Oral Historian: Fixed-term contract for 60 days over a three-month period.

Project overview Assay Office Birmingham is entering an exciting new stage in its 240 year history. As we prepare to move into our new premises in 2015, we are seeking to capture and curate oral testimony from past and present staff and other appropriate stakeholders, preserve this important aspect of our history and create a unique historical and educational resource to share with our current staff, customers and visitors as well as stakeholders outside the organisation. Our aim is to create an oral history record to cover the history of the existing building, changes in Hallmarking, and changes in the business and its culture since the late 19^th century. Job description

• To identify oral history candidates in conjunction with the Birmingham Assay Office team.
• To undertake pre-recording interviews with potential interviewees to establish the subjects on which they should be interviewed and the ground to be covered, whilst observing the defined project themes.
• To conduct and record video oral history interviews in line with criteria identified in the project and following best practice as identified by the Oral History Society and others.
• To edit and produce oral history packages from original interviews using appropriate software.
• To identify the ways in which this material can be disseminated across a range of stakeholders beyond the Birmingham Assay Office including museums, heritage organisations and schools; to develop links with these stakeholders and to provide them with completed oral history resources.
• To produce a report and evaluation of the oral history project upon completion.

Person specification: Essential:

• Computer literacy, accurate keyboard skills, meticulous attention to detail and a methodical and thorough approach to work.
• Excellent organisation and administration skills.
• The ability to extract key information from a range of sources.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build effective working relationships with a wide range of people.
• A proven ability to work as part of a team.
• Self-motivation, initiative and the ability to work independently without supervision.
• Ability to manage multiple demands upon time.

Desirable:

• Experience of delivering oral history projects.
• Experience of working with recording and editing software.
• An awareness of best practice in conducting, recording, editing and disseminating oral history.
• Experience of working with volunteers.
• Knowledge of 18^th and 19^th Century West Midlands History.
• Experience of working in an archive, museum, library or heritage organisation.

Reports to: Heritage Project Manager Please send your CV and a letter of application (no more than 1,000 words) outlining your experience and suitability for the post to: Kate Iles, Assay Office Birmingham, PO Box 151, Birmingham, B3 1SB. Closing Date: Friday 14^th November 2014 Please also indicate whether or not you have your own video recording equipment and your experience of using appropriate audio/film editing software. Assay Office Birmingham is a secure environment with mandatory restrictions regarding access to certain areas of the building and items that are permitted to be brought in and taken out of the building.

 

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