Head of Exhibitions

Natural History Museum; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious cultural institution in the United Kingdom is seeking a Head of Exhibitions to shape and oversee its special exhibitions programme. This role requires a dynamic leader with extensive experience in curating and delivering engaging exhibitions, driving excellence and ambition through collaborative team management. You will work with scientists and curators, creating compelling narratives and ensuring financial success. This is a unique opportunity to influence the Museum's exhibition strategy and deliver memorable experiences to diverse audiences.

Benefits

Hybrid working model

27.5 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays

Generous pension scheme

Free admission to various exhibitions

Discounts at shops and cafés

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Substantial experience delivering galleries or temporary exhibitions focused on engaging the public through collections.
• Creative leadership combining intellectual integrity with interpretive planning, exhibition and exhibit design.
• Skill in combining research with imaginative interpretation and deep understanding of shaping exhibition content.
• Effective communication and high-level influencing skills to advocate for special exhibitions.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of interpretation managers and developers.
• Shape the content and creative direction of special exhibitions.
• Develop new ideas and nurture partnerships.
• Oversee the interpretation and delivery of up to four engaging exhibitions a year.
• Build a culture of development and high performance.

Skills

Creative leadership

Effective communication

Strategic mindset

Interpretive planning

Public engagement

Job description

Overview

The Natural History Museum is seeking a dynamic Head of Exhibitions for our world‑class special exhibitions programme. We are looking for a leader able to shape the content, creative direction, interpretation and creative production of exhibitions – driving successful financial performance and exemplary experiences for our audiences. In the role you will lead a team of interpretation managers and developers, working closely with the museum’s scientists and curators, driving excellence, ambition and a rigorous approach to the creation and curation of exhibitions. You will bring your knowledge and experience of delivering exhibitions in the cultural sector to help shape the forward programme for exhibitions, developing new ideas, nurturing partnerships and leading business planning processes. This is a rare opportunity to oversee the interpretation and creative delivery of up to four accessible and engaging exhibitions a year, integrating museum collections with content‑lead story‑telling to delight, engage and reach a broad and diverse audience.

We are seeking an individual who combines creative ambition with substantial experience of delivering galleries or temporary exhibitions with a focus on engaging the public through collections. You will be a creative leader combining intellectual integrity with an understanding of interpretive planning, exhibition and exhibit (interactive) design and delivery. You will be skilled at combining research with imaginative interpretation, and have a deep understanding of shaping exhibition content. An effective communicator with high‑level influencing skills, you will advocate for special exhibitions and work collaboratively with stakeholders across the museum, with external partners and high‑profile external stakeholders. Your experience of leading and managing teams will result in a culture of development and high performance. Your strategic mindset will shape the exhibition programme, refining its principles and setting ambitious targets for success, and your ability to develop business cases and monitor budgets will deliver to the Museum’s priorities and financial ambitions.

We are a world‑class visitor attraction and leading science research centre. We use the Museum’s unique collections and our unrivalled expertise to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. We care for more than 80 million objects spanning billions of years and welcome more than five million visitors annually and 16 million visits to our website. Today the Museum is more relevant and influential than ever. By attracting people from a range of backgrounds to work for us, we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things. We employ 1 100 staff in a variety of roles, all united by our vision of a future where people and planet thrive. Diversity and inclusion matter to us. Our vision is of a future where both people and the planet thrive. Diversity is one of our core values and we strive to build a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging. All new staff who join us learn about the importance of diversity and inclusion to the Museum and how to contribute to creating an inclusive environment. We know we have more to do, but we are committed to ensuring that everyone who works at the Museum feels they can thrive and be valued and respected.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of interpretation managers and developers, working closely with scientists and curators to drive excellence, ambition and rigorous creation and curation of exhibitions.
• Shape the content, creative direction, interpretation and production of special exhibitions, integrating museum collections with content‑lead storytelling.
• Develop new ideas, nurture partnerships and lead business planning processes for the exhibition programme.
• Oversee the interpretation and creative delivery of up to four accessible and engaging exhibitions a year.
• Build a culture of development and high performance through effective team leadership.
• Shape the exhibition programme’s principles, set ambitious targets for success, and develop business cases and budgets to meet the Museum’s financial ambitions.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience delivering galleries or temporary exhibitions focused on engaging the public through collections.
• Creative leadership combining intellectual integrity with interpretive planning, exhibition and exhibit (interactive) design and delivery.
• Skill in combining research with imaginative interpretation and deep understanding of shaping exhibition content.
• Effective communication and high‑level influencing skills to advocate for special exhibitions and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Leadership experience that fosters a culture of development and high performance.
• Strategic mindset capable of refining programme principles, setting targets, developing business cases and monitoring budgets.

Benefits and Working Hours

• Hybrid working model with regular weekly attendance; pattern of on‑site and remote days agreed with manager. Minimum of three on‑site days per week.
• 27.5 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays (full‑time equivalent).
• Generous defined‑contribution Natural History Museum Pension Scheme (employer contribution 4 – 10 %).
• Season ticket, bicycle and rental loan.
• Life insurance.
• Free admission to our exhibitions and many other paid exhibitions at museums, galleries and institutions across London and the UK.
• Staff discount at Museum shops and cafés.
• Training initiatives and opportunities for staff development.
• Affordable membership to the Civil Service Sports Council, offering a range of benefits including special offers and reduced entry fees at cinema chains, theme parks, theatres, retailers, supermarkets and access to up to 300 English Heritage sites and other national treasures.
• Membership to the Sports and Social Association (small fee) including access to an in‑house gym and clubs such as football, softball, table tennis, tennis and classes in Middle Eastern dance, yoga and Tai Chi.