Historic Characters

Job Title: Historic Characters
Location: Dudley, West Midlands
Salary: £12.92 per hour
Hours: Various shifts between 8.00am – 10.00pm, including weekends, bank holidays & evenings
Contract: Part-time casual, fixed-term contracts (July–December) & permanent contracts with guaranteed weekly hours available

The Black Country Living Museum is looking for Historic Characters to join our team.

Our Historic Characters bring the stories of real Black Country people to life through storytelling and inclusive interaction with visitors.

We are currently developing stories connected to communities and migration experiences from:
• South Asia - particularly India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan
• The Caribbean - particularly Jamaica
• Europe - particularly Irish, German, Polish, and Italian communities

If you feel able to interact with our visitors in telling authentic migration stories from the Black Country during the 1940s, 50’s and 60’s, we would like to hear from you! We are interested in hearing from anyone who may have knowledge and be able to share, engage, and inform our visitors of migration experiences arriving from the above regions and working in the Black Country during these decades.
What will you be doing?
• Respectfully sharing the lived experiences of people from the Black Country with our visitors.
• Helping bring our 29-acre site to life by portraying a range of Historic Characters and stories from Black Country history.
• Helping to keep historic objects and displays well-presented and cared for within their buildings.

What are we looking for?
• Inclusive people skills.
• Enthusiasm for the Museum and living history.
• Appreciation for the role of an Historic Character.

What can you expect?
• Unique Working environment.
• Opportunity to learn new skills.
• Competitive rewards & benefits.
• Supportive & inclusive work culture.
• Positive attitude to work-life balance.

Who are we?
We are an award-winning 29-acre open-air museum, celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2028. We champion the Black Country, celebrate its people and communities and share our distinctive heritage, creating pride today and possibility for the future.

Black Country Living Museum tells the story of one of Britain’s most influential regions through immersive experiences, historic buildings and a vibrant programme of events.

As VisitEngland’s Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, the Museum continues to grow its reach and ambition — championing the Black Country, celebrating its people and communities, and sharing the region’s distinctive heritage with new audiences.

What are you waiting for? Begin your Black Country Journey now and apply using your most up-to-date CV.

BCLM is an equal opportunities employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment that celebrates the richness of the human experience. We are dedicated to eliminating bias and discrimination at every stage and encourage applicants to get in touch should they require reasonable adjustments during the interview process. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups and believe in providing equal opportunities for all qualified candidates.

Our commitment to safeguarding includes implementing robust safer recruitment procedures to assess the suitability of individuals applying for roles that involve work with children and adults who may be at risk of harm.

Closing date: 31st May 2026

Interviews are expected to take place within two weeks of the closing date, adjustments will be made should successful candidates be unable to attend.

As we say in the Black Country, tara-a-bit!

Museum Website: https://bclm.livevacancies.co.uk/#/job/details/271