Collections & House Manager

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Collections & House Manager to cover both Uppark House & Garden and Hinton Ampner to take a leading role in caring for, researching and innovatively interpreting these special places and their collections.Our housesand collections are a fundamental part of our work and this role plays a critical part in helping to care for, research and interpret these places and their collections. This role will be pivotal in delivering an innovative approach to the stories we telland how we tell them, ensuring we are always providing the best possible visitor experience and delivering a consistent approach of high standards of collection management and care across both properties.What its like to work hereThe Hinton Portfolio comprisesof Hinton Ampner, Uppark House and Garden, Winchester City Mill and Ludshott and Selborne Commons. The portfolio is large and varied, covering the Western part of the South Downs National Park. In it we have 2 pay for entry sites with glorious mansions, pricelesscollections and stunning gardens; 1 city centre water mill which is free entry for everyone, still milling flour that we use in our caf and sell to our visitors; and several pockets of beautiful countryside providing access to nature for everyone.Uppark wasbuilt c.1690, crowning the South Downs ridge in West Sussex. Uppark is a fine example of a family home built during the golden age of country-house construction in the 17th century, cherished by generations of families and the survivor of turbulent events.Theinteriors and gardens are predominantly associated with the Fetherstonhaugh family who bought the estate in 1747 and filled it with British decorative art and extensive sets of paintings acquired on extended Grand Tours. Changes were made later to the approaches,gardens and interiors by renowned architect and landscape designer Humphry Repton. One key element to our collection at Uppark is one of just two most important 18th-century British dolls houses in the world, brought to Uppark in 1746. Uppark is also immortalisedin H.G.Wells novel Tono Bungay after he spent some of his youth living here. A devastating fire in 1989 gutted many of the interiors but they were painstakingly reconstructed, and the house today is presented as it was on the day before the fire, highlightingthe amazing skill and specialist craftmanship that was brought in to bring this unique property back to its former glory.Hinton Ampner is a Grade II listed mansion radically remodelled for Ralph Dutton between 1936-9. Hinton Ampner is an important buildingin shaping twentieth-century interpretation of the significance of the Country House in the U.K. context. Dutton was positioned at the centre of an important homosocial relationship network of creative individuals who came together to co-create and co-designcollections, interiors, and architecture. After a fire in 1960, the house was rebuilt and refurnished immediately, and Hinton Ampner still retains its Regency Villa style today. The house interiors and works of art are comparable with international museumcollections. Dutton was authority on art and architecture, avidly buying art at a time when the market was flooded with the dispersal of major private collections, and before an increase in prices of the late 1960s. Duttons collection comprises of importantexamples of seventeenth to twentieth-century European art including paintings, furniture, sculptures, porcelain and one of the finest groups of hardstones in the National Trust.What youll be doing We aim to improve our collections care, deepen audience engagementwith our collections and interiors, and diversify the appeal of our houses and collections through the high quality and innovative research, presentation and interpretation that we deliver.Working as part of the Portfolio Leadership team, youll help to developthe vision for the properties we care for in collaboration with the other members of the portfolio leadership team. You will work with our consultancy teams who provide specialised expertise to ensure we are in line with the National Trust principles.Youllbe working across both Hinton Ampner and Uppark, so expect to be spending time at both sites each week and ensure you have the ability to get to both sites with ease.Youll provide leadership to the collection and house teams across both sites, developinga lively and engaging house experience, delivering high quality presentation, interpretation and collections care. Youll be responsible for all elements of the visitor experience programme where it relates to the cultural assets within your properties. Theportfolio boasts a strong network of visitor experience colleagues, including the Visitor Operations & Experiences Manager, who you will be working closely with to help create and deliver an innovative and fresh programme plan for the portfolio with our housesat the centre. As an experienced Collections Manager, youll be able to demonstrate where you have: Strong knowledge in history, art and design history, architecture or related fields as relevant to each property, including a good understanding of diverseand inclusive histories. The ability to work collaboratively with a range of internal and external stakeholders to deliver the portfolio business plan. Strong skills in advocacy and building partnerships with regional and national colleagues and partners.Ability to lead for innovative, inclusive and accessible histories and interpretation. An understanding of the needs of a wide range of different audiences, to deliver creative, accessible and layered content to reveal the meanings of collections and placesto meet these needs. Proven knowledge of visitor experience principles and approaches to optimising visitor enjoyment. In-depth understanding and experience of working with historic collections and properties, including an awareness of Museum Accreditationstandards. Team leadership skills, and the ability to effectively balance operational needs with effective coaching and mentoring. Experience in the management of relevant compliance, health and safety and emergency procedures. Good business planning and organisationalskills. Experience in the management and setting of budgets. Excellent verbal and communication skills.