Finds Liaison Officer, Wiltshire Wiltshire

Salary: £ £20,661 - £21,962

The Salisbury Museum

Job Description

Fixed-term contract (to March 2019)

Job Title: Finds Liaison Officer
Reporting to: Museum Director
Working with: Communications Officer, Wessex Collections Manager, Visitor Service and Retail Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, Reception Staff
Responsible for: Finds Liaison Assistant, Volunteers, Placements
Working days/hours: 35 hours per week
Salary: £20,661 – £21,962
TO APPLY: Visit this website: http://www.salisburymuseum.org.uk/documents/application-forms-and-job-descriptions

Purpose:

To record archaeological objects found by the public, including metal detector users, to advance archaeological knowledge and to increase opportunities for active public involvement in archaeology.

This role is funded by the British Museum in partnership with Salisbury Museum, Swindon Borough Council, Wiltshire Council and Wiltshire Museum.

Main Duties and responsibilities:

1. To explain the aims of the Scheme to the wider public (for example, local archaeological and historical societies, schools, media, talks, exhibitions etc.), emphasising that the Scheme is concerned to record all portable antiquities and not just metal objects and to present the data gathered;
2. To explain the aims of the Scheme to archaeologists and museum curators in the Wiltshire area and to seek their co-operation;
3. To make contact with metal-detector users and other finders in the Wiltshire 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 using the PAS database; to attend other museums and sites in Wiltshire (such as Swindon Museum & Art Gallery, Wiltshire Museum and Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham) on a regular basis to record finds deposited there;
4. To 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. To 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. To record finds using the Portable Antiquities Database; to seek advice from Finds Advisers for those objects they are unable to identify personally; to help develop the database and accompanying standards for recording objects;
7. To make a quarterly report to the Head of Portable Antiquities on their progress in carrying out
8. To manage the Finds Liaison Assistant, volunteers and placements to assist with the recording of archaeological finds and other work relating to the Scheme.
9. To comply with all decisions, policies and standing orders of the museum and any relevant statutory requirements, including the Equality Act, the Health and Safety at Work Act and Data Protection Act.
10. To assist generally with the public service of the museum, including answering enquiries from members of the public.
11. To participate in training and development as may be required from time to time commensurate with the level of the post.
12. To undertake other such analogous duties as may be allocated by the Director or his representative.
    
    Finds Liaison Officer

Person Specification
Person Specification pro-forma

E = Essential D = Desirable

General Attributes	Specific Criteria	Essential/Desirable
Education/Qualifications	Good degree in archaeology or a related discipline, or considerable relevant experience.	E
	Post graduate qualification in archaeology or a related discipline.	D
Skills	Ability to work in a highly-organised fashion, under pressure and to tight deadlines	E
	Ability to work alone	E
	Ability to collect systematically and to collate large amounts of information and data, and to produce quarterly reports, and other documentation to a high standard of numeracy, accuracy and clarity.	E
	Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people, including finders, archaeologists, landowners, the general public and the media.	E
	Excellent IT skills, including knowledge of computerised databases.	E
	Artefact identification and recording	E
Relevant Experience	Previous experience of working within an archaeological organisation with an emphasis on finds recording and processing.	E
	Previous experience of leading, working with and training volunteers	E
	Previous experience of working or volunteering for the Portable Antiquities Scheme	D
	Previous experience of working with metal-detectorists or similar groups	D
	Previous experience of working with local archaeology groups	D
Knowledge	Awareness of issues relating to metal-detecting and archaeology	E
	Knowledge of the Portable Antiquities Scheme.	E
	Previous research into and/or publication of archaeological finds.	D
Other factors	Clean driving licence and own transport.	E
	A flexible approach to work. There will be some evening and weekend work at metal-detector clubs and other relevant societies and organisations.	E

Finds Liaison Officer

Conditions of Service

1 Salary £20,661 – £21,962

(Equivalent of local government pay scale 5,

spinal points 22-24)

2 Commencement As soon as practicable

3 Contract Until 31 March 2019

4 Hours Full-time – 35 hours per week (to include some

weekends/evenings)

5 Location Salisbury, Wiltshire

6 Leave 21 days (pro rata) rising to 25 days after five years’ employment in addition to Bank and Public Holidays. The leave year runs from the month of commencement of employment.

7 Probation There will be an initial probationary period of three months during which time the successful candidate and the Museum will establish their suitability to each other. The Museum reserves the right to extend the probationary period to six months in exceptional circumstances.

8 Pension The museum can arrange access to the NEST workplace pension scheme.

9 Termination The appointment may be terminated by either side upon two month's notice.

10 Mileage allowance Authorised car journeys will be reimbursed at the appropriate rate paid by the Wiltshire Council.

11 Sick pay Normal pay will be paid up to 4 weeks in any period of 12 months provided medical certificates are provided where appropriate and Statutory Sick Pay provisions will apply.

12 Medical fitness Appointment is subject to satisfactory medical fitness. A confidential questionnaire on medical history will be required before appointment is finally confirmed.

13 Qualifications Evidence of qualifications (if necessary) will be required of the successful candidate.

Advert went live on: Thursday 5th April 2018
Advert archived on: Friday 27th April 2018