Collections & House Officer - Telford

National Trust; Dawley; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 32,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 10%

Free NT entry for you + guest

Season ticket loan

EV car lease where applicable

Flexible working

Employee assistance programme

Free parking

Job summary

The National Trust is seeking a Collections and House Officer at Ironbridge Gorge. You will blend practical collections care with cross-team collaboration and volunteer supervision, helping to develop the collection while supporting access for diverse audiences.

Working 30 hours per week with Monday–Friday flexibility and occasional weekend work, a full UK driving licence is required. Interview date: 11th November 2026.

Qualifications

• Experience in collections management and care.
• Ability to supervise and manage a team of volunteers.
• Strong organisational skills: prioritising, deadlines, problem solving.
• Comfortable with managing delegated budgets.
• Excellent people skills across diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Care for collections and perform preventive conservation.
• Record information from cleaning and housekeeping.
• Support acquisitions/disposals to reflect collection significance.
• Lead a team of volunteers and coordinate across teams.

Skills

Collections care

Team supervision

Organisational skills

Budget management

Driving licence

Job description

Are you someone who cares deeply about achieving high standards, and helping to make beauty and history accessible to all? If so, you could become a Collections and House Officer at Ironbridge Gorge, bringing to life the history and significance of this much-loved place., Reporting to the Property Curator, you'll combine practical collections care and attention to detail with close collaboration across teams and with volunteers. You'll be responsible for routine care, preventive conservation and the annual programme of deep cleaning, helping to ensure excellent standards of care throughout the portfolio. You'll also line manage a team of volunteers. You'll collect and record information gathered during cleaning and housekeeping, and contribute to the development of the collection by supporting acquisitions and disposals, helping to ensure the collection continues to reflect the property's significance. There will also be opportunities to undertake targeted research to improve understanding of the collections and portfolio's significance, and to support collections management, engagement and future planning.

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

• experienced in collections management and care
• able to work as part of a team, with skills in day-to-day supervision and management
• able to work independently and have strong organisational skills including setting priorities, managing deadlines, and problem solving
• comfortable with managing delegated budgets
• good at talking to, and getting on with, all kinds of people
• full of creative ideas about making places and objects accessible and relevant to diverse audiences
• This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of Ironbridge as it enters a new chapter under the care of the National Trust.

You'll work 30 hours per week. You'll typically across Monday - Friday, and we can be flexible about which days these are. As part of the duty management rota, you'll occasionally be required to work weekends. When this happens, you'll receive time off in lieu (TOIL) during your normal working week. The amount of weekend working will vary depending on team requirements and staffing levels. Due to the nature of the role and locations of the sites, a full UK driving licence is required. Interview date: 11th November 2026

What it's like to work here

You'll be part of a passionate, supportive team caring for remarkable collections, places and stories across an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Working with a nationally important collection of over 400,000 objects, from steam engines and historic vessels to decorative arts, textiles and social history collections, you'll ensure our properties are well maintained, welcoming, and protected for future generations. You'll have the the opportunity to develop new approaches and make a real difference to collections care and management.

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.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
• 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