Senior 3D Designer

Natural History Museum; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday entitlement

Pension scheme

Season ticket loan

Life insurance

Free museum admissions

Staff discounts

Training opportunities

CSSC membership

Sports & Social

Job summary

Natural History Museum seeks a skilled Exhibition Designer to lead design development for exhibitions, galleries and brand identity. You will manage design administration, coordinate with architects, engineers and curators, and guide project delivery from concept to installation.

The role requires delivering high-quality spatial design for heritage environments, with a strong portfolio and proficiency in Vectorworks, Cinema 4D, SketchUp and V-Ray.

Qualifications

• Experience and excellence in design, coordination and delivery of RIBA stages 1-7.
• High-quality portfolio in exhibition, spatial and interior design.
• Strong proficiency with Vectorworks, Cinema 4D, SketchUp, V-Ray, Adobe Creative Suite.

Responsibilities

• Lead Designer on designated projects, overseeing design administration and coordination with stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate and deliver RIBA stages 1-7, ensuring design deliverables meet the programme and budget.
• Present Design Progress Reports and End Stage presentations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop sustainable, innovative design solutions within project scope and budget.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary design teams and external consultants.

Job description

About Us

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.

About Us

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 1100 staff in a variety of roles, all united by our vision of a future where people and planet thrive. We need everyone to have the passion and drive to help us with our mission to create advocates for our planet and inspire millions to care about the natural world. 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 feel valued and respected.

About The Role

This is an exciting time to join the NHM Design Studio as we develop new exhibitions, galleries and displays that bring to the fore the collections and scientific research carried out by the Museum’s scientists. You will be part of an integrated, dynamic team of graphic designers, 3D/exhibition designers, and architects, responsible for strategically developing and designing for our buildings, temporary and permanent exhibitions, brand identity, visual communication, and marketing campaigns. We transform the face, fabric, and structures of one of the world’s most famous museums. We set the design vision, deliver design projects, and encourage design excellence in the Museum. We support the Museum’s activities through multiple outputs including campaigns, exhibitions, permanent galleries, our brand and more. We are brand guardians for the Museum. We promote the coherence of our visual identity across all our platforms. We work iteratively, based on research, constantly refining our processes and adapting to the Museum’s changing needs. Due to our unique position, as part of the Museum, we harness organisational knowledge to ask the right questions and deliver appropriate design solutions. Our goal is to create enriching environments that inspire learning and engagement. This role will focus on the design and delivery of our exhibitions and galleries programme, enhancing displays and developing spatial projects within the Museum. As well as designing, you will provide project administration and programming, being responsible for day-to-day project delivery coordination.

About You

Main responsibilities and skills

You are ambitious, curious and pioneering and will provide innovative and thought-provoking sustainable designs within the project's scope and budget. You are an excellent team player and will be able to collaborate with other colleagues within the Design Studio and Museum, external consultants and contractors. You will act as Lead Designer on designated projects, overseeing all design administration and management, programming, and coordination with all stakeholders required throughout the project lifecycle. This includes: excellent coordination and delivery of RIBA stages 1-7, all design deliverables are issued to others on time to equip team members, stakeholders and contractors to succeed. You will present Design Progress Reports and End Stage presentation for sign offs, confidently, engagingly, and professionally to a diverse group of internal and external stakeholders. You will have strong conceptual and presentation skills, effectively visualizing complex ideas using various mediums and techniques. You will be proactive, maintain a positive attitude, and have a strong passion for design, sustainability and problem-solving. You will enjoy working as part of a creative team, collaborating to develop effective design solutions. You act with pace and are able to manage multiple projects and work packages at the same time. You know how to prioritise actions ensuring all design deliverables are met on time. You will manage the delivery of other design-related duties as requested by the Exhibition Design Manager and Head of Design. You will align with the Museum specific ways of working from championing the NHM Spatial Design Guidelines, health and safety guidelines, as well as relevant access and inclusivity standards.

Essential Experience And Knowledge

You will have experience and excellence in design, coordination and delivery of RIBA stages 1-7. The Natural History Museum has a Grade I listed status. Practical demonstrable experience of delivering major spatial design projects within heritage environments and their associated constraints is essential. The Museum cares for more than 80 million objects, experience in working with museum collections (objects and/or specimens) with an understanding of the conservation requirements for their safe display is a must. You will have experience working in multi-disciplinary design teams. You will have a high-quality portfolio that showcases outstanding skills in exhibition, spatial, and interior design, delivering projects following the RIBA work plan while adhering to a specified programme and budget. Samples to include a Stage 1 spatial design visioneering, Stage 4 construction design intent setworks drawings as well as of internal showcase plinths and object mounts demonstrating excellent technical and drafting skills. You will have demonstrable experience in producing written Designers Specifications for tenders together with associated detailed technical drawings and schedules. Maintaining all records and files relating to design work for each project. You will also have demonstrable practical experience of CDM, BSA, Access legislation, Building Regulations, Health and Safety and Fire Safety compliance. You will be maintaining all records and files relating to design work for each project. You will have excellent proficiency in Vectorworks, Cinema 4D; proficiency in SketchUp, V-Ray, Adobe Creative Suite, MS Office, and a degree or equivalent in 3D design, Interior Spatial Design or Architecture.

Desirable Experience And Knowledge

Experience in public sector tenders, and experience in touring exhibitions.

What we offer

• 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 our Museum shops and cafes
• We offer a wide variety of training initiatives and opportunities to build skills. Investing in staff development is important to us, and we are ambitious about helping staff to grow and fulfil their potential.
• Affordable membership to the Civil Service Sports Council which offers a range of benefits including an extensive list of special offers and reduced entry fees at a selection of cinema chains, theme parks, theatres, retailers and supermarkets. It also provides entry to up to 300 English Heritage sites and other national treasures. For more details, visit https://www.cssc.co.uk
• Membership to our Sports and Social Association (for a small fee), which includes access to our in-house gym and clubs such as football, softball, table tennis and tennis and classes in Middle Eastern dance, yoga and Tai Chi

Hybrid working

We are working towards a vision where both people and planet thrive, and nothing gives a greater connection with this, than seeing first-hand, the visitors, scientific research and collections that all of our work is inspired by and working side by side with the teams delivering the visitor experience and events. We also recognise the benefits and flexibility that hybrid working brings. We operate a hybrid working model that requires regular, weekly attendance for this role, with the precise pattern of days on site and worked from home to be agreed with your manager.

Closing date: 18 October 2026

Interview date: 27 October 2026

Applications MUST include a non-expiring portfolio link demonstrating how you meet the essential experience, skills, and knowledge criteria for the role.

Please provide a supporting statement of no more than 400 words describing how your experience, skills, and knowledge meet the main responsibilities and essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification

Please note that this role does not qualify for Museum sponsorship so the successful postholder will need to have a valid right to work in the UK at the point of offer.