Collections Engagement Officer

University of Manchester; Manchester; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous employer contribution pension

29 days annual leave plus bank holiday

Ride to work and EV car scheme

Job summary

The University of Manchester invites applications for a Collections Engagement Officer on a fixed-term contract to cover maternity leave. Based at the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre, the role will enhance the Centre’s library and archive collections through inclusive and creative engagement with diverse audiences, including schools and community groups.

You will embed anti-racism in engagement work, build meaningful partnerships, and help make Global Majority histories more accessible.

Qualifications

• Experience of embedding anti-racism and social justice in engagement activities.
• Experience of working with collections.
• Ability to develop and deliver inclusive and creative engagement activities.
• Experience of working with a range of audiences and stakeholders.
• Commitment to the values of anti-racism, community partnership and inclusive practice.

Responsibilities

• Increase knowledge, value and use of the Centre’s library and archive collections through inclusive engagement activities.
• Work with academic audiences, schools, community organisations and the general public.
• Embed racial and social justice principles in engagement work.
• Develop and maintain meaningful partnerships supporting engagement with the Centre’s collections.
• Support the Centre’s mission to make Global Majority history more accessible through community partnerships.

Skills

Anti-racism experience

Collections engagement

Inclusive engagement

Audience engagement

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

We are seeking a motivated and collaborative individual to join the team as a Collections Engagement Officer on a fixed-term contract providing maternity cover. Based within the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre, you will work to increase knowledge, value and use of the Centre’s rich library and archive collections through inclusive and creative engagement activities. While the role has a natural focus on academic audiences, you will work with schools and young people, community organisations and other cultural and heritage sector organisations, and the general public. The role requires someone who can embed racial and social justice principles in creative collections-based engagement work.

Contract details

This is a 0.8 FTE role (28 hours per week). The contract will start on 1 February 2027 (though an earlier start is possible, dependent on the selected candidate's availability) and will end on Monday 8 November 2027.

Interviews will take place on Monday 23 November and Friday 27 November 2026 (afternoons). Interview questions will be provided in advance.

You will be responsible for:

• Increasing knowledge, value and use of the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre's library and archive collections through inclusive and creative engagement activities.
• Working with academic audiences, schools and young people, community organisations, cultural and heritage sector organisations, and the general public.
• Embedding racial and social justice principles in creative collections-based engagement work.
• Developing and maintaining meaningful relationships and partnerships that support engagement with the Centre’s collections.
• Supporting the Centre’s mission to make Global Majority history, heritage and culture more accessible through community partnerships and inclusive practice.

We welcome candidates who bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and approaches to their work.

About You

We encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You should demonstrate:

Key criteria include the following: Essential Criteria:

• Experience of embedding anti-racism and social justice in engagement activities.
• Experience of working with collections.
• Ability to develop and deliver inclusive and creative engagement activities.
• Experience of working with a range of audiences and stakeholders.
• Commitment to the values of anti-racism, community partnership and inclusive practice.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience working within a library, archive, heritage or cultural organisation.
• Experience of working with schools and young people.
• Experience of community engagement and partnership working.
• Knowledge of Global Majority histories, migration, refugeeism and race equality issues.
• Experience of working in a hybrid environment across multiple locations.

Please see the attached document for the full Person Specification.

Our benefits include:

• Generous employer contribution pension
• 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure
• Ride to work and EV car scheme available

For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here.

We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions. Find out more from our Freedom of Speech Policy.

Enquiries about the role, shortlisting and interviews

Name: Maya Sharma, Head of the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre & Education Trust
Email Address: [e-mail]

General enquiries and administrative support

[e-mail]

Technical and job portal support

JobTrain Support

Applications close at midnight on Sunday 1 November 2026.

Further particulars (with person specification) linked below.

Please note: To be shortlisted for interview you will need to demonstrate experience of embedding anti-racism and social justice in engagement activities, and experience of working with collections.