Visitor Services

Glasgow Life

Curator (Legacies of Slavery & Empire)
£31,578.25 – £36,678.29
Location: 200 Woodhead road, G53 7NN
Ref: GLA09799

Glasgow Life is looking for a Curator (Legacies of Slavery & Empire) to join us on a 35 hours per week fixed term contract for a period up to two years. As Curator (Legacies of Slavery & Empire) you will be joining our in-demand museums service. You will be part of a dedicated team which supports the largest museum service in the UK outside London with 10 venues across the city and a collection of over one million objects that is one of the finest in Europe.

More about our Museums teams
As a Curator (Legacies of Slavery & Empire) you’ll be joining our Glasgow Life Museums team. From The Burrell Collection to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, our Museums are free for everyone to access. We’re committed to making sure people experience our world-class collections and have the chance to engage with our rich heritage. The cultural programmes we provide bring value to people’s lives. Read more on our website. https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums

About Glasgow Life
Glasgow Life is the charity which inspires people to lead richer, more active lives through culture and sport. Simply put, we believe that everyone deserves a great Glasgow life. We do this by delivering innovative cultural and sporting programmes and events which improve the mental, physical, and economic well-being of Glasgow. Glasgow Life also creates unforgettable experiences for tourists, strengthening the city’s visitor economy. We help put on world-class events, conferences and festivals which enhance Glasgow’s international reputation. Glasgow is the first city to be named European Capital of Sport twice sport and was also the first place in the UK to be named a UNESCO City of Music.

The role
Glasgow Life is committed to telling the story of the impact that transatlantic slavery and empire has had on Glasgow. We seek to collaborate with communities that are part of its legacy. In support of this, we have been awarded funding by Museums Galleries Scotland. As Curator (Legacies of Slavery and Empire) you will be responsible for developing a programme of community engagement and collaborative research to reshape understandings of the connections between slavery’s past and the contemporary legacies of slavery and empire. As part of Glasgow Museums curatorial team you will develop displays on the past and present legacies of transatlantic slavery and empire; a public programme that reflects the legacies of slavery, empire, race and globalisation; and online content.

The candidate
If you’re interested in joining us as Curator (Legacies of Slavery and Empire) you’ll need:
• Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant subject area
• Excellent understanding of the needs of audiences, especially those who do not regularly visit museums
• Demonstrate experience of using collections to develop content and interpretation for diverse audiences within a museum context.
• Ability to work in partnership with other organisations, including community organisations
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal.

You can read the full person specification for this role under the ‘Job Attachments’ section.

We believe in the transformational power of the programmes and events we provide for the people and visitors of Glasgow. If you would like to be a part of what we do, we’d love to hear from you.

Current Glasgow Life Employees
At the end of the temporary period, eligible employees will have a right to return to a role of their substantive grade within the council family as a minimum. Employees are required to inform their current manager prior to submitting an application.

Benefits at Glasgow Life
We offer a generous holiday allowance of 30 days, rising to 35 days after 5 years, plus 6.5 public holidays (for full-time roles). You’ll also be eligible to join the Strathclyde Pension Fund, which pays 19.3% employer contribution and is one of the largest local authority pension providers in the UK. Additional benefits include staff discounts, cycle to work scheme, option to buy annual leave, flexible retirement as well as family-friendly policies.

Diversity matters at Glasgow Life
We’re determined to reflect the extraordinary diversity of Glasgow in our workforce. Glasgow Life is on a journey to develop a workplace that reflects the communities we serve. Where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. We’re a Disability Confident and Carer Positive employer and invite candidates from all backgrounds to apply. Read more about our commitment to equality and diversity on our website. https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/the-small-print/an-inclusive-employer.
To apply for this vacancy online please visit www.glasgow.gov.uk.
Closing date is 11.59pm on Sunday 29th January 2023

Information is available in alternative formats, on request.

Email: cbsrecruitment@glasgow.gov.uk

KEY PURPOSE

To ensure that the garden and related policies of Crarae Garden are managed and maintained as a nationally recognized gardens of historical and horticultural importance, contributing to the property’s’ overall conservation and development, and its enjoyment by visitors and supporters.

The role of ‘Gardener’ as a key member of the Crarae Gardening Team will be heavily involved in the care and maintenance of the gardens and wider designed landscapes. This is a full time; permanent post and the successful applicant must be able to drive.

CONTEXT

Crarae is one of the finest examples of an exotic Himalyan style woodland garden. Set beside the banks of Loch Fyne, this unique 40 hectare garden is planted around the glen of the steep sided Crarae burn. The garden was started by Grace, Lady Campbell in 1912 and includes a National Collection of southern beech as well as excellent examples of rhododendron, maples, mountain ash and eucalyptus.

Under the direction of the Head Gardener, with supervision from the First Gardener, and as part of the property team, you will assist with the conservation, maintenance and development of the garden and designed landscape to ensure that Crarae Garden is presented to the highest standards to its visitors and guests.

As such, we are looking for a knowledgeable and passionate horticulturist to work with our enthusiastic team of staff and volunteers and to assist with the continued development of a wide range of horticultural aspects of the garden as well as increasing the overall importance of Crarae Garden as a visitor attraction.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Key Purposes of the job will be met by:
1. Undertaking practical maintenance of the garden (e.g. managing trees and shrubs, herbaceous plants, and bulbs; turf care; pest/disease/weed control; staking, plant nutrition, composting and soil improvement to the required standards expected by the Trust and for the maximum safety of, and enjoyment by visitors including other professionals in the horticultural industry;
2. Demonstrating: self-motivation, organisation, planning, prioritisation, good time management and attention to detail;
3. On occasion, supervising and working with volunteers and/or staff members to ensure they deliver required outputs at the appropriate standard, and gain benefit/satisfaction from their activities;
4. Undertaking other reasonable duties as may, from time to time, be required to ensure the smooth running of the property;
5. Ensuring compliance with the Trust’s health, safety, and environment policies and procedures.
6. Fostering positive relationships with local communities and organisations and promote the work of the Trust.

