Please find below an advertisement and job description for the post of 
House Administrator at 78 Derngate, a house of architectural and historic 
importance and a major visitor attraction in Northampton. 

Best wishes.

Cynthia Brown
Workforce Development Officer
East Midlands Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
56 King Street
Leicester, LE1 6RL
---------------------------

House administrator

CAN YOU ADD THE MACKINTOSH TO MACKINTOSH?

Do you have the qualities we seek?

78 Derngate is of architectural and historic importance and a major 
visitor attraction for Northampton. 
The house is run by a Charitable Trust and operates along commercial lines 
aiming to cover its costs. It is not a museum, but rather an information, 
entertainment and heritage experience.
We are looking for a person with all the qualifications of a museum 
manager yet the marketing skills and flair of a Cameron Mackintosh!
The organisation is highly dependant on volunteers and over 100 
participate regularly. The person appointed will have proven ‘people 
skills’, be friendly and approachable.
You must be able to work on your own initiative, be a problem solver and 
manage our new commercial visitor facilities. These include a shop, café, 
seminar rooms and exhibition space. Maintaining and increasing our visitor 
numbers and making the commercial activities a success will be rewarded. 
Starting salary circa £20k p.a. plus a bonus of up to £10k on achieving 
targets.
A full job description and person specification can be found on our web 
site at www.78derngate.org.uk
Please send a letter of application and C.V. to Mr. L. Patterson, 
Secretary, 78 Derngate Trust, 82, Derngate, Northampton NN1 1UH.
Interviews will be held in late December and the appointment is 
anticipated to begin January/February 2006.

Job description/person specification. 78 Derngate Northampton Trust.

Job Title: House administrator

Qualifications:
 Must Have: A degree in any discipline 

Experience and skills
 Must Have: Management experience, preferably in Heritage/Arts 
environment  
   Experience of working with volunteers or 
involvement in the voluntary sector
   Computer literate
   Good communication skills, written and oral

 Preferred: Retail experience
   Accountancy/book-keeping
   Exhibition work
First aid or appointed person certificate. Must be willing to train if 
does not already have

Personality:  Calm and unflappable!
   Flexible and prepared pitch in to everything
   A people person
   Must have a strong interest in the visual arts 

Job description: Reporting to the Trustees of 78 Derngate 
Northampton Trust the person will be responsible for:
 Day to day management of 78-82 Derngate 
 Ensuring the security of the property, including maintenance of 
alarms etc, 
 Health and safety procedures, including fire alarms, fire 
procedures
 Care of the fabric of the property, especially the conservation of 
78 Derngate
 Recruitment, training and deployment of volunteers
 Supervision of staff (currently assistant curator and cleaner) and 
PAYE 
 Management of the shop, including purchasing, stock control and 
book-keeping
 Responsibility regarding the café, but subject to how this 
facility is delivered.
 The promotion of 78 Derngate by giving talks etc. and working with 
the Marketing Officer
 Planning and mounting temporary exhibitions in 82
 Development of educational work at 78
 Maintenance and development of the Bassett-Lowke archive and 
display collection

Terms of employment:
 Salary: £20k plus up to £10k performance related. 
 Annual Leave:  25 days. Split between open and closed periods – 
but that may be different once 82 is up and running.
 Hours: a core 40 hours per week are needed to do the job during 
the open season. Evening work and alternate weekends. Time off in lieu 
when possible to take it.