Routes to Roots Project Officer - Thurrock Museum

Job Description

Job Title: Routes to Roots Project Officer (2 part-time posts)
Salary: £33,531 – £38,052 per annum (pro rata to hours worked as part-time)
Grade: D
Contract Type: Fixed Term to 31st March 2027 (Possible extension pending external funder approval)
Working Hours: 14.8 or 22.2 hours per week

About the Department

Thurrock Museum has been at the heart of the borough’s heritage for over a century, with roots tracing back to 1903 when a purpose-built Carnegie library on Orsett Road first included a local history museum. Since 1971, the Museum has been based within the Thameside Complex in Grays, alongside the Library and Theatre, forming a vibrant cultural hub for the community.

Today, the Museum cares for a rich and diverse collection of up to 30,000 objects, telling the story of Thurrock from prehistoric times to the present day. Through exhibitions, events, and an active education programme, it engages local residents and young people while working closely with community partners.

The Museum service cares for and celebrates the history of Thurrock and its communities.

About the Role

As a Routes to Roots Project Officer, you will be responsible for:

• Supervising, leading and motivating volunteers for the Routes to Roots project core activities at Thurrock Museum, these include adding vital information to our specialist museum database and re-boxing our objects to ensure they are better stored.
• Monitor project outputs and support the collection of data.
• Ensure that project activities and carried out in a safe and consistent manner

This role offers the chance to make a real difference by strengthening the Museums knowledge about its collections and by supporting the care and preservation of its objects.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who has:

• Ability to motivate, develop and lead a team of volunteers and be an excellent team player
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Self-motivated and able to use initiative to solve problems
• Ability to work collaboratively with partners to achieve project outcomes
• Knowledge of museum collections naming conventions, terminology control, systems and procedures
• Experience of working in a museum or heritage setting
• Experience of working with volunteers or a charity/community group

Essential qualifications: None
DBS Check: N/A

Benefits of Working with Us

At Thurrock Council, we value our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities (where applicable)
• Ongoing training and professional development
• Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support
• Staff discounts and local offers
• A supportive and inclusive working environment

Important Dates

Closing Date (Redeployment Only): 16th July 2026

Closing Date (Internal & External): 2nd August 2026

Interview Date/s: Week Commencing 10th August 2026

Additional Information

If you have any questions about the role or interview process, please contact:

Michelle Savage – Museum Officer

msavage@thurrock.gov.uk | 01375 413965

To view the Job Profile and Person Specification, please follow the link below:

Download Job Profile (PDF Document)

About us

Why Thurrock?

Working at Thurrock Council gives you the opportunity to join an organisation that is changing at pace, one where you can make a real difference to the lives of the people we serve.

Thurrock Council is moving towards a new community leadership approach which involves linking with local partners and communities as we shape our improvement for the years ahead.

This is an exciting time to join us, to shape the future success of our changing organisation and to have a positive influence on our borough.

Our location

Thurrock is located on the north bank of the river Thames. Our urban centres are a vibrant mix of established towns and new young communities, with a diverse and growing population of around 160,000 residents.

We are an emerging cultural and arts centre, home to the production centre for the Royal Opera House and the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills. We have excellent retail and leisure opportunities, including Lakeside Shopping Centre, country parks, forests, and marshes.

Thurrock is just half an hour journey away from the centre of London by train and well connected by road.

Staff benefits

We offer lots of staff benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement and hybrid working. We champion flexible working and job share applications are welcome.

Further information can be found here Employment benefits | Working for the council | Thurrock Council

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Thurrock Council is committed to equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident Employer, disabled people will be offered an interview where they meet all essential criteria on the person specification.

We serve a diverse community where people are different yet equal. Diversity underpins everything we do.

For further information about Thurrock Council please visit our website: Thurrock Council