JOB DESCRIPTION


Job Title:              Renaissance Course Tutor on the V&A/RCA M.A. Course 
in the History of Design

Division:               Collections

Department/Section:     Research

Pay band:               4

Contract:               3 Year Fixed Term

Reporting to:           Head of Postgraduate Studies



Purpose of job

To teach students on the V&A/RCA M.A. Course in the History of Design, to 
assist in the administration of the Course, to undertake research in the 
History of Design and the Decorative Arts and to contribute to scholarship 
in the Museum.



Main tasks


1.      Teaching and convening course units, especially those dealing with 
Renaissance Italy for students on the first year of the M.A. specialising 
in Renaissance Decorative Arts and Culture, 1400-1650. The successful 
candidate will be expected to take a leading role in integrating the 
Museum's collections into the first-year teaching by developing 
object-based approaches.

2.      Supervision of second year M.A. dissertations.

3.      Supervision of M.Phil. and Ph.D. dissertations. Over a dozen 
research students (both full-time and part-time) are currently attached to 
the Course, working on all aspects of Design History, from the Renaissance 
to the present. The postholder will be expected to supervise some existing 
students and recruit new ones.

4.      Management and organisation of the Course. The successful candidate 
will be expected to take primary responsibility (in conjunction with the 
Head of Postgraduate Studies) for the academic management of the students 
specialising in Renaissance Decorative Arts and Culture, 1400-1650. Other 
important responsibilities will include Course promotion, especially Open 
Days, and liaising with Museum departments.

5.      Contributing to scholarship at the Museum. The successful candidate 
will be expected to contribute to the wider scholarly activities of the 
Museum, consistent with the post's responsibilities to the Course.

6.      Research and publication. The successful candidate will be expected 
to develop a specialist area of research in Renaissance design, decorative 
art and material culture, particularly through a program of scholarly 
publications. There will be opportunities to participate in the work of the 
AHRB Centre for the Study of the Domestic Interior, which is linked to the 
Course.

7.      Be committed to health and safety and ensure familiarity with all 
of the Museum's health and safety policies and procedures.

8.      Be security conscious, ensure familiarity and co-operation with all 
museum security procedures and ensure you wear a security pass at all times 
when on museum premises.

9.      Carry out ad hoc duties as requested by appropriate managers within 
your department.
PERSON SPECIFICATION


Essential requirements

1.      Proven research potential demonstrating a record of excellence in 
an aspect of design, decorative art, or material culture in Renaissance Italy.

2.      Teaching and administrative experience, preferably at post-graduate 
level.

3.      A broad interest in the development of the subject area.

4.      Commitment to working in the Museum.


Desirable requirements

1.      An interest in the Museum’s Renaissance holdings and a commitment 
to working with objects.

2.      A doctorate.

OTHER INFORMATION

Hours/Salary
Net working hours (ie. excluding meal breaks) are 36 per week.

The salary will be within V&A pay band 4 (£25,900 rising to £29,763 per 
annum). Thereafter, pay progression depends on performance which is 
assessed annually. Normal level transfer and promotion rules will apply for 
internal candidates.


Annual Leave
28 days plus 8 days public holidays


Age of retirement
The normal retirement age is 60.


Pension benefits under the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS)
We offer benefits under the PCSPS, a final salary scheme which is 
contracted-out of the state pension scheme.  There is a small employee 
contribution (1½%) for widows and orphans benefits.  Full details are 
available upon appointment or can be obtained via the Cabinet Office 
web-site on www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/civilservice/pensions/index2.htm


Other benefits
Free entrance to all the major Museum's in London as well as many others.

An interest free season ticket or bicycle loan is available after three months.

Subject to the society’s terms and conditions, V&A staff are entitled to 
membership of the Benenden Healthcare Society.  Further information is 
available from Personnel or via their web-site on www.benenden.co.uk


To apply
Completed application forms should be sent to:

Catherine Morris
Personnel Department
Victoria & Albert Museum
South Kensington
London
SW7 2RL

Tel:            020 7942 2937
Fax:            020 7942 2933
E Mail:         [log in to unmask]
Internet                www.vam.ac.uk

Electronic versions of our application forms are available on the V&A’s web 
site at:

www.vam.ac.uk/jobs

Please mark your envelope Recruitment RCT on the bottom right hand 
side.  Closing date for receipt of applications is 17 May 2002

Please note if you have not heard from us by 27 May 2002, you should assume 
that you have not been short listed for interview.  We regret that we 
cannot acknowledge all applications due to the large number that we receive 
and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rupert Shepherd
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Material Renaissance Project
Essex House
University of Sussex
Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QQ, U.K.
Tel. +44 (0)1273 872544     Fax +44 (0)1273 678644
[log in to unmask]
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/Units/arthist/matren/
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