Collections Officer

Irish Heritage Trust; Dublin; Vor Ort; EUR 42.000 - 62.000; Teilzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Pension Fund

Discounted Healthcare

Employee Assistance Programme

Zusammenfassung

The Irish Heritage Trust is seeking an experienced Collections Officer to provide practical and professional support to its collections and curatorial teams across historic houses and museums.

Reporting to the Collections & Interpretation Manager, you will manage defined areas of collections work, including documentation, cataloguing, acquisitions and loans, and contribute to exhibitions and other projects.

Qualifikationen

• Degree or professional qualification in Museum Studies, Heritage, History, Art History, Archaeology or related field.
• Minimum 3 years’ relevant professional experience with museum/heritage collections.
• Strong practical experience of collections management, documentation and cataloguing.
• Experience using a museum collections management system (Axiell beneficial).
• Good knowledge of collections care, preventive conservation and safe handling.
• Experience with acquisitions, loans, inventories and/or collections audits.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong research and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively; full driving license.

Aufgaben

• Lead on defined collections projects across historic houses and museums.
• Manage accurate collections records and documentation using the Trust system.
• Undertake cataloguing, inventories, audits and location checks.
• Provide support for acquisitions, donations and loans with records.
• Conduct collections research for exhibitions and digital projects.
• Monitor storage and routine care; report conservation needs.
• Improve collections storage access and organisation.
• Collaborate with curators, project managers, designers and external specialists.
• Identify and raise collections management issues; improve procedures.
• Maintain professional standards for care, security, documentation and access.
• Undertake other duties related to collections as required.

Kenntnisse

Collections management

Documentation

Cataloguing

Research

Written communication

Organisational skills

Independent work

Collaborative work

Attention to detail

Driving licence

Ausbildung

Degree in Museum Studies or related discipline

Tools

Axiell CMS

Museum CMS (similar systems)

Jobbeschreibung

JOB SUMMARY:

The Collections Officer will provide experienced practical and professional support to the Irish Heritage Trust’s collections and curatorial teams across its historic houses and museums. Reporting to the Collections & Interpretation Manager, the role will take responsibility for defined areas of collections management and project work, including documentation, cataloguing, collections care, object movements, acquisitions and loans, research, and exhibition support.

Who We Are and What We Do:

Established in 2006, The Irish Heritage Trust CLG (IHT) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to conserving, managing, and sustainably developing Ireland’s built and natural heritage. Our mission is to safeguard these treasures while delivering innovative visitor experiences at some of Ireland’s most beautiful heritage sites, including Fota House & Gardens (Cork), Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum & Gardens (Wexford), and Strokestown Park & The National Famine Museum (Roscommon). Our approach combines financial sustainability with creativity, ensuring these places remain vibrant and accessible for generations to come.

Current Projects and Partnerships:

We recently completed an ambitious multi-million conservation refurbishment of 11 Parnell Square, Dublin 1 with our property partners. This transformative project has created a vibrant new home for heritage and poetry. We are also proud to partner with ESB to develop an immersive museum and heritage attraction at 12 Lower Fitzwilliam Street, in Dublin’s South Georgian Core. This interpretative led project will showcase the evolution of science and technology in the home over the past 200 years. We are continuously investing in the conservation and restoration of our properties guided by our 2023–2033 Strategic Plan IHT Strategic Plan, and we are now securing each property into the future under a wide-ranging sustainability programme anchored in three key pillars: economic viability, environmental protection, and social equity.

OUR VISION:

Our vision is to secure Ireland’s built and natural heritage by working in the public interest to deepen understanding of its significance and inspire active participation. Through these efforts, we aim to foster enduring connections between people and these remarkable places and their collections.

OUR PEOPLE AND VALUES:

Our team brings together category experts, strategic partners, and a dedicated team of employees and volunteers. Guided by our management team and voluntary Board of Trustees, we share one purpose: to preserve heritage and create sustainable benefits for communities. Diversity is central to our heritage and identity. At the Irish Heritage Trust, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that values and represents different backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Irish Heritage Trust is seeking an experienced collections professional with a strong understanding of museum collections management and the practical care of historic collections.

The successful candidate will provide additional capacity for the Collections & Interpretation team across a number of significant projects currently being delivered by the Trust. The role combines hands-on collections management with project-based work and will require the postholder to take ownership of defined areas of collections work. This will include maintaining and improving collections documentation, undertaking inventories and audits, managing object movements, supporting acquisitions and loans, undertaking collections research and contributing to exhibitions and other collections projects.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead on defined collections projects across the Trust’s historic houses and museums, contributing to major capital, exhibition and interpretation projects including No. 12 Lower Fitzwilliam Street, the Irish Agricultural Museum and the National Famine Museum.
• Manage and maintain accurate collections records and documentation, including using the Trust’s collections management system.
• Undertake cataloguing, inventories, audits and location checks and object movements across the Trust’s collections.
• Provide professional and administrative support for acquisitions, donations and loans, including associated documentation and object records.
• Undertake collections research and contribute to the development of object and collection information for exhibitions, interpretation and digital projects.
• Monitor collections storage and undertake routine collections care and condition checking, reporting conservation requirements to the relevant curator or Collections & Interpretation Manager.
• Contribute to the organisation, rationalisation and improvement of collections storage and access.
• Work collaboratively with curators, project managers, designers, interpretation consultants and other external specialists to provide accurate collections information and practical collections expertise.
• Identify and raise collections management issues and contribute to the development and improvement of collections procedures.
• Maintain professional standards in relation to collections care, security, documentation and access.
• Undertake other reasonable collections-related duties appropriate to the role.

THE SKILLS/EXPERIENCE YOU WILL NEED:

Essential:

• A degree or relevant professional qualification in Museum Studies, Heritage, History, Art History, Archaeology or a related discipline.
• Minimum 3 years’ relevant professional experience working with museum, heritage, archive or historic house collections.
• Strong practical experience of collections management, documentation and cataloguing.
• Experience using a museum collections management system; experience with Axiell or similar systems would be advantageous.
• Good knowledge of collections care, preventive conservation and safe object handling.
• Experience of acquisitions, loans, inventories and/or collections audits.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Strong research and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, take responsibility for defined areas of work and use professional judgement.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, volunteers and external specialists.
• Full driving license.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience working with historic house collections and archives.
• Experience supporting or delivering exhibitions and interpretation projects.
• Experience of digital collections management.
• Knowledge of Irish history, art history, agricultural history or social history.
• Experience working across multiple museums or heritage sites.

Contract:

This is a 9-month fixed-term contract, working 4 days per week, salary range is the fulltime equivalent. The role will provide additional professional capacity within the Collections & Interpretation team and will require regular travel and work across the Irish Heritage Trust’s properties.

Skills:

• Collections Management
• Museum Management
• Cataloguing
• Archival Skills
• Project Management

Benefits:

• Pension Fund
• Discounted Healthcare
• Employee Assistance Programme