Job Description
Job Title:
Development Officer (Museums and Collections)
Grade/Salary:
Staff Officer £28,500 - £31,135
Reporting Officer:
Director
Location:
NIMC Offices, Belfast
This position is being offered on a contract of 51 weeks in the first instance, with a
view to establishing the post permanently thereafter.
Closing Date for submission of applications: 12.00pm (noon) Friday 15th May 2015.
You must submit your completed application to:
Recruitment, Northern Ireland Museums Council, 6 Crescent Gardens, Belfast BT7
1NS
Applications must be submitted in hard copy form only.
Northern Ireland Museums Council
The Northern Ireland Museums Council (NIMC) was established in 1993 to support the
local museums of Northern Ireland in maintaining and improving their standards of
collections care and public service. As a Non-Departmental Public Body, NIMC is
primarily funded by the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure.
In 2011 the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure launched the Northern Ireland
Museums Policy, which is now a key component in the Northern Ireland Assembly’s
Programme for Government 2011-15. This policy aims to develop the museum sector
across four areas – Developing Audiences, Education and Learning, Collections, and
Infrastructure and Resources. NIMC’s Business Plans are structured around these four
strategic areas.
The Council aims to:
 Support local museums in maintaining and developing high standards
 Champion the development of museums and their collections in Northern Ireland
 Work with the sector to enhance access to museums as places of learning,
enjoyment and personal development
 Strengthen the skills and knowledge of the people working in the sector
 Demonstrate the benefits and impact of museums on the social, cultural and
economic life of Northern Ireland
 Run the Council in an effective and efficient manner
To these ends, the Council provides:
 Advice and information
 Training
 Grant-aid
 Support for collections care and public services
 Advocacy for museums and co-ordination of development
Overall Purpose of the Job
The overall purpose of this job is:
 to assist the Northern Ireland Museums Council meet its commitment to advance
the goals of the Northern Ireland Museums Policy and other policy priorities;
 to improve standards in collections care, management, interpretation and access
at local museums;
 and, to administer the Museum Accreditation Scheme for local museums.
Main Duties
1. Contribute to the development of policies and strategies in relation to the NIMC’s
ongoing work and the development of the museum sector.
2. Promote and administer the Museum Accreditation Scheme in Northern Ireland.
3. Plan and deliver specific projects that will develop the standards of collections care,
management and use across the museum sector.
4. Identify and develop funding opportunities for NIMC and local museums
5. Provide support and guidance to local museums, especially to the voluntary and
independent museums, on matters concerning collections care, management and
use and the operation of museums generally, including the establishment of new
museums.
6. Maintain an up-to-date information resource on all aspects of collections care and
management, and disseminate such information as is required.
7. Maintain an up-to-date information resource on interpretation, access and audience
development concerning museums, and disseminate such information as is required.
8. Liaise with other professional bodies and organisations by way of advocating
museum and collections development.
9. Maintain, develop and promote the NIMC websites, social media, newsletters and
library.
10. Provide support and input in the research and preparation of written reports for the
Board, and for other publications.
11. To contribute to the effective and efficient operation of NIMC and its other
programmes, including representing NIMC at meetings, as required.
12. Any other appropriate duties relevant to the grade.
The postholder must be prepared to travel around Northern Ireland, and where
necessary further afield, in order to fulfil the duties associated with the post.
Personal Specification and Selection Procedures
Job Title:
Development Officer (Museums and Collections)
Grade/Salary:
Staff Officer £28,500 - £31,135
Qualifications and Experience
It is essential that applicants have as a minimum, by the closing date:
 An honours degree, or equivalent, in a relevant subject.
 At least two years working experience in museums and/or collections related work
gained within the last 5 years
 Access to transport and a willingness to travel to meet the needs of the post.
It is desirable that candidates have:
 At least three years working experience in museums and/or collections related work
gained within the last 5 years.
 A postgraduate qualification in a discipline related to museum or heritage studies.
Personal Qualities and Skills
NIMC is seeking an enthusiastic, creative, knowledgeable and confident individual for
the position. Applicants must provide evidence on the application form that they possess
the following skills and qualities.
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Have a good understanding of current museum policy matters, professional practice
and standards, together with the associated issues.
Have excellent organisational skills, the ability to work on their own initiative and to
have a pro-active approach to achieving goals.
Be information technology literate.
Possess strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
Selection Procedures
Applicants should note that canvassing is not permitted and will result in the application
being disqualified.
