Job Overview

This role works on the management, development and interpretation of the Museum's collection to recognised museum professional standards. This will include acquisition and occasional disposal, documentation, care and storage and research and interpretation of collections for public display, in gallery and online, aiming to maximise public access, learning, engagement and enjoyment of the collections.

This post will have a remit to provide well developed knowledge and expertise on the Museum's collections and subject area more broadly.

The post holder may line manage more junior roles within the team and will be required to organise and supervise the work of volunteers, work experience assignments and take a lead role in project teams. The post holder will sometimes oversee budgets allocated for projects relevant to their areas of work.

The post holder will be expected to work both on their own and in close partnership with other Museum staff both within the Curatorial team and cross-departmentally. This will include Museum staff and managers across departments, the Assistant Director for Collections and Engagement and the Senior Leadership Team. 

Key Accountabilities

• Contribute to the planning and implementation of storage, documentation, presentation, movement and access arrangements for the Museum collections to recognised museum sector professional standards
• Develop the collections in accordance with the Collections Development Policy, making recommendations on acquisition and disposal to the Collections Development Group, and undertaking practical arrangements following group decisions
• Caring for the collections to recognised professional museum standards, including maintenance of auditable records using the Museum’s IMS (Information Management System), housing the collections in secure and appropriate environmental conditions, and identifying and addressing their conservation needs and, where appropriate, their operational requirements
• Under overall management of the relevant Senior Curator, oversee collections conservation, restoration and operational maintenance projects including commissioning and supervising the work of specialist contractors and volunteers
• Develop and manage collections-based partnership projects with stakeholders such as the London Transport Museum Friends under direction of the relevant Senior Curator and Head Curator
• Interpret and present the Museum’s collections and themes for stakeholders and the wider public through a variety of media including talks, tours, displays, exhibitions and attendance at external events in order to promote interest in the Museum and London’s public transport. This will mean developing and maintaining an expert knowledge of London’s transport history and an understanding of current and future issues.
• Answer public enquiries about the Museum's collections and subject matter, including through the Duty Curator service, and conducting research visits where appropriate
• Train, develop and share knowledge with colleagues as part of a learning culture that values continuous improvement and staff development across the museum. Working front of house may be required on occasion.

Knowledge

• Education to degree level or equivalent experience (essential)
• Highly computer literate and an understanding of budgetary control and management (essential)
• Up-to-date knowledge and awareness of developments and issues in the museum sector (essential)
• Good knowledge and understanding of London past and present (desirable)
• A recognised museum and/or relevant postgraduate qualification (desirable)

Skills

• Good oral and written communication skills (essential)
• Able to work on own initiative without supervision (essential)
• Team worker with good interpersonal skills (essential)
• Flexible and able to demonstrate a commitment to the broader objectives of the Curatorial team and the Museum (essential)
• Good IT skills, including a working knowledge of Microsoft Office (essential)

Experience

• Recent experience of working in a museum or related heritage sector environment (essential)
• Proven knowledge of current Museum sector standards in collections documentation, management and care (essential)
• Experience of computerised databases and museum information management systems (essential)
• Experience of working on museum interpretative projects such as exhibitions, galleries and online content (essential)
• Experience of writing interpretative text (desirable)
• Experience of managing volunteers, interns and of training others (desirable)
• Experience of managing collections-based projects - such as documentation, digitisation, conservation or interpretation projects (desirable)

Equality and Diversity

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria. We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs and cover letters to make the process fair