the
collections and to work with the volunteers.

Initially, your main tasks will be to work with unpacking the
collection, particularly the plaster blocks and moulds, and carrying
out the necessary recording, documentation and assessment. You will
also be expected to help support, train and oversee the volunteers
and to assist the Collection Manager when required. The block and
mould collection is large and unusual in that it is one of the few
such collections still in existence and is thought to contain the
majority of the moulds used since the Middleport Factory opened on
its current site and possibly earlier. We need to establish the
identity and date of as many as possible and to prepare some for
display.

You will need to be motivated and well organised, able to work
independently and to help manage the work of others.You should have
recently completed a museum studies, conservation or similar course
or have relevant experience. You should understand the basic
concepts of collection management and collection care. An
understanding of ceramic manufacturing techniques would be an
advantage but not essential, but an interest in learning is
essential.

You will work with the Collection Manager from Halahan Associates to
achieve the work delivery deadlines.

This is an exciting opportunity to be involved with the development
of a new collection and its preparation for future use. There is the
possibility that the contract maybe renewed depending on funding.

Skills:

    A qualification in conservation, collection care or collection
    management to at least degree level or equivalent experience

    Experience of working with collection documentation is essential

    An interest in working with a variety of object types and
    materials

    An interest in working with volunteers. Experience of working
    with and organising volunteers would be an advantage.

    Some knowledge or experience of assessing conservation needs of
    collections is desirable

    Ability to use word processing software and spreadsheets and
    manage data

    Ability to take and process digital photographs

    Ability to work in a small team and be able to organise your own
    time and to help manage the work of others

    Good communication skills

    You may be required to work on your own at times in the store
    where the collection is held.

Remuneration: The successful candidate will work as a freelance
contractor and be paid by the day at a daily rate of UKP80.00. This
is equivalent to approximately UKP20,000.00 per year pro rata, the
candidate will be responsible for their own tax and National
Insurance.

The Collection Manager will be included in Halahan Associates'
Insurance for Public Liability, Professional Indemnity, Products
Liability.

Application: Please send a CV and brief statement on what interests
you about this project and what you can bring to the project plus
contact details of 2 referees who we may contact. Applications
should be sent to frances.halahan<-at->halahan<.>co<.>uk and copied to
jennifer.dinsmore<-at->halahan<.>co<.>uk posted to:

    Halahan Associates
    38 Kitson Road
    London SE5 7LF

Application should arrive by the end of the day of Thursday 18 July
2013

Interviews are planned for Wednesday 24 July 2013 and will take
place in Stoke-on-Trent near the train station.

For further information please contact either Frances Halahan or
Jennifer Dinsmore on the above emails.

    <URL:http://www.middleportpottery.co.uk/>

    <URL:http://www.princes-regeneration.org/>

    <URL:http://www.burleigh.co.uk/>

Frances Halahan FIIC, ACR
Halahan Associates
38 Kitson Road
London. SE5 7FL
+44 207 703 0806
+44 7767 497 656

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 27:5
                 Distributed: Wednesday, July 10, 2013
                        Message Id: cdl-27-5-026
                                  ***