Working Hours: 35 Hours per week
Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Closing Date: 05 November 2024
Interview Method: In Person (Face to Face)
Manchester Art Gallery is looking for a Collection Information Manager to join the Collection Management Team. Lead by the Collection Manager, the team also includes our Registrar and two Collection Management Officers, and together the team provides Collections Management leadership, advice, and support across the gallery. Through the implementation of collections management systems and standards the team help to facilitate access to the collection and widen collections use whilst ensuring that risks to the collection are effectively managed.
The Collections Information Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operation of Emu, the Galleries’ collection management system, as well as the online collections search interface on the Galleries’ website. The Collection Information Manager is also responsible for image licencing requests, and they play a key role in other collections management activity at Manchester City Galleries, including processing acquisitions and disposals, cataloguing, locations management, auditing and the management of insurance records and provide collections management support and advice to other colleagues.
The current focus of the team is the delivery is a capital programme to improve collection storage and address long standing issues with our buildings whilst continuing to deliver a cultural offer that attracts up to 730,000 visitors a year. As we audit and move our collections we are seeking to improve our understanding of the under-used material held in our stores and explore it’s history, role and purpose. We are also working to expand and enrich our documentation, to include perspectives on the collection that are broad and intersectional, helping Manchester’s residents and gallery staff learn more about Manchester’s civic collection and it’s relevance in our lives today.
We are aiming to hold interviews on 30th October 2024. If you have any questions about the role please contact Phillippa Milner, Collection Manager: Phillippa.milner@manchester.gov.uk.
About Us Manchester City Galleries are proudly part of Manchester City Council and belong to the people of Manchester. We believe that creativity can be a powerful force in making a healthy society and achieving positive social change. We meet the needs of Manchester’s varied communities, connecting art and people through exhibitions, engagement and education. Art can expand our knowledge of the world and our sense of place within it.
At our three sites – Manchester Art Gallery, Platt Hall, and our Conservation and Research Centre in Queens Park - we care for a collection of over 50,000 objects including art, craft and design and clothing. In our 200th year, we are taking stock of our collection, working with and for the people of Manchester to shape our future.
We are committed to working in partnership, offering free social spaces and building collaborations with communities, agencies, charities and other council services. We place people at the centre of all that we do, using our resources to make the city a fairer place. This commitment to social justice includes actively working to address the inequalities of class, race, gender, sexuality, age and disability as well as improving our environmental sustainability.
In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.
You will be passionate about collections management systems and an effective advocate for collections management standards within the organisation.
You will bring demonstrable experience of the principles and best practice of museum documentation and collections management standards and knowledge of the legal requirements, such as due diligence, copyright and IPR, and GDPR in relation to museum objects.
You will have extensive experience of using collections management systems, such as EMu or a similar museum collection management system, including experience acting as a system administrator and experience of running complex searches, undertaking batch imports/export, running reports and bulk data editing. You will also have knowledge of collections care standards and guidelines for environmental conditions for museum objects.
Working with colleagues across the organisation, artists, volunteers and other partners, you will work in a collaborative way and be a strong team player with excellent communication skills and the ability to convey information to a range of stakeholders clearly and concisely in a way that promotes understanding.
We’re the local government authority for Manchester, and have teams across the city helping to make this a great place to live for everyone. We’re proud to do local government differently, in a city with an international reputation for diversity, creativity, culture and passion.
When you join us, you’re joining a team of over 7,000 council staff helping to make our ambition for Manchester a reality. Whatever your role, you’ll be supporting our residents and communities to be the best they can be, and helping to build a Manchester that's fairer for everyone who lives, works, volunteers, studies or plays here.
To make our ambition a reality, every person we recruit needs to play their its part. It takes a certain type of behaviour, attitude and way of working to get Manchester where it wants to be. Our people and partners have agreed five ‘behaviours’ – the grounding for how we must work together and treat one another:
- We take time to listen and understand
- We work together and trust each other
- We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
- We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
- We’re proud and passionate about Manchester
A career with us means you can be yourself, thrive, and build the career your talent and ambition deserve.
Creating an inclusive team at Manchester City Council
At Manchester City Council, we strive to create a fair and inclusive workplace that is as diverse as the communities we serve. We want to further increase the diversity of our workforce, in particular the number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and disabled staff at all levels of the Council. This advert is open to all applicants, and we would particularly encourage applications from candidates identifying with one or both of those characteristics.
If you want to find out more about the role, our ways of working, flexible arrangements or any workplace adjustments, please let us know by emailing jobs@manchester.gov.uk. If you are invited to interview, we will ask you if you require any adjustments for you to best demonstrate your suitability for the role in the interview process.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:
- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
- Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
- If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
Accessibility
As a Disability Confident Employer, we provide support for employees with physical or mental-health conditions, a disability or neurodiversity. Our workplaces are accessible by design, and we make workplace adjustments including providing aids, adaptations and equipment. These, combined with our flexible working policies such as disability-related leave, enable our employees to perform their role, thrive and be their authentic selves in work.
We’ve also included some useful tips on how to submit the best application.
What we will need from you if you’re successful
If you are successfully offered a position with us, the pre-employment checks you will be asked to undertake will depend on the role you've applied for. As a guide, these may include:
- Passport/ID: You will be required to provide documentary proof of your right to work in the UK
- References (Current and Previous employer)
When you join us
We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.
Other relevant information
Why work for us
Who we are - Manchester City Council
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