Science Museum Group
Documentation Officer (12-month FTC)
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Do you have the curiosity and precision to investigate some of the most unusual objects in our collection - including radioactive items?
About us
The National Science and Media Museum in Bradford explores the culture of image and sound technologies and their impact on our lives. Home to internationally significant collections of film, television, photography, sound, and gaming technologies, alongside extensive library and archive collections, the museum is internationally recognised while retaining a strong sense of place and relevance for its local communities. As part of a rich cultural programme, we deliver three festivals each year and house three cinemas - including Europe's first IMAX screen and the world's only public Cinerama screen.
The museum is part of the Science Museum Group, the world's leading group of science museums, which also includes the Science Museum in London, the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, the National Railway Museum in York, and Locomotion in Shildon. Together, we care for a collection of over seven million items spanning science, technology, engineering, medicine, transport, and media, and we share a mission to inspire futures - igniting curiosity among people of all ages and backgrounds. Joining us means becoming part of a talented group of colleagues working to care for, understand, and share these extraordinary collections with the world.
About the role
The Documentation Officer role is based within the Documentation Team and will work group-wide across all of SMG's collections. You will support the wider aims of the team by investigating and resolving legacy issues in the collection, helping to maintain accountability for the objects in our care. This will involve working directly with the collection, ensuring that we are able to identify objects within the store. You will also use innovative techniques to analyse, record, and improve our collections data. Ultimately improving how we understand, care for, and share our collections whether on display or in store.
You will be upholding SMG cataloguing and documentation standards, ensuring that data is consistent and accurate. You will also contribute to the digitisation of these objects by producing and editing data for our sector-leading Collections Online web portal, helping to share these collections with the world.
This post will be based at the National Science and Media Museum. As part of the Science Museum Group, the National Science and Media Museum (NSMM) explores the culture of image and sound technologies and their impact on our lives. It holds internationally significant collections of film, television, photographic, sound, and gaming technologies as well as extensive library and archive collections. NSMM is an internationally recognised Museum which also retains a deep sense of place and relevance for its local communities. As part of a rich cultural programme, we deliver three festivals, are home to three cinemas including Europe's first IMAX screen and the world's only public Cinerama screen.
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This post will focus on our most recent Collections Review project. Investigating and reviewing some of SMG's hazardous collections, including radioactive items. This role will be vital in increasing our understanding of these hazards, the types of objects they are found in, and how they can be identified and recorded. You will support the identification and cataloguing of these objects and advise others on Mimsy and our Collections Management procedures. Alongside this, you will be a central point of contact for the Documentation department on this project.
This is a full-time, 12-month fixed-term contract, working 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday. You'll be based on-site at our National Science and Media Museum in Bradford five days a week - this is a practical role working directly with the collection, so being on-site is essential.
About you
We're keen to see applications from candidates who have experience of museum documentation and cataloguing, with a good knowledge of documentation standards and best practice, including Spectrum. You'll have used a museum Collections Management System before and understand how to apply collections management procedures, policies, and cataloguing standards. This role focuses on our latest Collections Review project, investigating some of SMG's hazardous collections - including radioactive objects - so it's essential that you're comfortable and confident working directly with hazardous materials, following the appropriate safety procedures and guidance in place to protect you and your colleagues.
We're also keen to see applications from candidates who bring a high level of attention to detail. The cataloguing involved in this role is highly detailed, and maintaining accuracy and consistency across our collections data is at the heart of what you'll do. You'll be someone who can meet tight deadlines without compromising on standards, work with large volumes of data, and make evidence-based decisions while staying flexible as priorities change. Good organisation skills and the ability to manage your own time are important, as is the ability to work well within a multi-disciplinary team and support colleagues across the organisation.
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Don't feel you meet all the criteria? We welcome you to apply even if your experience doesn't match directly. With your transferable skills, you could be the right candidate for this, or other opportunities that we have.
Applying
View the Vacancy Information Pack listed under 'Attachments' on the vacancy listing on our website for more details about the role and the application process or click 'Apply Online' to submit an application.
What we offer
Working with a world-leading museum group that offers access to truly unique environments and collections, you'll benefit from the perks listed below, as well as full support for life events such as parental and adoption leave, sickness, and career breaks.
- Meaningful work. We're a mission-led organisation where the work you do supports us in Inspiring Futures.
- Career growth. We offer enhanced support with personal and professional development.
- Work/life balance. We offer 27 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays, along with flexible policies which support you and your home life.
- Wellbeing. All our colleagues can access an employee assistance programme, access to the Unmind app, and other wellbeing support.
- Colleague networks. Our colleague-led networks are an informal forum for colleagues to come together to discuss topics of shared interest and lived experience. They create a space for people to exchange ideas, discuss best practice, socialise, and build a sense of community.
- Enhanced contributory pension. To support you in saving for the future.
- Interest-free loans. When you need a little extra cash for life events or home improvements.
- Great discounts. Free entry to exhibitions, discounts in our shops, cafes, and access to other museums in the NMDC network.
Open for All is one of the Science Museum Group's five core values and sets out our important aspiration to be a place for everyone. We are working hard to understand our organisation better and to develop a culture that recognises and values different backgrounds, mindsets, skills, experience, knowledge, and expertise. By having greater diversity, we believe that we will be a stronger and better organisation, capable to continue to Inspire Futures.
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