Assistant Collection Manager: Heavy Objects

British Museum; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free exhibition entry

Civil Service Pension Scheme

25 days’ annual leave

Staff wellbeing & development

Job summary

The British Museum is seeking an energetic Assistant Collection Manager (Heavy Objects) to join the Collection Care and Moves team in Bloomsbury, London. The role involves hands-on installation, movement and care of some of the Museum's heaviest and most significant items.

You will work with curators, conservators and project teams on exhibitions, loans and displays, ensuring meticulous handling, accurate documentation and safe transport of objects across sites and internationally.

Qualifications

• You will bring practical museum, gallery or collections experience and enjoy working in a collaborative environment where attention to detail and care for collections are paramount.

Responsibilities

• Install and deinstall objects for exhibitions, gallery redisplays and museum projects.
• Support the movement, packing and transportation of collection objects across Museum sites and external venues.
• Prepare objects for national and international loans.
• Construct mounts and assist with display solutions for a wide variety of collection materials.
• Monitor the condition, safety and security of objects in storage, transit and display environments.
• Maintain accurate collection documentation and location records.
• Produce condition reports and object photography.
• Support collection access, study visits and collections audits.
• Promote best practice in object handling, storage and collections care.
• Act as a courier for UK and international loans when required.

Skills

Object handling

Hand tools

Collections care

Organisational skills

Teamwork

Problem solving

Communication

Heavy objects experience

Tools

Woodworking

Metalworking

Job description

Assistant Collection Manager: Heavy Objects

Vacancy Type Fixed Term Contract length x1 Permanent, x1 Fixed term until 31 December 2027 Working Hours 41 hours per week (including one hour paid lunch break) Working Pattern Full Time Is hybrid working available? No Location Bloomsbury, London (with occasional travel to other sites as needed) Salary £31,675 per annum Application Deadline Monday, October 19, 2026 Job Profile Job Profile document

Role Summary

About the role

We are seeking an enthusiastic and practical Assistant Collection Manager (Heavy Objects) to join our Collection Care and Moves team and play a vital role in the installation, movement and care of some of the Museum's most remarkable objects.

This is a rare opportunity for a collections professional who enjoys hands‑on work, problem solving and working at the heart of exhibitions and displays. From preparing objects for major temporary exhibitions and permanent gallery redisplays, to supporting national and international loans, no two days are the same. Working with a diverse range of collections, you will help move, install and care for heavy objects ranging from small stone sculptures and archaeological artefacts through to monumental architectural elements and other large‑scale heritage objects.

This is an exciting opportunity to work closely with a range of colleagues across the museum including curators, conservators and project teams to play a vital role to the care and display of internationally significant collections while working on high‑profile exhibitions, major gallery projects and loans across the UK and around the world.

If you are passionate about collections care, enjoy practical hands‑on work, and want to help deliver some of the museum sector's most ambitious display and exhibition projects, we would love to hear from you.

About you

You will bring practical museum, gallery or collections experience and enjoy working in a collaborative environment where attention to detail and care for collections are paramount.

You will have:

• Experience handling, moving or installing museum, gallery or heritage objects.
• Strong practical skills and confidence using hand tools and workshop equipment. In particular, you will be proficient with wood and metalworking tools.
• An understanding of collections care and object handling best practice.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• A proactive and flexible approach to problem solving.
• Good communication skills and a commitment to delivering excellent service.
• Experience of working with larger or heavier objects, mount making, rigging, slinging or specialist movement equipment would be advantageous.

Key areas of responsibility

• Install and deinstall objects for exhibitions, gallery redisplays and museum projects.
• Support the movement, packing and transportation of collection objects across Museum sites and external venues.
• Prepare objects for national and international loans.
• Construct mounts and assist with display solutions for a wide variety of collection materials.
• Monitor the condition, safety and security of objects in storage, transit and display environments.
• Maintain accurate collection documentation and location records.
• Produce condition reports and object photography.
• Support collection access, study visits and collections audits.
• Promote best practice in object handling, storage and collections care.
• Act as a courier for UK and international loans when required.

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.
• 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.

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.

Additional information

If you have any additional needs that we should be aware of to support you with your application, please provide details to [e-mail] .

Internal Applicants

We welcome internal applicants regardless of background, department or length of service but encourage you to let your manager know before applying. If you are on a permanent contract and want the fixed‑term contract to be treated as a secondment, you will need to obtain your manager’s support before submitting an application.

The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.