House of European History - Post A: Collections team

As the voice of citizens, the European Parliament stands for European democracy. DG Communication (DG COMM) amplifies its message of the Parliament to reach every corner of Europe. We help connect Members of Parliament to the people they represent, and we communicate what the Parliament is, what it does, and what it stands for. When Parliament speaks, we make sure it’s heard.

We are committed communication professionals coming from various professional and academic backgrounds.

The House of European History (HEH) is a project of the European Parliament dedicated to exploring Europe’s shared and diverse past through a transnational lens. As a museum, the HEH manages a growing collection of objects, artworks, documents, and digital materials, and develops exhibitions, public programmes, and research initiatives that make European history accessible to a wide audience. The museum brings together curators, collections specialists, educators, and technical experts in a multilingual, collaborative environment to support high‑quality content, responsible collection stewardship, and innovative storytelling.

The Collections team is a part of the HEH. It manages, preserves, and documents the holdings, ensuring they can be safely used in exhibitions, research, and digital projects. It manages the full lifecycle of collection items, from acquisition and documentation to conservation, logistics, and rights management.

Working in a multilingual and multidisciplinary environment, the team collaborates closely with curators and external partners to support exhibitions, loans, and digital initiatives. This setting offers a dynamic and professional context for developing expertise in intellectual property and licensing within the cultural heritage sector. Read more of the HEH on www.historia.europa.eu.

The trainee will support the Collections team in its work on preventive conservation, object handling, exhibitions and other tasks relevant to the work in the collections department of the museum. Your main tasks will involve:

• Assisting with the day-to-day work of the conservation team, including all aspects related to preventive conservation, object handling, condition-checking and object preparation for (de-)installation;
• Assisting with object storage in situ and in the external storage premises of the HEH;
• Drafting condition reports for incoming and outgoing loans;
• Assisting with the (de-) Installation of exhibitions and other ongoing projects;
• Assisting the Collections team with other matters related to the collection.

The ideal candidate brings a strong interest in conservation, collection care and cultural heritage management, along with:

• A degree in conservation (art, object or archaeological conservation) - you have obtained/will obtain a university degree (level 6 of EQF or higher) at least three months before the starting date of the traineeship; 
• Proven knowledge and practical experience with object handling and conservation work;
• Excellent command of English (oral and written);
• Strong organisational skills, accuracy, and a sense of responsibility;
• A proactive, solution‑oriented mindset, solid drafting and communication skills;
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast‑paced environment with tight deadlines. 

Additional assets include:

• Experience working with museum databases or archives;
• Knowledge of collection management;
• A strong sense of initiative and interest in research;
• Additional language skills are an asset. 

The European Parliament is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace. We welcome all candidates, regardless of their geographical, racial or ethnic origin, political or religious beliefs, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, civil status, or family situation.