Curator: Horology

The British Museum; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The British Museum is seeking a Project Curator in the Horology section of the Britain, Europe and Prehistory department. You will lead specialist conservation and care of clocks and watches, including documentation and digitisation work for the collection seen by the public.

This fixed-term role requires flexibility, collaboration, and the ability to develop conservation treatment plans with the team while working independently on agreed tasks across benches, galleries, and stores.

Responsibilities

• Conserve the horological collection under supervision of Horological Curators.
• Care for objects with storage, documentation and maintenance for public galleries.
• Support documentation improvements in the collection database related to conservation.

Job description

About the role

The British Museum is seeking a Project Curator to join the Horology section in the department of Britain, Europe and Prehistory. You will play a key role in carrying out the specialist conservation and collections care of clocks and watches in one of the finest collections in the world, which exceeds 8,000 objects and includes working clocks in the Sir Harry & Lady Djanogly galleries.

You will also assist with documentation, including the improvement of records and photographs in the collection database relating to conservation work and as part of the Museum's Digitisation and Documentation programme, a major strategic programme supporting the Museum Masterplan and the long-term preservation and accessibility of internationally significant collections.

This fixed term post has been made possible through the generosity of donors of the 2025 British Museum Friends appeal.

About you

You will bring a deep and broad interest in the history of clocks and watches. You will be able to maintain the highest standards of practical conservation, either to preserve objects in store or to keep them in sound running condition for benefit of the public the gallery. You will demonstrate the potential to adapt to working on a diverse range of types: from wristwatches through to large clocks and from ordinary, mass-produced clocks to the finest, unique and historically important examples.

You will be working within a small team and must have a flexible approach to work, as a wide variety of activities can present themselves during a typical day, both at the bench and away from it. In the team, the exchange of ideas is routine and vital, and you be required to work collaboratively, e.g. to form conservation treatment plans, and then be able to carry out the agreed work independently - but always willing to raise and exchange new ideas.

Key areas of responsibility

• To carry out conservation of the horological collection under the supervision of the Horological Curators.


• To care for these objects ensuring appropriate storage, documentation and maintenance of the public galleries.


• To assist with documentation including the improvement of records and photographs in the collection database.


• To support public access to the collection wherever possible.


• To assist in the general day-to-day running of the Horological Students’ Room, workshop, galleries and stores.


• To assist with the daily winding and maintenance of the clocks in the public gallery and around the Museum.


• To assist the team in other duties as required including the annual Dingwall-Beloe lecture.


• To have or develop a good understanding of museums and relevant best practice.


• To adjust focus of work according to the museum priorities.

The Masterplan

The British Museum is undertaking its biggest transformations 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.