Collections Officer

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Collections Officer

Directorate: Environmental and Community Services

Department: Wellbeing and Culture Service

Salary: Grade E - £30,024 to £33,699 per year pro rata (pay award pending)

Hours: 28 hours per week*

Location: Erewash Museum, High St, Ilkeston, DE7 5JA and off-site stores

* Includes Saturday working on rotation. This is a minimum of one Saturday per month.

Shape a collection that inspires, engages and connects local communities

This role will play a central part in shaping how Erewash’s heritage is preserved, interpreted, and shared with our communities. Your work will have a tangible impact on how our Borough’s history is experienced today and safeguarded for the future.

We’re looking for someone who can support the council’s ambitions for culture, heritage, arts, health and wellbeing, using the collection to spark learning, engagement and community connection.

The role needs a collaborative team member who can take confident ownership of their work, delivering high‑quality outputs and leading on the effective stewardship and use of the council’s heritage collection. This role offers an exceptional opportunity for someone ready to advance their career and help shape the future direction of a well‑loved cultural asset.

You’ll bring solid museum or heritage experience, strong collections care knowledge, and the ability to engage audiences with objects and stories. You will deliver exhibitions, maintain collections management standards, and lead on engaging communities with local stories. Flexibility is key, as the role spans practical, intellectual, and collaborative work and involves both public-facing and back-office duties, including supervising casual staff and volunteers.

The role includes regular Saturday working and occasional evenings. Regular travel to display and storage sites across the Borough is required, as well as an Enhanced DBS check.

Why Choose Erewash Borough Council?

Erewash Borough Council is committed to celebrating the borough’s heritage, with ongoing support that ensures its cultural services continue to grow and evolve. The team maintain a collaborative, welcoming and forward-looking environment, and we are well-supported by the expertise of other council departments.

This is an exciting time to join the Culture and Heritage team. Over the past 18 months, sustained investment has enabled significant improvements, including refurbished café and reception areas, the delivery of two exhibitions, redisplay of a permanent gallery, the opening of a bookshop, and a vibrant programme of events. We have also introduced new volunteering opportunities, upgraded IT infrastructure, and made substantial progress in collections conservation, documentation, care, and digitisation.

What You Will Do:

• Championing best practice in collections care and documentation, ensuring the long‑term preservation, accuracy, and accessibility of the Borough’s heritage collections.
• Leading the ongoing development of the exhibition and display programme, bringing stories to life through thoughtful curation and innovative interpretation.
• Overseeing the delivery of high‑quality public engagement programmes rooted in the borough’s history - ranging from talks and tours to school workshops, outreach sessions, and support for researchers.
• Cultivating productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including community partners, Friends, donors, funders, local networks, and specialist groups.
• Providing supportive and effective leadership to casual staff and volunteer teams.
• Acting as a keyholder when required, contributing to the smooth and safe daily operation of the museum.
• Delivering collections-focused projects, from development to implementation.
• Playing an active role in the wider Culture and Heritage Service, contributing professional expertise and insight, and providing operational support to Front of House and Events colleagues.

About You:

You will need:

• A Degree in a relevant discipline.
• Experience of working with collections in a museum environment.
• Experience of delivering exhibitions.
• A strong knowledge of SPECTRUM, CMS systems such as MODES, and preventative care and conservation methods.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to work with a range of stakeholders and engage with the public.
• To be willing and able to undertake evening and weekend work including working Saturdays on a rotation.

For an informal discussion about this exciting opportunity please contact Morwenna Rae, Culture and Heritage Team Leader by email at morwenna.rae@erewash.gov.uk

Benefits of Working for Us

In addition to a competitive salary, you will also have access to:

• Generous annual leave package – a pro rata entitlement to 29 days annual leave (rising to 33 days after 5 years’ continuous service) plus a pro rata entitlement to 8 bank holidays a year
• Free workplace car parking within the Borough
• Opportunities for training, learning and continuous professional development
• Family friendly flexible and hybrid working policies available
• Option to join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) plus access to a salary sacrifice scheme for added voluntary pension contributions
• Discounted leisure membership with the Fit for Work scheme
• Access to the VIVUP employee benefits discount and salary sacrifice scheme

The closing date for applications is Monday 27 April 2026 at midnight. Interviews will be held on Monday 11 May 2026

Please note: This role is only open to applicants who already have the right to work in the UK. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

How to Apply

Interested candidates can apply with a CV and a supporting statement, clearly demonstrating suitability and experience for the role.

You will be requested to provide some basic information before you upload your CV.

For further information about working for Erewash Borough Council and how to apply for this job please visit our website at https://www.erewash.gov.uk/jobs-section/jobs.html

Alternatively, an application form and job description are available from Human Resources, Erewash Borough Council, Town Hall, Wharncliffe Road, Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE7 5RP, Telephone: 0115 931 6000 (24 hr. voicemail) or e-mail: jobs@erewash.gov.uk

If you are a current employee of Erewash Borough Council and you wish to apply for this vacancy, you must apply through your Employee Self Service account. If you do not have access to Employee Self Service, you must complete a paper or word version of Erewash Borough Council’s job application form.

The Council is positive about disabled people and those who meet the essential shortlisting requirements will be guaranteed an interview.

The Council also supports the Armed Forces Covenant and those who have previously worked in the armed forces and meet the essential shortlisting criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

Please ensure that you make it clear on your application form that you wish to be considered under these criteria.