Summary

This role of Senior Collections & House Officer is about caring for Florence Court`s important collection, having a keen eye for presentation and a passion to bring the house`s history and its stories to life for visitors, in ways that will help to create memorable experiences and encourage repeat visits to the house and it`s beautiful estate. We’re looking for a keen interest in both interpretation and collections care and the ability to combine the two. This is a live in `key representative` role, and the postholder will be required to live at Florence Court and share security responsibilities with one other `key representative` staff member.

Accommodation is provided to the postholder for the proper or better performance of his or her duties in accordance with Trust criteria and HMRC rules.

What it's like to work here

Located 8 miles from the county town of Enniskillen, in rural Co Fermanagh, and close to the border with the Republic of Ireland, Florence Court is the Trust's most westerly property. The beautiful demesne is set against Benaughlin and the Cuilcagh mountains. Every aspect of life in this classical Irish house, with its fine interiors and exquisite decoration, are brought to life on fascinating guided tours..

What you'll be doing

We need someone who can champion fantastic collections care and practise, high standards of visitor welcome and experience, and the successful management of staff and volunteers.

As the senior lead of the House Team, you’ll manage a team, the Collections & House Officer, Collections & Service Assistants, and volunteers. You will implement preventive conservation and cleaning programmes in the house to ensure excellent standards of care, delivering strategies to improve conservation. You’ll be responsible for the daily opening and closing of the house, ensuring appropriate resources are in place to provide a consistent and excellent visitor experience.

You'll collect and accurately record information to inform our understanding of the house and the collection and use preventive conservation techniques to improve how we conserve, interpret and present the property.

You will organise and deliver engaging visitor experiences by presenting the house and collection in new and innovative ways, with particular emphasis on celebrating our conservation work. You will lead a culture of excellent customer care.

Who we're looking for

• Operational experience of collections management and care in historic environments
• Working knowledge of preventive conservation and application
• Knowledge of visitor experience principles and approaches to optimising visitor enjoyment 
• People management skills, including rota planning, objective setting and conducting performance reviews Experience of working with and managing volunteers
• Good interpersonal skills enabling relationships to be built and maintained, externally and internally. 
• Knowledge of health & safety and emergency procedures

The package

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.

Wherever you’re from, and whatever your background, we want to hear from you – and it doesn’t matter if you’re jam first, cream first, or even if you don’t like scones at all. Everyone is welcome.

Benefits for working at the National Trust include:

• Flexible working whenever possible

• Free parking at most locations

• Free entry to our properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

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