Interpretation and Exhibitions Officer
Job Summary
Working Pattern:
Full time
Advert Start Date:
09/11/2021
Advert End Date:
Closed for applications on 28/11/2021 23:59
Salary:
£28,672 to £32,234 p.a. Grade 9
Job Category:
Arts / Tourism / Culture
Employment Location:
Your normal place of work will be [County Hall moving to the Durham History Centre in 2023], but you may be required to work at any Council workplace within County Durham.
Further Information
Durham history centre project
County Durham has a long and varied history but the history of the everyday people of the county is often underrepresented. This project will focus on the lesser told story of working people who have been pivotal in shaping the county. Our project will showcase these unheard voices, transforming the way we tell the story of County Durham.
The history centre will be the custodian of collections that can literally chart people’s lives from birth to death over hundreds of years. We want visitors to delve into the lives of some of County Durham’s voices, exploring the diversity of people who have lived there and discovering the amazing breadth of information the Centre holds about a person’s life - and as an extension to their own lives.
The history centre will be the only place where the full story of County Durham will be told; amazing stories of bravery, resilience, industry and culture brought together in state-of-the-art exhibition facilities. The use of the different collections, their inclusion and the rich diversity of stories they represent, is a key component of the interpretive approach.
The Durham History Centre project brings the registration service together with the Durham County Record Office and Archive, Local Studies, Durham Light Infantry, Historic Registration Records and the Historic Environment Record at Mount Oswald, Durham. It is due to open in 2023.
For more information on the project please consult our project information leaflet or visit www.durham.gov.uk/historycentre
The role
This is an exciting opportunity to join the delivery team of the Durham History Centre project. Fresh thinking and an ability to enthuse and spark curiosity will be key to this role.
We are looking for a passionate communicator to lead on the interpretation and exhibitions programme at the new history centre and around County Durham. The successful candidate will establish the temporary exhibition programme and ensure all interpretation features people-led stories with layers of interpretation that have been co-curated with our target audiences. They will be responsible for uncovering exciting and inspiring stories about County Durham, opening the collections to new audiences in new ways.
We have a bold vision to improve and widen engagement with our collections, underpinned by a comprehensive digital approach. Digital is not an afterthought; it is an integral and significant part of the project. The successful candidate will work closely with our Digital Engagement Officer to ensure our ambitious digital aspirations are met in our exhibitions and interpretation.
We are looking for someone creative who will challenge, innovate and revolutionise the ways we engage our audiences. This truly is a rare opening and an opportunity to create a legacy for the future and transform the way we tell the story of County Durham.
Next steps
If you are dynamic and passionate about heritage collections and are looking for an opportunity to share your interpretation expertise whilst developing new skills with a sector leading and forward-looking project, don’t miss this opportunity to apply.
At Durham County Council we recognise and value equality and diversity, in ensuring inclusion and bringing new ideas and perspectives and how this helps us to grow and constantly improve our services. We encourage anyone with the required knowledge and skills to apply for our job vacancies.
People with disabilities, members from the LGBT+ community and those from black, Asian, and ethnically diverse backgrounds are under-represented in our workforce, so we particularly encourage applications from people in these groups.
We are a disability confident employer with leader status. We encourage applicants with a disability and take positive action in guaranteeing an interview for all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria in the person specification. Please let us know of any support you may need in applying for our vacancies. For example, we have provided practical interview preparation support for people on the autism spectrum.
We are Stonewall Diversity Champions and ensure our policies and practices are LGBT+ inclusive. We have several employee networks in place including disability, LGBT+ and carers’ networks which are also open to allies to ensure we all pull together in a positive and proactive way. Find out more on the council’s approach at our Equality and Diversity webpage.
For further discussion please contact durhamhistorycentre@durham.gov.uk and either Sarah Glynn, Programme Lead, or Sabina McGing, Project Manager, will respond.
The role will start February 2022, it is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage and is fixed term until September 2026. We expect interviews will be held in December 2021.
The successful applicant for this post will be required to apply for Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.
Where our roles are customer facing and you are required to speak to members of the public, the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
Permanent Durham County Council employees wishing to undertake a temporary post within the Council, whether this is within their substantive service, or across services, should seek the approval of their Line Manager/Senior Manager to undertake this temporary post with the guarantee to return to their substantive post at the expiry of the temporary post. If the temporary post is reviewed and further extended, agreement must be sought from the employee’s substantive line manager.
Anyone currently listed on the Durham County Council Redeployment Register who is interested in being considered for this vacancy should contact the Payroll and Employee Services Team. Please note that the interview date must be prior to your end date.
Apply on-line via the jobs portal or for further assistance contact the Payroll & Employee Services Team on tel. no. 03000 263154 / 264086 or email PESREG@durham.gov.uk
Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered with North East Jobs, including your invite to interview if you are short-listed. Please check your email after the closing date for notification from ‘DONOTREPLY@NORTHEASTJOBS.ORG.UK’ as you will not be notified by any other means.
In line with the County Council’s Recruitment & Selection Policy, please note that we are unable to accept CVs. Any information provided on CVs will not be considered for short-listing purposes.
Please note
This job is closed for applications.