Please access the Application Form HERE

Please note you will need to download an application form as directed and upload it via our recruitment system in the space provided.  We cannot accept CVs in place of an application form.

Live Interpretation Assistant

£22,168.58 per annum

Band E / L2

The Royal Armouries cares for one of the world’s oldest museum collections, housed at its headquarters and flagship museum in Leeds, its historic home at the Tower of London, and the Victorian Fort Nelson in Hampshire.

We’re looking for a keen, audience-focussed live interpreter, ideally with stage combat experience, to join our Live Interpretation Team in Leeds.

The successful candidate will learn and perform a range of historic combat choreographies, live interpretive performances, tours and demonstrations as part of a daily and special event programme designed to bring our national, iconic and unique collection to life. He or she will also work with our world-class Collections team to enhance their knowledge and understanding of original arms and armour from antiquity to the modern day.

Live costumed historic interpretation in museums is one of the toughest forms of theatre. You have to earn and keep a fluid, transient audience with widely differing needs with every performance, every day. The successful candidate will therefore be a versatile, adaptive and resilient performer and communicator; will ideally have studied drama and stage combat; and will be an enthusiastic learner too! If this sounds like you, please download and send in an application form. The assessments will take place and will include a selective audition, a workshop and an interview over one full day.

This is a full time position working 36 hours per week, 5 days out of 7.  Weekend, Bank Holiday and evening working will be required regularly.

Benefits

• Access to the discounted bicycles via Bike2Work scheme
• Access to free EAP services via the (Employee Assistance Program)
• 27.5 days holiday plus additional Bank Holidays
• Company sick pay scheme
• Discounted staff car parking
• 25% off staff shop
• 10% off food in on-site café
• Pension scheme max employer contribution is 9% 
• Access to free on-line learning

A Enhanced Disclosure and other security checks will be requested in the event of a successful application.  However, a criminal record may not necessarily be a bar to employment.  Any decision made would depend upon the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of your offence.

Closing date for applications: 17th March 2024

Interview date: 27th March 2024

Purpose and Full Job Description

To play a front-line role in delivering an engaging and exciting public programme by:

• Meeting the needs of a range of informal learning visitors by developing and delivering a range of different kinds of live interpretation, including character performances, talks and tours, object handling sessions and combat or other kinds of demonstration relevant to the themes, storylines and collections of the Royal Armouries.
• Supporting the formal learning programme by delivering workshops, storytelling, historic characters and other activities.

Key Tasks

• To deliver our daily and special event programme of character performances, talks and tours, object handling sessions and combat or other kinds of demonstration relevant to the themes, storylines and collections of the Royal Armouries (see also Physical Conditions below).
• To research & develop the daily and special event programme, creating informative and inspiring experiences, as directed.
• To support the formal learning programme by delivering workshops, storytelling, historic characters and other activities.
• To work towards meeting museum & Event Team targets.
• To undertake specific formal and informal learning projects, including outreach and off-site work, as directed.
• To support interns, volunteers, placement students, etc as directed
• To provide safe and secure working practices in all activities, with the safety of learners, staff and volunteers and the security of handling collections, equipment and other resources recognized as priorities.
• To support the Marketing and Communications department in the promotion of the department and of the Royal Armouries, as directed.
• To perform such other duties as are commensurate with the post. The role may alter with the changing needs of Royal Armouries and the job description may be reviewed and updated.

People

• To ensure that the needs of all visitors are met to a consistently high standard.
• To provide supervision of assigned volunteers, interns and placement students, etc.
• To co-operate with partners, within RA and outside it, in order to achieve shared objectives.

Relationships

• To follow directions from the Events Manager, the Events Officer and the Living History Officer in relation to the daily and special event programme.
• To follow directions from the Formal Learning Manager and the Education Officer in relation to the formal learning programme.
• To work collaboratively with other members of the Education and Events team, both at Leeds and at Fort Nelson.
• To work closely with the Operations department to ensure the highest standard of visitor experience.
• Cultivate internal relationships that cross departmental boundaries and demonstrate a willingness to collaborate with project team members, as required.
• Support partnerships with external partners & contacts, as required.

Budgets and Resources

• Operate within RA budget and asset management regulations ensuring value for money.
• Assist in the care of departmental assets to minimise loss, damage and waste.
• Assist in the repair, cleaning, etc of the handling collection & education resources.
• Maintain standards of services & products whilst controlling operating costs.

Policies and Procedure

• Comply with Safeguarding, Health & Safety, Equality and other relevant legislation.
• Work to RA organizational policies and procedures, including risk management, to protect people, the collection and the museum’s reputation.

Personal Responsibilities

• Work flexibly to meet the needs of a wide variety of visitors.
• Work co-operatively as part of a team and support colleagues.
• Protect the reputation of the Royal Armouries.
• Demonstrate Royal Armouries’ values.

Functional Expertise

• Use knowledge, skills and expertise to achieve the delivery of Royal Armouries education objectives and targets

Disclosure

A Enhanced Disclosure and other security checks will be requested in the event of a successful application.  However, a criminal record may not necessarily be a bar to employment.  Any decision made would depend upon the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of your offence.

Reporting Structure

This post reports to the Events Manager, and is supervised on a daily basis by the Events Officer, or Education Officer, as directed.  The post-holder will also be required to work closely with other members of the Education and Events Team.

Hours

This is a full time position working 36 hours per week, 5 days out of 7.  Weekend, Bank Holiday and evening working will be required regularly.

Physical Conditions

• The post-holder may occasionally be required to work at the Tower of London, Fort Nelson and at the sites of partner organisations, which may involve some overnight stops in other parts of the UK at certain planned times.
• There is a physical element to the role which will involve moving, setting up and putting away equipment, including heavy arms & armour, etc.
• At times the role will require the wearing of replica historical clothing and armour.

The role will require learning and demonstrating some historic combat techniques, military drills and choreographed stage fighting; post-holders will be assessed on physical fitness, capability and aptitude by the Live Interpretation Coach, and if necessary will receive full training.

Person Specification

Selection Criteria

E = Essential / D = Desirable for applicants to meet the relevant standard