Project Assistant - 2 Posts

University of Oxford Gardens, Libraries & Museums; England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious museum in the UK is seeking a dedicated team member to assist in the management and movement of its extensive collections, ensuring careful handling and record-keeping. The ideal candidate will have experience in a museum or heritage environment, a solid grasp of health and safety protocols, and proficiency in catalogue databases. This full-time role involves physical tasks and teamwork, contributing to the museum’s storage strategy and collection management efforts.

Benefits

Excellent contributory pension scheme

38 days of annual leave

Comprehensive childcare services

Family leave schemes

Cycle loan scheme

Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans

Qualifications

• Experience working in a museum or heritage site.
• Ability to handle, pack, and move complex objects.
• Strong understanding of health and safety requirements.
• Experience using catalogue databases.
• Capable of managing a busy workload.

Responsibilities

• Move museum objects and containers safely.
• Pack, prepare, and freeze collections as required.
• Maintain records and locations accurately.
• Conduct work in museum and warehouse-style stores.

Skills

Experience handling delicate objects

Understanding of health and safety protocols

Familiarity with catalogue databases

Organizational skills

Proficiency in standard IT applications

Job description

About the Role

The Ashmolean Museum of Art & Archaeology, History of Science Museum, Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers Museum currently have over 8.5 million objects, with 7,000m² of this collection stored across multiple locations in Oxfordshire, with the remainder being stored within the Museums.

The Museums’ Collection Storage Strategy is to house the majority of the off-site collections in two purpose-built Collections and Research Centres; the Collections, Teaching and Research Centre (CTRC) in Oxford, and the Collections Storage Facility (CSF), in Swindon. The GLAM Move Project is helping to deliver this storage strategy by preparing the museums’ collections and moving them to the new stores. The CTRC is due to open in 2026, and the CSF is due to be ready in 2027.

You will be required to work as part of a team to move museum objects and containers in a safe manner, pack, prepare and freeze collections where necessary and ensure records and locations are kept up to date. The role requires experience of handling and moving museum or historic collections with an understanding of standard requirements for record keeping and data entry. The post will be based primarily in museum and warehouse-style stores across Oxfordshire and requires standing, regularly using stairs in order to access the collections, lifting objects and packed boxes of variable weights and sizes and using manual handling equipment, including ladders, pallet trucks and stackers. The ability to drive a van would be an advantage, but this is not an essential part of the role.

This is a full-time, fixed-term post until 31 December 2026.

About You

You will have experience working in a museum or similar heritage site, ideally within a conservation or collections department, with the ability to handle, pack, and move complex objects and delicate artefacts. A strong understanding of health and safety protocols and risks in a museum storage environment is essential. You will be familiar with catalogue databases, professional documentation standards, and have access to your own vehicle for travel between sites. Capable of managing a busy workload, you will work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

You will have experience of working in a museum or heritage environment and be confident in handling, packing and moving complex and delicate objects. You will have a sound understanding of health and safety requirements in mixed museum collections and experience using catalogue databases in line with professional documentation standards.

You will be organised, accurate in your record keeping and able to manage a busy workload while working collaboratively as part of a team. You will be a clear communicator and proficient in standard IT applications.

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days of annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans

More information is available at https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/staff-benefits

Diversity

Our staff and students come from all over the world, and we proudly promote a friendly and inclusive culture. Diversity is positively encouraged, through diverse groups and champions, as well as a number of family-friendly policies, such as the right to apply for flexible working and support for staff returning from periods of extended absence, for example, shared parental leave.

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment processes are inclusive and accessible. If you require the job description or any other materials in an alternative format, or if you would like to request any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please contact the recruitment team at [e-mail]

How to apply

You will be required to upload your CV and a supporting evidence form using the attached template as part of your online application. Your supporting evidence form should list each of the essential and desirable selection criteria, as listed in the job description, and explain how you meet each one. CVs alone will not be considered.

We aim to provide a supportive working environment and are happy to discuss training and professional development opportunities. The Chair of this recruitment panel will be Rosie Hughes, Project Manager, who can be contacted with enquiries relating to the role ([e-mail]). General queries about the recruitment and application process should be directed to the Recruitment team within our Human Resources department ([e-mail]).

Only applications received online by 12.00 midday (GMT) on Monday 5 January 2026 can be considered. Interviews are expected to take place during the week commencing 19 January 2026.

National Museum Directors' Council, National Museums Liverpool, World Museum, William Brown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EN