August 2015 Telephonist/Receptionist Volunteer at the Fitzwilliam Museum Why the Fitzwilliam Museum needs this role The Telephonist/Receptionist volunteer provides the first point of contact for many visitors and telephone callers to the Museum, providing a full telephone and mail room service for all Museum staff. There may also be a requirement to order and distribute stationery and provide support for a range of museum functions. This role sits behind-the-scenes and supports the work of the museum, and its staff. The Museum would like to establish a ‘pool’ of trained Volunteers who could provide cover on Wednesdays and as and when required. The working day is 9am -5pm and cover would be required during these working hours, although a four hour shift is acceptable. Volunteer tasks Deal with internal and external queries from the public, colleagues in the Museum and University and connecting them to appropriate members of staff Operate feature phone and providing service to all Museum extensions Handle outgoing mail and parcels, inland and overseas in preparation for collection by Royal Mail and dealing with mail couriers Operate franking machine and fax, including sending confidential faxes Distributing stationery to Museum staff Training will be provided within all these areas before commencing the assignment. What you will gain from this role Practical experience working with the museum public from a different perspective Increase your skills and knowledge of the many activities undertaken by the Fitzwilliam Museum Join a motivated, and enthusiastic volunteer telephonist/receptionist team Satisfaction of giving back Benefit from knowledge about day to day operations at the Fitzwilliam Museum Skills required Excellent telephone manner and clear communication skills Ability to assimilate large amount of frequently changing information Computer literacy, including email, WORD Reliability and punctuality Flexibility including the ability to provide cover on other days and periods of leave during the period of the volunteer assignment Interest in and commitment to the work of the Fitzwilliam Museum and the cultural sector Potential time commitment: Training session (two hours). Availability is then required on Wednesdays and, with prior notice given, at other times to cover holidays etc. Responsible to: Director’s PA who shares the same work space and is therefore close at hand. Additional Training and Support The Fitzwilliam Museum will aim to provide sufficient information and training for you to perform your volunteer role Health and safety responsibilities You will be responsible for your own health and safety and that of others with whom you volunteer, by reporting all potential and actual health and safety matters including accidents using the correct procedures. To Apply Please download and complete an Expression of Interest form and send to [email protected] or Opening Doors Project Coordinator, University of Cambridge Museums, c/o The Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RB. For a downloadable copy of the role description, click here. About the Fitzwilliam Museum The Fitzwilliam Museum houses world-class collections of works of art and antiquities spanning centuries and civilisations. Highlights include masterpieces of painting from the Fourteenth century to the present day, drawings and prints, sculpture, furniture, armour, pottery and glass, oriental art, illuminated manuscripts, coins and medals and antiquities from Egypt, the Ancient Near East, Greece, Rome and Cyprus. Find out more at http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/ About the University of Cambridge Museums University of Cambridge Museums is a consortium of the eight University Museums, which works in partnership with the Cambridge University Botanic Garden and other Cambridge University collections. They include: Fitzwilliam Museum, Kettle's Yard, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Museum of Zoology, Museum of Classical Archaeology, Whipple Museum of the History of Science, The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences and The Polar Museum. The University's collections are a world-class resource for researchers, students and members of the public representing the country’s highest concentration of internationally important collections, all within walking distance of the City Centre. .