Collections Manager

The Royal Household; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An esteemed historical institution is looking for a Collections Manager to oversee the custodial control and care of artworks across London royal residences. The successful candidate will manage the movement and protection of pieces, ensuring detailed record-keeping and proper handling. Strong organizational skills and hands-on experience in collections management are essential for safeguarding our unique art collection.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Non-contributory pension plan

Complimentary lunch on-site

Flexible and hybrid working options

Employee discounts

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience of caring for artworks in a museum, art gallery or historic house.
• Understanding of best practices in packing, storage, and transport.
• Ability to manage tasks across multiple sites and priorities.

Responsibilities

• Manage aspects of collections management across London sites.
• Supervise cataloguing and movement of artworks.
• Facilitate training for staff in collections care.

Skills

Collections management

Attention to detail

Effective communication

Organizational skills

Tools

Collections management systems

Complex databases

Job description

It’s knowing your meticulous care will help protect a truly unique art collection.

It’s the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills. And it’s the satisfaction of safeguarding artworks that hold national significance. This is what makes for a career with Royal Collection Trust so exceptional.

One of the largest and most important art collections in the world, The Royal Collection is unique in both scale and variety.

As Collections Manager, you’ll oversee the custodial control and care of works of art held across our London royal residences.

Covering a wide range of art works of all types and media, you’ll be responsible for the day-to-day management, movement and protection of the artworks. You’ll ensure that every object is handled, recorded and thoughtfully cared for, whether in store, on display, or in transit

Please note: We are also recruiting this role in Sandringham and Scotland. Please see our vacancies page for these adverts.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of collections management across London sites, working closely with colleagues and specialists.
• Supervise and manage the cataloguing and movement of artworks, ensuring detailed record-keeping and correct object handling.
• Direct and undertake regular audits across the London royal residences, addressing findings as needed.
• Support the salvage function at Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace as part of the Primary Salvage Team, maintaining up-to-date priority lists.
• Liaise with conservation, curatorial, and operational teams to coordinate collections care, property works, object movement, and exhibitions.
• Support the protection and display of collections during public openings and events, ensuring appropriate handling and safeguarding measures are in place.
• Facilitate training and guidance for staff and contractors involved in collections care and salvage operations.
  
  

About You

• With a solid grounding in collections management, you’ll bring hands-on experience of caring for artworks in a museum, art gallery or historic house environment.
• You’ll also bring a practical understanding of collections management systems or complex databases, and you’re confident working methodically with records and data.
• With experience handling and moving artworks, you’ll have a working knowledge of best practice in packing, storage, and transport, alongside an understanding of preventive conservation.
• A natural organiser with experience of planning and delivering audits, object moves or property projects, you’ll combine strong admin and IT skills with the ability to manage tasks across multiple sites and priorities.
• An effective communicator with excellent written and verbal skills, you’ll enjoy collaborating with a wide range of teams and stakeholders, providing guidance and sharing your expertise with confidence.
• Your attention to detail is exceptional, enabling you to maintain accurate records and ensure the highest standards of care for the Collection.
• A full UK driving license would be desirable for this position, however not essential.
• Above all, you’re proactive, adaptable, and ready to contribute to the protection and preservation of this historic and significant collection.
  
  

Benefits

We know that to deliver our best work; we need to feel at our best. That’s why at the Royal Household we offer a generous benefits package designed to support your wellbeing and life priorities.

• Enjoy 25 days annual leave, rising to 30 days (plus bank holidays) dependent on the length of time you have worked for us.
• Our excellent non-contributory pension plan (we’ll contribute 15% and you can contribute more if you wish) is highly valued by our employees, as is complimentary lunch on-site to keep you fuelled throughout the day.
• Flexible and hybrid working varies across different roles, and we’ll discuss the options available to you that will suit both your job requirements and individual preferences.
• We also offer a range of leave options to support your life priorities, such as parental pay and leave and volunteering days, as well as benefits to support your physical and mental wellbeing.
• Other perks include 20% off at our Royal Collection Trust Shops and complimentary admission tickets across all our locations, along with many more exclusive employee discounts.
  
  

Find out more about the full range of benefits available to our employees here.