Assistant Collection Manager: Loans and Display

Assistant Collection Manager: Loans and Display
Full-time
On-site in Bloomsbury, London, with occasional travel to other sites in London and Reading
Fixed term (2 years, 3 months)
£31,675 per annum
Application deadline: 23:59 on Sunday, 25 October

Interviews are expected to take place on Thursday, 19 October.

About the role
This is an exciting opportunity to join the British Museum’s Loans & Display team, helping to deliver the Museum’s busy programme of exhibitions as well as UK and international loans.

Primarily a hands-on technical role, you will work with objects from across the collection, supporting their safe preparation, movement, packing, display and installation. You will also use our orginisational skills to support the coordination of loans and other activity.

The team works in a fast-paced environment, often to tight deadlines, offering excellent opportunities to develop and innovate technical skills, methods and processes while contributing to an ambitious programme of exhibitions and loans.

If you are passionate about the practical care and movement of collections and are looking for an opportunity to develop your technical expertise while contributing to a high-profile programme of exhibitions and international loans, we would be delighted to hear from you.

About you
We are looking for someone with demonstrable practical experience and technical knowledge relevant to museum collections, exhibitions and loans, ideally gained within a museum or gallery environment.

You will bring:
• Practical experience of object handling and working safely with museum, gallery or heritage collections.
• Good manual dexterity and confidence using appropriate hand tools and workshop equipment.
• An understanding of different object types, materials and their handling and display requirements.
• Knowledge and experience of technical activities such as packing objects for transit; mount-making; and exhibition installation and deinstallation is advantageous.
• Able to plan or schedule practical installation activities, with the organisational skills to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Strong problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail and the ability to develop practical solutions to technical challenges.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with colleagues and external partners.
• The flexibility to undertake occasional out-of-hours work and UK and international travel where required.

Key areas of responsibility
As an Assistant Collection Manager within Loans & Display, you will:

• Safely handle, move, pack and prepare museum objects for UK and international loans, exhibitions and displays.
• Design and make appropriate mounts and supports for objects, using a range of materials, techniques and workshop equipment.
• Support the installation and deinstallation of exhibitions, displays and loans, both at the British Museum and at other venues.
• Help plan and coordinate installation activity, including schedules, resources and practical requirements, to ensure projects are delivered safely and to deadline.
• Undertake condition checking, documentation and photography, maintaining accurate object and location records.
• Work closely with colleagues across the Museum and with external organisations to coordinate the safe movement and display of objects.
• Identify practical challenges and contribute to technical solutions and improvements in working methods and processes.
• Where required, act as a courier accompanying objects on UK and international loans.
• Ensure appropriate collections care, security and health and safety standards are maintained throughout all activities.

The Masterplan
The British Museum is undertaking its biggest transformation since its founding nearly 300 years ago. This physical and intellectual transformation includes large scale building and gallery transformation, new ways of connecting with audiences and different ways of working. As we look towards this exciting future, we remain guided by the words of our founder Hans Sloane - who dreamed of a museum connecting all arts and sciences, which would be accessible to everyone, everywhere.

Benefits
At the British Museum, we believe our people are at the heart of everything we do and have designed a benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary. Our full list of benefits can be found here, but we’ve outlined some highlights below:
• Free exhibition entry for you and guests, exclusive private views, ICOM and reciprocal museum access.
• Civil Service Pension Scheme defined benefit with 28.97% employer contribution.
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days (and +5 days after 10 years).
• Social and wellbeing perks including Staff parties, social clubs, CSSC sports and leisure, and support from the Civil Service Retirement Fellowship.
• Peer support and allyship with five diversity networks for community.
• Learning and development through courses, mentoring and Athena as well as support for professional qualifications.
• Employee Assistance Programme available 24/7 for counselling, wellbeing support and more.
Our Values
Our values drive everything we do, from how we handle our objects to how we work in our team to fostering a culture where everyone feels heard and empowered:

• Care Deeply
• Embrace the Unknown
• Spark Curiosity
• Value Many Voices

These are a core part of how we recruit. Throughout the application, interview and selection process, we look for examples of how candidates demonstrate these behaviours in their own work and experiences. We encourage you to familiarise yourself with our values and reflect them in your application.

Museum Website: https://bmrecruit.ciphr-irecruit.com/Applicants/vacancy/9096/Assistant-Collection-Manager-Loans-and-Display