The role of Curator Manuscripts reports to the Curatorial Services Leader.

Transcription

1 Job description Job Title: Branch: Business Unit: Reporting to: Location: Salary Range: Curator Manuscripts Information and Knowledge Services (IKS) National Library, Alexander Turnbull Library Curatorial Services leader Wellington IM Band H Purpose The Curator Manuscripts is part of the curatorial services team and is responsible for managing the Alexander Turnbull Library Manuscript Collection. These responsibilities include the development of manuscript collections (both digitally born and paper-based) through donation and purchase, ensuring preservation and care, organising arrangement and description work to make the collection accessible, providing research services for those who wish to use it, undertaking and publishing research into the Manuscript Collection, developing proposals for exhibitions (physical and on-line) and digitisation programmes, and promoting the collection to potential user groups. The role of Curator spans the range of requirements underpinning the purposes of the Alexander Turnbull Library (ATL) as defined in the National Library of New Zealand Act 2003, ie to preserve, protect, develop and make accessible the ATL collections in a manner consistent with their status as documentary heritage and taonga. The role of Curator Manuscripts reports to the Curatorial Services Leader. Key Tasks Specialist Accountabilities role specific Build the Manuscript collections by: o Developing and maintaining a strategic collection development plan for the manuscript collections o Developing the collections through purchase and donation o Engagement and negotiation with donors Undertake research into the Manuscript collection and contribute to New Zealand scholarship. Respond to complex Research enquiries Contribute to the Library s digitisation programme by identifying items and collections to be digitised Work with the Collection Care Team to ensure that the Manuscript collections are housed and preserved for use by researchers in the future Page 1 of 6

2 Work with the Arrangement & Description Team to establish standards and policies for arrangement and description of the Manuscript collections Undertake a variety of Outreach activities, including lecturing, organising seminars and publishing Support Gallery and Public Programmes activities, including developing exhibition proposals Act as an expert adviser on requests for export applications for documentary heritage items Communicate and consult efficiently across ATL, and with other parts of the Library, including Content Services and Digital New Zealand Produce regular activity reports Facilitate Iwi/Māori access to matauranga Māori by creating pathways to information in the collections Lead and participate in appropriate working groups Respond to research enquiries as part of rostered team. This may involve occasional weekend work Supervise, train and provide development assistance for Assistant Curator Manuscripts Formulate and manage projects to be undertaken by the Library s volunteer and internship programme Liaise, as appropriate, with Archives New Zealand and other cultural bodies Demonstrate commitment to the Library s strategic directions Performance Build a shared commitment to the direction of the organisation, and achievement of its outcomes, and a customer focused culture within the Curatorial area Continually review the performance outcomes expected and negotiate with partners in delivering on outcomes Ensure action is taken to address non delivery on agreed outcomes Capability Continually develop a working understanding of matauranga Māori as it applies to the kaitiakitanga of the ATL collections, and their status as documentary heritage and taonga Continually review the capability needed to support the organisation in delivering on outcomes and ensure action is taken to address identified capability gaps within their curatorial area, specifically in support of collection development, arrangement & description and research enquiries. Balance the routine demands of daily tasks with the maintenance of ongoing projects requiring creative thinking and applied scholarship. Provide leadership that inspires others to succeed and develop, and proactively share experience, knowledge and ideas Model behaviours that encourage whole-of-organisation collaboration and learning for the purpose of increasing synergies and maximising effectiveness Partnership with customers Page 2 of 6

3 Engage effectively with other groups, in a way that ensures both internal customer needs and those of external agencies are understood and met Identify priorities, and develop and implement engagement strategies. Continuous improvement Ensure that a process of continuous review and improvement is inherent throughout all elements of their curatorial area Identify opportunities for enhancing the overall curatorial area s capability Draw on knowledge of best practice, advances in technology, and relevant research to develop an informed view of opportunities and challenges to transforming the organisation s collection management systems Develop and maintain knowledge of all areas of the Library's collections in order to provide research advice to clients Partnership with Māori Uphold the National Library Act and support the effective implementation of Te Aka Taiwhenua, the DIA framework for working effectively with Māori. Work with the Curator Māori to ensure that the development and administration of the Manuscript Collection meets the needs of Iwi/Māori Treaty of Waitangi Support National Library Treaty of Waitangi obligations being met through the achievement of business objectives EEO Support the effective implementation of EEO objectives through the achievement of business objectives. Health & Safety (for self) Takes personal responsibility for keeping self free from harm Follows safe working procedures Reports incidents promptly Reports hazards promptly and suggests appropriate remedies Knows what to do in the event of an emergency Co-operates in implementing rehabilitation plans Key Relationships Key Relationships and Nature of Interaction Advise Collaborate with Influence Inform Manage/Lead Deliver to Internal Page 3 of 6

4 Curatorial Services Leader Assistant Curator Manuscripts Other Curators Assistant Curators Field Librarian Curator Māori Associate Chief Librarians Assistant Chief Librarian Research Collections Conservators Arrangement and Description Leader Digital Collection Strategies Team Research Enquiries Leaders Research Librarians & Subject Specialists Outreach Services Leader Imaging Services National Digital Library Public Programmes and Communications External Researchers Donors Publishers Vendors Professional colleagues from other institutions (archivists, curators, librarians) Accountabilities and Delegations Staff Management Number of direct reports 1 Total number of staff reporting 1 Delegations Human Resource Delegations 0 Page 4 of 6

5 Financial Delegations 0 Person Specification Experience Experience of working in a professional role in a research or scholarship-based institution Knowledge Sound knowledge of history of New Zealand and the Pacific Professional knowledge of archival theory and practice, as they relate to both digital and paper-based materials Basic understanding of tikanga Māori, and Te Reo pronunciation Skills Excellent written and interpersonal skills Methodical and orderly work habits and an ability to keep accurate records. Education and Professional Memberships Post-graduate qualification in library, archives or heritage studies A Master s degree, with some publication record, would be highly desirable Archives and Records Association of New Zealand (ARANZ) Professional Historians Association of New Zealand (PHANZA) Competencies The Competencies** required for this role consist of both core Departmental and job specific competencies. The core competencies are shown below in italics. Each competency falls within a competency cluster, which are broad themes of skills, behaviours and abilities. Competency Cluster Integrity Intelligence Emotional Maturity Talent to Execute Competency Integrity and Trust Ethics and Values Decision Quality Learning on the Fly Self Knowledge Composure Innovation Management Page 5 of 6

6 Competency Cluster Positive Energy Managing Diverse Relationships Managing Complexity Achieves Effectiveness for Māori Competency Customer Focus Process Management Drive for Results Perseverance Interpersonal Savvy Dealing with Ambiguity Effectiveness for Māori *With the exception of Achieves Effectiveness for Māori, the competencies DIA uses are derived from the Competency Sort Cards developed and copyrighted by Lominger Limited, Inc. No part of the Lominger competencies may be used, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, by or to any party outside of The Department of Internal Affairs. **Competency descriptors can be found on the DIA intranet (1840) or by contacting your hiring manager. Page 6 of 6