Project Curator: Asia (Documentation)

The British Museum; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free exhibition entry

Civil Service Pension Scheme

25 days’ annual leave

Job summary

The British Museum is seeking a Project Curator to help make the Asia collection publicly accessible through high-quality documentation and digitisation. You will collaborate with Asia curators, Collections Management and the Documentation and Digitisation teams to improve records, audit locations and support photography and research.

The role requires strong attention to detail, teamwork and a BA/BSc in a relevant subject, with knowledge of an area of the Asian collection.

Qualifications

• BA/BSc or equivalent in a relevant subject is essential.
• Experience with documentation and digitisation in a museum setting is required.
• Knowledge of an area of the Asian collection is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Improve and digitise documentation for the Asia collection.
• Locate and audit objects, checking locations and records.
• Photograph objects and upload images where required.
• Work closely with curators, Collections Management and documentation colleagues.
• Plan and prioritise work to meet project deadlines.
• Support departmental administration and respond to public enquiries.

Skills

Documentation

Digitisation

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Education

BA/BSc or equivalent

Tools

MI+

Museum documentation systems

Job description

Hybrid (at least 4 days per week on-site in Bloomsbury, London)

Fixed term contract to 31 December 2028

£37,706 per annum

About the role

As Project Curator, you will help make the British Museum’s Asian collection and knowledge about it more publicly accessible through high-quality documentation and digitisation.

Working closely with Asia curators, Collections Management and the Documentation and Digitisation team, you will improve collection records, audit locations and support photography and research. This is a highly collaborative role with a fixed deadline of 31 December 2028, so accuracy, organisation and teamwork will be critical to delivering the project to the required standard and on time.

About you

You will bring exceptional attention to detail and proven experience of documentation and digitisation in a museum setting, ideally involving museum collections. You will understand collections documentation, storage issues and systems and have the research skills needed to work accurately with collection information.

You will be a collaborative and effective communicator who works well as part of a team. A BA/BSc or equivalent in a relevant subject and knowledge of an area of the Asian collection are essential. Experience with museum documentation systems, basic photography and MI+ would be advantageous.

Key areas of responsibility

• Improve and digitise documentation for the Asia collection.
• Locate and audit objects, checking locations and records.
• Photograph objects and upload images where required.
• Work closely with curators, Collections Management and documentation colleagues.
• Plan and prioritise work to meet project deadlines.
• Support departmental administration and respond to public enquiries.

The Masterplan

The British Museum is undertaking its biggest transformation 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.

At the British Museum, we believe our people are at the heart of everything we do and have designed a benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary. Our full list of benefits can be found here, but we’ve outlined some highlights below:

• Free exhibition entry for you and guests, exclusive private views, ICOM and reciprocal museum access.
• Civil Service Pension Scheme defined benefit with considerable employer contribution.
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days (and +5 days after 10 years).
• Social and wellbeing perks including Staff parties, social clubs, CSSC sports and leisure, and support from the Civil Service Retirement Fellowship.
• Peer support and allyship with five diversity networks for community.
• Enhanced parental leave including maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave.
• Support for carers through Employers for Carers.
• Interest-free loans including season ticket, rental deposit and bicycle loans.

Our Values

Our values drive everything we do, from how we handle our objects to how we work in our team to fostering a culture where everyone feels heard and empowered:

• Care Deeply
• Embrace the Unknown
• Value Many Voices

These are a core part of how we recruit. Throughout the application, interview and selection process, we look for examples of how candidates demonstrate these behaviours in their own work and experiences. We encourage you to familiarise yourself with our values and reflect them in your application.

If you have any additional needs that we should be aware of to support you with your application, please provide details to [e-mail].

Right to Work:

The British Museum holds a Skilled Worker sponsor licence. Applicants are responsible for determining whether the advertised salary and role meet current UKVI sponsorship requirements and for ensuring they have, or can obtain, the appropriate right to work in the UK. The Museum cannot provide immigration advice, and eligibility should be checked before submitting an application.

Internal Applicants:

We welcome internal applicants regardless of background, department or length of service but encourage you to let your manager know before applying. If you are on a permanent contract and want the fixed-term contract to be treated as a secondment, you will need to obtain your manager’s support before submitting an application.

The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.