Assistant Curator (Vertebrates)

National Museums Scotland; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cultural institution in Edinburgh is seeking an Assistant Curator of Vertebrates to manage a diverse collection of over 200,000 specimens. Responsibilities include curatorial management, documentation, and hosting research visitors. The ideal candidate will have a degree in zoology or related field and a passion for vertebrate zoology. Benefits include pension contributions, generous annual leave, and flexible working options.

Benefits

28.5 days annual leave, increasing to 33.5 after 5 years

Cycle to Work scheme

Access to national museums and exhibitions

Qualifications

• A relevant first degree or equivalent experience in zoology, biological sciences or similar.
• Knowledge of, an interest in, or enthusiasm about vertebrate zoology.
• Knowledge of and commitment to best practice standards in collections management.
• Proficient ICT and data entry skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Experience of undertaking simple research for museum objects or enquiries.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the curatorial management and development of the vertebrate collections.
• Integrate new acquisitions into the collection and improve documentation.
• Contribute to collections care and the loans programme.
• Assist with supervision of volunteers and ensure their contributions are recognized.
• Host scientific visitors and answer general enquiries.

Skills

Knowledge of vertebrate zoology

Proficient ICT skills

Experience in collections management

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience in zoology

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

| Full time | 35 hours| Fixed term 12 months

Full Time Salary: £31,929 to £34,549 per annum

Hours: 35 hours per week | Monday - Friday

Location: National Museums Collection Centre| Fully On-Site

National Museums Scotland is one of the leading museum groups in Europe with one of the largest and most diverse collections in the world. As an organisation our values are Creative, Inclusive, Collaborative and Forward-thinking.

We are looking for enthusiastic, passionate, honest, service-driven individuals to join our Vertebrate Biology team.

Benefits of joining us as our Assistant Curator of Vertebrates will include:

• Annually alongside your salary of £31,929, National Museums Scotland contributes 28.97% of this towards you being a member of the Civil Service Pension Scheme
• A generous annual leave of 28.5 days - rising to 33.5 after 5 years, plus an additional 8 paid days public holidays.
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Free access to national (and international) museums and exhibitions
• Exclusive discounts on both local and national High Street and online retailers
• A range of wellbeing benefits including Employee Assistance Programme 24/7
• Flexible working options such as hybrid working, part time working, paid special leave, career breaks and unpaid leave
• Access to all the above and more from day one of employment.
  
  

To see more of our benefits please visit out dedicated benefits page on our careers portal.

About the Assistant Curator of Vertebrates role:

The Vertebrate Biology Collection comprises over 200,000 specimens from around the world and includes skins, skeletons, eggs, nests, wet specimens, tissue samples, fossils and archaeological remains. It is a vibrant section with numerous visitors using the collections for studies on anatomy, functional morphology, geographical variation, phylogeography, hybridisation, conservation biology and animal welfare. As the Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Biology you will use your biological knowledge to assist with the curatorial management and development of the vertebrate collections to National Museums standards. The work is varied and includes documentation and moves of collections as required, assisting with supervision of volunteers, inventory and catalogue of new acquisitions, and hosting research visitors. There may be some opportunity to participate in field work from time to time and to be involved with public outreach.

As an Assistant Curator of Vertebrates at National Museums Scotland you will:

• Apply expert knowledge of the subject and collections to create and improve National Museums’ documentation programmes
• Integrate new acquisitions into the main collection and improve documentation
• Contribute to collections care and the loans programme, including courier duties
• Participate, using subject and collections knowledge, in the development of projects such as exhibitions and preparation of material for publications
• Assist with the supervision of volunteers supporting curatorial work, to ensure their contribution is focused and recognised
• Host scientific visitors and answer general enquiries
  
  

Skills and experience we’re looking for in our Assistant Curator of Vertebrates

• A relevant first degree, or equivalent experience in zoology, biological sciences or similar
• Knowledge of, an interest in, or enthusiasm about vertebrate zoology
• Knowledge of and commitment to best practice standards in collections management
• Proficient ICT and data entry skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook
• Experience of undertaking simple research, for dealing with museum objects or enquiries
  
  

Hiring the right person for the right job is everything to us. We want to encourage you to apply if you think this is the role for you.

Please be sure to view our recruitment pack for this role (available on our careers website: careers.nms.ac.uk) for full details of the position that may help with your application.

The closing date for this role is 24th August 2025. The Selection Event is likely to take place during the week 15-19 September 2025.