SCOPE OF JOB

People Management
 Not a line manager but will, on occasion, supervise volunteers and staff under instructions from the Gardens and Designed Landscape Manager (GDLM) or Visitors Services Manager;
 Will work closely with other property colleagues, and will have some interaction with other technical/specialist advisory colleagues based in other locations and departments (e.g. other NTS gardens in South and West)
 Will have regular (daily) interaction with members of the public and guests of all ages and abilities.

Finance Management
 Not a budget-holder.

Tools/equipment
 Will be a user of driven vehicles such as ride-on mowers and tractors;
 Will be a frequent user of powered tools such as Blowers, mowers, strimmers, hedge-cutters;
 Will be a frequent user of hand-tools such as spades, forks, trowels, rakes, hoes, shears, and secateurs.

Pitmedden
Pitmedden Garden and Museum of Farming Life are a vibrant and exciting garden to work within. Its long and varied history underpins the whole estate and its management with the gardens forming a major part of the overall visitor experience. The gardens are always evolving within its historical framework both as a formal layout and as a living work of art.

Pitmedden is known for its Great Garden, originally created in the late 17th century by Sir Alexander Seton. While that framework remains the current main content there has been the recent addition of a major garden development created by an award-winning designer.

The garden is divided by many fine walls with gates and pillars. The main feature of the lower terraces are the Parterres; based on James Gordon’s 1647 designs of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Herbaceous borders were added at the time of the Trust’s re-development along with many wall trained Fruit trees and Orchards. The designed landscape extends out to the rectilinear features of field enclosures and drives and overlaid with informal elements such as ponds and dykes. It is lightly wooded with tree belts and small woodlands.

Haddo
Haddo House gardens are a vibrant and exciting garden to work within. Its long and varied history underpins the whole estate and its management with the gardens forming an integral part of the overall visitor experience. The gardens are always evolving within its historical framework both as a plantsman’s garden and as a living work of art.
The formal gardens have resonance with Pitmedden in content and style while having their own character. Annual bedding schemes alongside informal open woodland enhance vistas that permeate to the wider designed landscape of the Haddo Estate.

KEY PURPOSE
This job exists to ensure that the garden and policies of Pitmedden Garden and Haddo House are managed and maintained as nationally recognised gardens of high horticultural importance, contributing to the property’s overall conservation and development, and its enjoyment by visitors and supporters in line with the Trust conservation procedures and Heritage Garden Management Plan.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Key Purposes of the job will be met by:

1. Ensuring the conservation and practical maintenance of the garden and policies – whether through delegation to other staff/volunteers, or personal participation – in terms of:

a. Practical horticulture (e.g., managing trees and shrubs, roses, herbaceous plants, vegetable and fruit gardens and bulbs; turf care; pest/disease/weed control; composting and soil improvement; hard landscaping; path care, plant propagation; plant sales management, tree care, Arboricultural techniques, care & maintenance of garden machinery, tractors and estate management equipment).
b. Plantsmanship (e.g., the identification, recording (using Plant databases), labelling of individual plants and other collections).
c. Research and development (e.g., research into historical precedents and practical contemporary solutions to inform proposed activities and projects).
d. Interpretation (e.g., through the development and delivery of events such as introductory talks, guided tours or practical demonstrations, contribution to guide-books or leaflets).

2. Ensuring an appropriate management regime of the gardens and policies that includes the management of:
a. Staff: including the Regional Grass Cutter and volunteers (recruitment, induction, development, performance management) such that they are fully equipped and motivated to undertake their duties to the required Trust standards.
b. budgets (setting, phasing, monitoring, pro-active and re-active adjustments) such that both gardens’ finances are sustainable within the context of the wider property budgets.
c. health, safety and the environment in line with stated Trust policies and approaches to ensure the health and welfare of staff/volunteers.
d. recognition of the Trust’s Environmental Policy with respect to sustainable gardening activities, including energy, water, recycling, carbon reduction, peat & pesticide-use.
e. daily, weekly, yearly and longer-term operational work plans and reporting in the context of the properties’ statements of significance and action plans (and contribution to these action plans) to ensure that activities are prioritized and planned to optimize the use of resources.
f. customer service and care from garden staff/volunteers, and in the broader sense of facilities and “visiting experience”, to ensure that the properties’ reputation for excellence is maintained and enhanced.
g. Taking a lead property role in monitoring and reporting on hazardous tree inspections
h. administration to enable gardening activities to be undertaken and recorded efficiently.

3. Participating fully in the property’s wider “management team” including
a. supporting the Operations manager strategically and practically with the operation of the properties, and assuming the role of “duty manager” as required
b. taking an active role in promoting the gardens and properties through digital media, events, workshops, presentations, and talks.
c. Managing turf areas, traffic flow and protecting the estate landscape features during major events including supervision of contractors
d. Snow, ice, and storm management
e. Fire and security duties on a rota-basis

The current duties of this job do require a criminal records (Disclosure Scotland) check to be carried out.