It is the responsibility of all applicants to ensure that sufficient information is given on the
application form concerning their qualifications, experience, qualities and skills.
Applicants should note that for shortlisting purposes NIMC will apply the essential criteria
set out above, may apply the desirable criteria in the order listed, and will take account of
the answers candidates give to the questions related to the personal qualities and skills
set out above. The candidates who appear from the information provided to satisfy the
requirements will be invited for interview.
NIMC is committed to equality of opportunity in employment and selection will be on the
basis of merit. Applications are welcome from all suitable qualified applicants
irrespective of their religious beliefs, gender, disability, race, political opinion, age,
marital status, sexual orientation or whether or not they have dependants.
Applicants should note that any information supplied could be released under the
process of discovery to form part of the evidence in a Fair Employment or Industrial
Tribunal hearing.
Applications received after the closing time and date will not be considered.
Interviews will most likely take place during the week beginning 25th May 2015
Development Officer (Museums and Collections)
General Conditions of Employment
This position is being offered on a temporary basis on a contract of 51 weeks in
the first instance, with a view to establishing the post permanently thereafter.
NIMC is open to proposals to fill the position through secondment.
Should the position be filled through secondment, NIMC will establish a Memorandum of
Understanding with the postholder’s employers regarding the retention of their General
Terms and Conditions of Appointment commensurate with their current post, including
annual leave entitlement and pension contributions, and the operation of the
secondment.
Should the post be filled through direct recruitment, the following terms and conditions
will apply.
Terms and Conditions of Employment
The person appointed will be subject to the main Terms and Conditions of Service as
summarised below and detailed within the Northern Ireland Civil Service Conditions of
Service as they are applied by NIMC. The NICS Conditions of Service Codes and the
NIMC Staff Handbook (which gives details of other conditions of service currently in
operation) are available for consultation at the NIMC offices.
The position of Development Officer (Museums and Collections) is full-time. In view of
this additional work outside the Council may not be undertaken without the prior
permission, although such permission will not be unreasonably withheld. In a similar
vein, NIMC is committed to ensuring a good ‘work-life balance’ for its employees, and is
therefore willing consider a reduced hours contract to allow the post-holder to meet
his/her caring responsibilities.
Your Employer
Your employer will be the Board of the Northern Ireland Museums Council. You will be
directly accountable to the Director of the Council.
Salary
The salary for the post is directly linked to the Staff Officer Grade scale. You will be paid
monthly in arrears by direct debit to your bank account through the BACS system.
Hours and attendance
You will be expected to work a 37-hour week, excluding the lunch break. NIMC operates
a flexi-time agreement, which allows you, with the agreement of the Director, to
determine your own starting and finishing times within defined limits.
Probation
You will serve a probationary period of 1 month and confirmation of the appointment will
be dependent on satisfactory completion of this period of service.
Annual Leave
In addition to public holidays (currently 12 per year), the annual leave entitlement will be
25 days. The ‘leave year’ runs from 1st February to 31st January. In any incomplete year
of service, annual leave entitlement will be in proportion to the length of service in the
year. Up to five days of your annual leave entitlement may be carried forward into the
next leave year. This may be increased under special circumstances.
Sick Leave
There is provision for granting sick leave with pay. Details are set out in the Northern
Ireland Civil Service Conditions of Service Codes.
Pension
Your appointment may be pensionable from the outset and you may choose to join the
Principle Civil Service Pension Scheme (NI) upon appointment. If you are not already in
a Principal Service Pension Scheme, you will receive details of your options in this
regard upon appointment.
Notice
You will be entitled to receive and required to give one month’s notice to terminate your
employment with NIMC, except under circumstances when the Council is entitled to
dismiss you summarily. Such circumstances are detailed in the NIMC Staff Handbook,
and are covered under the Council’s disciplinary procedures.
Work Location, Travel and Expenses
The post is based at the Council’s headquarters at 6, Crescent Gardens Belfast. You
will be expected to travel throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the United
Kingdom and possible elsewhere on official business.
You will be paid a mileage allowance in accordance with the Northern Ireland Civil
Service rates in respect of motor travel undertaken in the course of your duties. All other
out of pocket expenses relating to NIMC work may only be incurred with the prior
approval of the Director.
Variation to the Terms
NIMC reserves the right to vary the terms of this arrangement subject to prior notification
being given and after appropriate consultation has taken place.