Job Description:
Finds Liaison Assistant
Reports to
Finds Liaison Officer
Grade
Scale 3 SCP 14
Salary scale
£15,882 pro rata
Hours
37 hours
Contract
Temporary – 3 months
Job Purpose

To assist the Finds Liaison Officer in the recording of archaeological material found
by members of the public and metal detector groups in Derby City, Derbyshire,
Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire

To assist finders of archaeological material and help ensure that they and
landowners understand the Portable Antiquities Scheme and the Treasure Act
Dimensions
Supervisory responsibilities:
None
Managing Individual
Performance:
Reports to Finds Liaison Officer
Responsible for:
Volunteers as appropriate
Specific Responsibilities
1. Assist the Finds Liaison Officer record finds using the Portable Antiquities Database
developed for the Scheme; to seek advice from the Finds Liaison Officer and Finds
Advisers for those objects they are unable to identify personally; to help develop the
Program and accompanying standards for recording objects;
2. Help the Finds Liaison Officer explain the aims of the Scheme to archaeologists and
museum curators in their area and to seek their co-operation;
3. Make contact with metal-detector users and other finders in their area, both those in
clubs and other metal-detector users who are not members of clubs; to attend club
meetings to explain the project and to record finds; to encourage clubs and finders
to record their finds themselves where appropriate and develop finds recording
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forms; to attend other museums in their area on a regular basis to record finds
deposited there;
4. Explain the requirements of the Treasure Act and Code of Practice and the statutory
provision relating to the use of metal-detectors on scheduled sites to finders; to act
as expert advisers on finds of treasure in liaison with local museums and coroners
and to keep finders informed of progress with their treasure cases;
5. Foster a spirit of co-operation between metal-detector users, landowners and
archaeologists; to educate detector users and landowners on best practice,
communicating the archaeological requirements concerning the accurate recording
of the provenance of finds and the need not to disturb in situ deposits and to
mediate between them and archaeologists/museum curators if necessary;
6. Help the Finds Liaison Officer explain the aims of the Scheme to the wider public
(for example, local archaeological and historical societies, schools etc.),
emphasising that the Scheme is concerned to record all portable antiquities and not
just metal objects and to present the data gathered;
7. Assist the Finds Liaison Officer in making a quarterly report to the Head of Portable
Antiquities on their progress in carrying out these objectives.
General Responsibilities
1. Demonstrate ability to interact and cooperate with all Trust employees.
2. Maintain professional internal and external relationships that meet the values of
Derby Museums and the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
3. Comply with relevant Derby Museums and Portable Antiquities Scheme policies.
4. Ensure compliance with all Trust policies including Customer Care, the Health and
Safety at Work Act 1974, the Trust’s Safety Policy and Financial Standing Orders.
5. Develop and promote equal opportunities, ensuring the service reflects and provides
for the community.
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Person Specification:
Finds Liaison Assistant
Short-listing and selection will be based on the criteria set out here. Do make sure that
your application fully demonstrates how you satisfy the points listed, drawing on your
personal and work experience, education and training.
Qualities
Essential (E)
Identified by:
Desirable (D)
Application (A)
Interview (I)
Test (T)
1. Generic skills and experience
Basic literacy and numeracy
E
A
Ability to use problem solving skills to organise,
E
AI
Competent in carrying out basic research & in
identifying reliable sources of information.
E
AI
Strong organisational and project management
skills
E
AI
Ability to work in a highly-organised and efficient
fashion
E
AI
Ability to work independently on research
D
AI
A wish to develop a career in archaeology
D
AI
Ability to work alone
E
AI
Experience of artefact identification or previous
experience of working within an archaeological
organisation with an emphasis on finds recording
and processing.
E
AI
Knowledge of flint and or pottery from
archaeological contexts
D
AI
sort & rationalise data
2. Job specific skills and experience
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Qualities
Essential (E)
Identified by:
Desirable (D)
Application (A)
Interview (I)
Test (T)
Previous experience of working with metaldetectorists or similar groups.
D
AI
Knowledge of the Portable Antiquities Scheme,
website and database
E
AI
Ability to work systematically, to input data onto
electronic databases in a consistent format, and to
a high standard of numeracy, accuracy and clarity.
E
AI
Ability to take and manipulate digital images (using
Photoshop)
E
AI
Awareness of issues relating to metal-detecting,
the Treasure Act and archaeology
E
AI
D
A
E
AI
3. Qualifications
Degree in archaeology or a related discipline, or
equivalent relevant expertise
4. Equalities
Understanding of
Commitment to Equalities
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