Heritage Science Manager

British Film Institute (BFI); Dacorum; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

BFI pension scheme with 5% employer contribution

Enhanced Maternity & Paternity leave

Complimentary tickets to BFI screenings

Free BFI Player subscription

Discount on BFI merchandise and tickets

Additional leave around Christmas

Job summary

An iconic film organization is seeking a Heritage Science Manager to lead its Moving Image Conservation Research Laboratory. This role includes managing technical aspects, developing relationships across the film industry, and ensuring best practices in conservation. Ideal candidates will have a postgraduate degree in heritage science and substantial research lab experience. The position offers competitive benefits and encourages diversity and inclusion in the workforce.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience working within a research lab, centre, or facility.
• Demonstrable experience operating one or more advanced imaging techniques.
• Experience generating and interpreting research data, creating reports.

Responsibilities

• Lead the BFI National Archive’s Moving Image Conservation Research Laboratory.
• Manage RICHeS grant budget, ensuring compliance with financial procedures.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with colleagues and industry peers.
• Coach colleagues in conservation policies and procedures.
• Act as an ambassador for the BFI.

Skills

Postgraduate degree in heritage science or related area

Experience in a research lab or facility

Experience operating XRF

Experience operating FTIR spectroscopy

Experience operating NMR

Experience operating Microfade testing

Experience operating Dynamic Mechanical Analysis

Education

Postgraduate degree in heritage science or related area

Job description

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British Film Institute (BFI) provided pay range

This range is provided by British Film Institute (BFI). Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

We are looking for an innovative Heritage Science Manager to lead all operational aspects of the BFI National Archive’s Moving Image Conservation Research Laboratory (MICRL); directing its development, enabling access to its major research themes and facilities as well as instigating original conservation research.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the MICRL heritage science laboratory, its equipment, systems and facilities. Managing technical aspects through to final quality control and delivery, in collaboration with the BFI's Knowledge, Learning and Collections colleagues and the Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) Infrastructure Headquarters.
• To manage RICHeS grant budget, with Head of Conservation, ensuring that the BFI’s Financial Procedures are followed for the management of all assets (including people).
• To develop and maintain strong relationships with senior colleagues across the BFI, with international peers and key figures across the film and TV industries and screen heritage sector. Coach and train colleagues in policies and procedures and collections-related knowledge and skills, including scientific techniques suitable for conservation treatment.
• With the Head of Conservation and colleagues, develop policies, procedures and practices to achieve best practice for moving image conservation.
• Be an ambassador for the BFI and maintain a professional approach at all times.

We are looking for candidates who have:

• Postgraduate degree in heritage science or related area
• Substantial experience working within a research lab, centre, or facility.
• Demonstrable experience operating one or more of the following: XRF, FTIR spectroscopy, NMR, Microfade testing, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis.
• Experience of generation and interpretation of research data, creating written reports for various audiences.

A full list of responsibilities and minimum requirements can be found in the job description.

About the BFI

We are a cultural charity, a National Lottery distributor, and the UK’s lead organisation for film and the moving image. We believe society needs stories. Film, television and the moving image bring them to life, helping us connect and understand each other better. We share the stories of yesterday, search for the stories of today, and shape the stories of tomorrow.

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 with service) + bank holidays + the option to buy up to 5 extra days of annual leave
• Additional paid time off between Christmas and New Year
• BFI pension scheme with 5% employer contribution
• BFI Childcare Scheme, where we contribute to childcare costs for children up to the age of 14
• Enhanced pay for Maternity & Paternity leave
• Complimentary tickets to BFI Southbank & IMAX screenings and events
• Free BFI Player subscription + discount on BFI DVDs, books, merchandise, and film tickets

Plus many more, which can be found in our Working at the BFI information pack on our website.

We support diversity and inclusion, and as an organisation recognise that we need to address under representation within our teams. As such we strongly welcome and encourage applicants from our under-represented groups; who identify as D/deaf and disabled and/or are Black and Global Majority. We guarantee a place at the first stage selection process to our under-represented groups who meet our minimum requirements.

Further details about the role, the BFI and our benefits can be obtained by visiting www.bfi.org.uk/about-bfi/job-opportunities.

Depending on the volume of applications, you may be asked to complete a small task or attend a pre-interview screening call to further to assist the hiring team in shortlisting for this role. In this instance, interview dates may be subject to change.

The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Monday 26 January 2026

First interviews will be held w/c Monday 09 February 2026

Second interviews will be held w/c Monday 16 February 2026

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