Project Placement - Zoology Collection

Deadline: Saturday, October 31, 2015 - 17:00
Employer: Leeds Museums & Galleries
Contract Duration: Temporary
Contract Type: Part Time
Salary: To be discussed

Project Placement - Zoology Collection
Leeds Museums & Galleries

UK, England, Leeds

Zoology Collection
What is the Project?

- Part of our bird collection at Leeds Museums and Galleries is almost completely documented and photographed.

- An important collection packed with usable data, it now needs to be beautifully documented and made ready to go online to improve its accessibility.

- A crucial part of the project is to have the collection publicised through regular blog posts and other use of social media as well as completing the documentation.

What's in it for you?

- An experienced professional to mentor you throughout the placement to help you develop your skills.

- Develop digital documentation skills including using industry standard digital collections management software (TMS - The Museum System).

- Experience of recognising conservation issues and flagging these up the conservator.

- Contribution to a social media 'bird season' at Leeds Museums & Galleries.

- Contribution to the delivery of a co-ordinated collections campaign alongside the Digital Media Assistant.

- Become part of a friendly team.

What's involved?

- Attending a two day induction period which will incorporate a site induction, information governance training, social media training and TMS training.

- Throughout the placement, the candidate will be required to keep a log of any activities carried out and photographically document the work in preparation for evaluating the placement as a blog in the final week.

- Attending an assessment at the end of week 1 to receive guidance and give feedback on any concerns to be addressed by the mentor and a second assessment at the halfway mark as a recap of the time period and to receive guidance towards producing a final evaluation as a blog post to be inserted in the Secret Lives Of Objects blog page.

- Working independently, with guidance from the project leader. Photographing, measuring, marking and recording data from the collection.

- Publicising interesting findings in the form of a blog post.

- Passing information of interest to the curators of natural science to tweet about.

- Recognising and flagging up conservation issues with the conservator.

- The final day will consist of an exit interview to mutually share and evaluate the placement and to allow the candidate to share their experience of the placement.

Person specification

- The candidate should be in possession of or be working towards a degree in natural sciences, zoology or other related vocational qualification.

- Strong IT and research skills and an interest in this type of project.

- Good organisational skills and attention to detail; and some experience of object handling would be advantageous.

- Comfortable with using a digital camera.

- Enthusiastic, reliable and eager to gain experience.

- Be able to work with and without supervision as necessary.

- Be willing to abide by the Council's code of conduct as well as the relevant policies and procedures.

Location: Leeds Museum Discovery Centre, Carlisle Road, LS10 1LB

Leeds City Museum Millennium Square, Leeds LS2 8BH
Time commitment: 2-3 days a week
(The main project supervisor works part-time, so availability on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays would be ideal)
Day: To be confirmed
Duration: A maximum of 30 days
Expenses: This is a paid position which will be discussed at interview.
Further info: For further information contact Clare Brown or Rebecca Machin, Curators of Natural Sciences on either clare.brown@leeds.gov.uk or rebecca.machin@leeds.gov.uk

Closing date: 5pm 31 October 2015

If you are interested, please complete the application form on the downloads page of our website http://www.leeds.gov.uk/volunteer and send it by email to: volunteer@leeds.gov.uk or contact Wendy Breakwell, Volunteer Coordinator, on 0113 336 7393 to request an application form.