Collection Manager: Care and Access
Collection Care
Full-time, 41 hours per week (including one hour paid lunch break)
Fixed term (until 9 February 2028)
£32,337 per annum
Application deadline: 12pm (midday) on 24 February 2025
About the role:
Collection Managers lead and manage the work of a team of Assistant Collection Managers within the Collection Directorate to deliver Museum projects and the daily care of the collection. The post-holder will work with colleagues across the Museum and will contribute to the planning and supervision of activities connected with the care of, and access to, the collection by BM staff and a range of external audiences.
This role will focus primarily on the maintenance of stores and permanent displays, object handling, movement, documentation and the supervision of study visits. It may also include the preparation of objects for display and loans including mount making, installation, packing, couriering and working on deadline-driven storage and larger scale object move projects.
The post-holder may also contribute to the development of standard procedures and a formalised Training Programme to be applied across the Museum, reflecting recognised best practice in the sector.
Key areas of responsibility:
1. To manage a team of Assistant Collection Managers including robust planning and management of development within their team; to deliver pro-active performance management as required.
2. To work with the Senior Collection Managers and Keeper to plan delivery of relevant Museum activities with a particular focus on resource allocation, leading on certain activities as required.
3. To facilitate and promote the cohesive and harmonious operation of all collection management teams across the Museum, supporting the work of the Senior Collection Managers.
4. To contribute to the development of processes that support best practice standards in object handling, care, display, documentation and loans, and condition reporting; ensuring the implementation and maintenance of those standards across the Collection Directorate.
5. To manage processes connected with the security, audit and essential documentation of the collection.
About you:
1. Good general education including GCSEs or equivalent.
2. Demonstrable interest in aspects of the British Museum's collection.
3. Manual dexterity; IT skills; understanding and appreciation of materials and objects.
4. Practical experience of object/art handling and installation in a museum or similar environment.
5. Ability to manage and motivate a team, manage budgets, timetables and deliver a varied programme of work.
6. Able to work flexibly as part of a wide, multi-disciplinary team.
About the British Museum:
Founded in 1753, the British Museum's remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history and culture. The Museum is a leading visitor attraction, and its world-famous collection includes the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, the Sutton-Hoo finds, and the Lewis Chessmen. The Museum also holds an extensive collection of prints and drawings spanning 600 years, including works by the greatest graphic artists such as Dürer, Michelangelo and Rembrandt.
You can view a selection of our impressive collection of prints and drawings in our virtual gallery.
The Museum offers a competitive benefits package including:
1. Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days (rising to 30 days after 10 years' service) plus 2.5 privilege days and plus bank holidays.
2. Membership of the civil service defined benefit pension scheme.
3. Free entry to a wide range of museums and exhibitions.
4. Participation in private and public Museum activities, including talks by leading curators from around the world and behind-the-scenes opportunities to learn how museums care for and manage their extraordinary collections.
5. Interest-free travel, bicycle, and rental deposit loans.
6. Professional and personal development opportunities.
7. Employee Assistance Programme.
8. Discounts on food and gift shop purchases.
Additional details:
For more information about this role, please see the job description.
If you have any additional needs that we should be aware of to support you with your application, please provide details.
The British Museum is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals can make best use of their skills, free from unlawful discrimination or harassment. We value the benefits that a diverse workforce brings to a museum which represents world culture. The Museum is committed to ensuring that no job applicant suffers unlawful discrimination because of any protected characteristics.
The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.
National Museum Directors' Council, Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG.
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