Earl R. Merrill: National Trust Curator

The National Trust has significantly invested in curatorship, increasing the number of curators and developing our capability and confidence across the organisation.
Curators at the Trust are influential and collaborative, working with a wide range of people and using their deep knowledge and understanding to influence care for our collections and places, develop research agendas and create high quality, dynamic presentation, interpretation and programming.

What it’s like to work here
This role is based in our Saunderton hub. You’ll help deliver world-class curatorship to some of the most important buildings, collections and landscapes in the country. This (repeat of particular) role focuses on a diverse portfolio including Hughenden Manor, Chastleton House and an extensive range of historic estates, farmed landscapes and vernacular buildings across the West Oxfordshire countryside and Central Chilterns.
Hughenden offers a vivid insight into the charm and charismatic personality of the most unlikely Victorian Prime Minster, Benjamin Disraeli. He resided in the property from 1848 to 1881 and within this time collected an extraordinary collection of personal memorabilia. With the exposed secret wartime past in our Second World War room in the cellars, combined with interactive exhibits and eye-witness account, the experience is unique.

Chastleton, in contrast, is a key reminder of another period in history; a rare gem of a Jacobean country house built between 1607 and 1612. The house remained unchanged for nearly 400 years as the interiors and contents gradually succumbed to the ravages of time. With virtually no intrusion from the 21st century, this fascinating place exudes an informal and timeless atmosphere and resonates a glorious setting unspoilt and untampered.

This post is for a permanent position, working part time, 22.5 hours per week.
Please note that we are currently recruiting for a number of Curator roles within the London & South East region, specifically based at our Saunderton, Wisley and Grosvenor Garden hubs. If you would like to be considered for more than one of our Curator positions, please attach a cover letter stating the roles in order of preference. Please search for IRC68618 for our Wisley Hub role and IRC68666 for our role at Grosvenor Gardens.

What you’ll be doing
The role of the Curator in the Trust has huge variety. The portfolios you support may include country houses and their collections, but also gardens, landscapes and vernacular buildings. You’ll work with everything from farm equipment to musical instruments to old masters, the Trust’s collections in many areas being amongst the finest in the world.

As well as supporting a diverse portfolio of properties, as Curator you’ll need to build strong and influential relationships with specialists and operational teams. You’ll be a skilled communicator and able to enthuse and inspire others.

You’ll ensure that everything we do balances our need to conserve our heritage, with our need to continue to enhance our emotional engagement with visitors, whilst retaining our “Spirit of Place” that makes each property unique.

Who we’re looking for
In order to be successful in this role you’ll need to have:

Experience of building relationships and of working collaboratively with a range of internal and external stakeholders in order to deliver curatorial outcomes
Significant knowledge across two or more of the following areas: history, art history, landscape, archaeology, architectural history, gardens/parks
Successful track record of leading high quality and creative interpretation, presentation and programming
Experience of commissioning, undertaking and disseminating research
Knowledge of current best practice in relation to care and management of buildings, landscapes, and collections care including Museum Accreditation standards
The ability to work in a matrix organisation, at pace and with a high workload

The package

Looking after you

Health cash plan – from as little as £3.09 per month for you and your dependents
Pension contribution match up to 10%
EAP and proactive Health and Wellbeing
Discounted gym membership

Looking after your career