Curator of Contemporary Irish History Assistant Keeper Grade II

Job Title Curator of Contemporary Irish History (Assistant Keeper Grade II)

Location The successful candidate will be based in the Art and Industry Division, National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7, or any other NMI site as may be designated from time to time by the Director.

Reporting to The post-holder will report to the Keeper, Art and Industry Division, or another Senior Curator in the Division as appointed by the Keeper/Director of Collections and Access.

Job Purpose

The post-holder will work within the Art and Industry Division (AID), one of four curatorial departments in the National Museum of Ireland. This division is responsible for the curation of the national collection of decorative arts, design, Irish social and cultural history, industrial and transport history, military history and Asian art, which totals over 530,000 artefacts. Art and Industry curators research, develop and share the collection with the public at Collins Barracks.

The post-holder will curate collections relating to the development and diversity of social, political and cultural life on the island of Ireland from 1920 to the present. This includes the Museum’s contemporary Ireland and science and technology collections, and encompasses themes such as gender, human rights, politics, entertainment, conflict, religion, migration, international relations, disability and age.

The interrelationship between these collections and their histories with contemporary life and the future of Ireland will be an important focus of enquiry in the post. Working with colleagues, they will play a key role in the strategic development, research and exhibition of the collections, as well as contributing to collection engagement and digital access programmes.

They will also contribute to interdepartmental projects, support the division’s research services, and liaise with colleagues across the Museum to achieve its strategic goals.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties include:

• Build the collection in response to changes, developments and events in Irish life and to reflect the diversity of material and digital artefacts in the contemporary world.

• Develop inclusivity and representation in the collection through consultation and engagement with people and communities in Ireland.

• Carry out provenance and historical research of the collection and develop opportunities for shared knowledge by supporting public research.

• Develop and manage exhibitions with a focus on representing diverse histories, innovate approaches to display and identifying opportunities for collaboration and co-curation.

• Identify, propose and manage acquisitions for the collection.

• Support collection access, research, engagement, publication and creative programmes.

• Catalogue and support the storage of the collections.

• Contribute to the care and maintenance of the collection.

• Support the development of digital collections and the provision of online access.

• Support marketing and communications relating to the Irish history collections.

• Be aware of emerging trends and opportunities relevant to Irish history in museums, research and digital scholarship.

• Manage, support and contribute to cross-departmental and interdisciplinary programmes and collaborative projects.

• Contribute to the sustainable development of the division and its day-to-day practices.

• Liaise effectively with colleagues within the AID, across the Museum and with the professional Irish history and material culture community.

• Any other such other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Personal Specification

Essential Requirements:

• A post-graduate qualification in Modern Irish history, material or visual culture, or a related discipline.

• Good knowledge and awareness of current trends and developments relating to the post.

• Experience working with artefacts in a museum environment.

• Organisational and project management skills.

• Ability to plan effectively and to prioritise.

• Ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team.

• Ability to work to deadlines and to maintain focus under pressure.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills (both oral and written).

• Strong IT skills and experience cataloguing collections.

• Enthusiasm and interest for working in an art and heritage cultural institution and a willingness to contribute to a positive working environment.

Desirable (but not essential):

• Curatorial training or experience.

• Experience managing and developing a museum collection.

• Understanding of collections care and security.

• Specialism in Contemporary Irish history and culture.

• Proven publication record.

• A broad professional network.

Selection Process

In the event that the number of applications received significantly exceeds that required to fill existing and anticipated future vacancies over the lifetime of the panel, the National Museum of Ireland may implement a shortlisting process to select a number of candidates to be invited to interview on the basis of the information contained in their application. This is not to suggest that other candidates are necessarily unsuitable, or incapable of undertaking the job, rather that, on this occasion, there are some candidates who are, on the basis of the information provided, better qualified, and/or have more relevant experience.

The National Museum of Ireland does not reimburse the cost of travel to interview.

Citizenship Requirements

Eligible Candidates must be:

(a) A citizen of the European Economic Area. The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or (b) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or (c) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or (d) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015, or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa; or (e) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.

To qualify, candidates must meet one of the citizenship criteria above by the date of any job offer.

Note in respect of UK citizens: The recently concluded EU/UK Brexit negotiations have confirmed that the longstanding Common Travel Area Agreement between the UK and Ireland remains unchanged post-Brexit. Accordingly, UK citizens remain eligible to work and reside in Ireland without restriction and, as such, to make an application to compete for this competition where they meet all other qualifying eligibility criteria.

Incentivised Schemes and Restrictions

• ISER: Retirees under the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement are debarred from applying for another position in the same employment or sector.

• VER/VRS: Not eligible unless 7 years have passed and Ministerial approval is obtained.

• Collective Agreement on Redundancy: 2-year non-eligibility period unless Ministerial consent is granted.

• Declaration: Applicants must declare prior early retirement benefits or pension entitlements.

Principal Conditions of Service

Pay Assistant Keeper Grade II National Museum PPC Scale: €39,083 - €78,830 per year Increments are subject to satisfactory performance in line with Government policy.

Starting Salary €39,083 per annum (1st point of the scale). This rate is subject to adjustments in line with Government pay policy.

Tenure One-year probationary period. Contract of indefinite duration upon successful completion.

Annual Leave 25 working days per year, increasing to 27 after 5 years and 29 after 10 years of service.

Hours of Attendance Minimum of 43.25 gross hours per week (35 net hours). Flexible working hours apply per NMI policy.

Duties The role is full-time. The appointee must not engage in outside business interfering with their duties.

General

The appointment is governed by the Civil Service Regulation Acts (1956–1996), the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004, and other applicable legislation. The appointee will also be subject to the National Museum’s Code of Standards and Behaviour.

Superannuation and Retirement

The appointee will be offered superannuation terms prevailing at the time. In most cases, the appointee will join the Single Public Service Pension Scheme.

Key Provisions:

• Pensionable Age: Minimum age is 66 (rising to 67 and 68).

• Retirement Age: Maximum is 70.

• Pension Abatement: Applies if a Civil or Public Service pension is already in payment.

• Special Conditions for Early Retirement:

  • ISER and VER/VRS retirees are ineligible.

  • Teachers under Circular 102/2007: Pension ceases upon re-employment in the public sector unless exceptions apply.

  • Ill-Health Retirement: Subject to review per scheme rules.