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Job Title Interactor (Art Bias)
Department Imperial War Museum North, Manchester
Responsible to Senior Interactor
Salary Range £12,825 - £14,850 pro rata
Hours 14.5 net hours per week (2 days per week)
Overall Purpose of the Job
Learning & Access are core to the development of this exciting new museum, our main aim is to enable visitors of all ages to enjoy a stimulating and hands-on approach to understanding the collections and themes of this museum. Interactors are a pivotal tool in achieving this, encouraging a two-way discussion between the museum and its visitors.
As an Interactor you will be responsible for enhancing and extending access for Museum visitors, in particular developing creative/ arts based activity and resources for IWM North’s target visitors (families, school groups, youth and people over 55). Through personal interaction you will be interpreting the exhibits, communicating the history and relevance of the Museum and its collections in a creative, lively and informative manner.
Duties will range from meeting and greeting to running workshops and handling/demonstrations sessions at the Time Stacks, creating resources and activities, leading tours workshops and lectures and assisting with the development of interpretation and interactives for museum spaces.
Principle Accountabilities
Core Duties
· To learn and understand the philosophy and purpose of the museum and its collection and communicate this to the visitor in the most appropriate way.
· To welcome people to Imperial War Museum North and enable them to use the exhibits effectively through demonstration, discussion and creative expression.
· To undertake research to develop specialist knowledge of the collection, subjects and interpretation.
· To instigate interaction with informal and formal visitors and encourage communication in a sensitive and appropriate manner whilst recognising when interaction is not welcome.
· To be familiar with emergency and evacuation procedures, health & safety procedures and providing first aid cover.
· Reporting breakages and damages where necessary.
Learning & Access Programmes
· To assist in the development of and to deliver a range of arts/ crafts based learning sessions using the museum’s handling collections and resources.
· To develop and deliver formal & informal arts focused learning activity and events to specifically target IWM North’s target audiences with guidance from Learning & Access Officers.
· To develop and deliver regular arts & crafts focused activity for families and young people at weekends, holiday times and special anniversaries.
· To assist in the development and creation of exhibition related interactives, trails and interpretation tools for use by visitors, within the museum space.
· To incorporate appropriate aids and materials into activity and presentations under the guidance of Learning & Access Officers and Senior Interactor.
· To develop and deliver the Learning and Access Programme in line with the Learning & Access Strategy and IWM North Corporate Plan.
· To facilitate learning studio, gallery and outreach activities and workshops as and when required.
· Ensuring resources for activities are replenished and purchased as agreed with Learning & Access Officers.
· To work in collaboration with other members of the team including freelancers and volunteers.
Administrative Duties & Professional Development
· To undertake training and researching on aspects of the museum as and when required.
· To evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of learning & access programmes, professional delivery and visitor response under guidance from Visitor Programmes Officer and Senior Interactor.
· To create proposals and lesson plans for forthcoming activity/events and communicate planning needs to Learning & Access Staff.
· To train and brief other Interactors and volunteers in the delivery of arts/ crafts focused activity with guidance from the Visitor Programmes Officer and Senior Interactor.
· To take part in the Museum’s Annual Appraisal System.
· To undertake duties of a similar nature as appropriate.
· A willingness to travel occasionally within the region, and to the other IWM sites in the southeast.
Additional Information
Terms and Conditions
· Days worked will be 2 days a week including 1 day per weekend. You will work 2 days in a 7-day period on a rostered basis. You will be required to work some public holidays when rostered.
· Your normal hours of attendance will be 9.30am to 5.45pm (IWMN opening hours 10am – 6pm). You will expected to work such other reasonable hours as are necessary for the satisfactory completion of your duties and there may be a requirement on occasions to work unsocial hours.
· The full time annual leave allowance is 22 days per annum pro rata, rising to 25 after one year’s service and 30 days after 12 year’s service. Your annual leave will be pro rata and based on the number of days per week you work.
· The normal retirement age for staff of the Imperial War Museum is 60 years.
· Interactors are required to be smart and well presented. A uniform of an IWMN logo grey t-shirt or polo shirt and a black sweatshirt, will be provided which must be cared for and worn in a manner, which ensures they remain, presentable at all times. This uniform is currently under discussion and may change prior to recruitment.
· The successful candidate will be on probation for 6 months.
· The Museum has a total ban on smoking in its buildings.
· Disclosure - As the role of Interactor involves working with children a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure will be requested in the event of successful application. However, a criminal record may not necessarily be a bar to employment, as any decision made would depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of your offence.
Band
All posts in the Museum are allocated to a Band to indicate approximately the level of responsibility of the post and position in the Museum’s structure. As an Interactor your Band Allocation will be D. Please note that this band allocation is subject to review.
Key Relationships
Internal: Senior Interactor, Visitor Programmes Officer, Head of Learning & Access, Learning & Access Officer, Volunteer Coordinator, Director.
External: general visitors, families, schools, colleges, community groups, youth groups, and peers in other organisations.
Benefits
· The museum is a member of the Civil Service Pension Scheme. Civil Service offers a choice of final salary and stakeholder pension, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
The benefits listed below are discretionary and the Imperial War Museum reserves the right to vary or withdraw them at any time. All such benefits apply during the course of your employment only.
· An interest free season ticket loan scheme after three months service.
· 20% discount in the Museum Shop.
· 25% discount in the Museum Restaurant.
· Free entry to a large number of other National Museums.
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| Required Skills: |
Key knowledge
Essential
· Educated to a minimum of 2 GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths
· Knowledge and enthusiasm of contemporary arts practice and/or art history
· General knowledge and enthusiasm of life long learning in museums
· Interest/knowledge of 20th century history
· Interest/knowledge of current museum/art gallery practice
Desirable
· Good working knowledge of another language
Experience
Essential
· 1 year’s full time experience (paid or voluntary), working in a learning or arts environment
· Experience (paid or voluntary), developing and delivering arts/craft based activity & events for children and adults
· Experience working in a cultural and/or community environment
· Experience of working with groups of people of all ages and/or young people or community groups
· Experience of working as a freelance/contracted artist working to set briefs, within a given budget and within tight deadlines
Desirable
· Experience of working in a new museum or gallery environment
Key competencies
Essential
· An awareness of the barriers (social, political, economic etc), which prevent different people/groups accessing museums
· High level of self-motivation and ability to work as part of a team
· Ability to manage own workload, plan activity and work to tight deadlines set by other staff
· Excellent interpersonal, organisational and communication skills
· Friendly, confident, outgoing and approachable manner with all types of people and sensitive to diverse needs
· Ability to work confidently and with initiative in diverse situations
· Open minded, co-operative and committed to effective contribution
· Willingness to work flexible hours, including weekends and some evenings
Desirable
· First Aid Certificate |
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| Application Instructions: |
Selection
The candidates who appear from the information available to have the best qualifications and experience will be invited to interview. This may include a practical assessment of your skills. It is thus essential that your application form gives a full but concise description of the nature, extent and level of the responsibilities you have held. In addition your covering letter should detail how you believe you met the competencies required for the job.
To Apply
To apply, please send your completed application form to Admin, IWM North, the Quays, Trafford Wharf Road, Trafford Park, Manchester, M17 1TZ. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU MUST BE ELIGIBLE TO WORK IN THE UK TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION.
Closing date for receipt of applications is Monday 28th July 2003 at 5pm.
We regret that we are unable to reply to all applicants individually. If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date, you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.
The Imperial War Museum is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunities. |
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