Senior Curator
Salary £ 45,000 gross per annum
London
Vacancy listed 02/09/2024
Application deadline 06/10/2024
Details
The Postal Museum (TPM) is one of the newest and most exciting museums in London. We opened in 2017 and have already established the museum as a must-visit destination with award-winning experiences. Alongside hands-on exhibitions exploring over 500 years of British social and communications history, visitors can experience a subterranean ride through the tunnels of the old Post Office Underground Railway – Mail Rail. The museum welcomes over 100,000 visitors and our online content reaches almost a million users a year. We deliver award-winning learning, access and outreach programmes and provide unique experiences including popular Tunnel Walks under the streets of London. The museum also operates a children’s play space – Sorted! – popular with young families and schools. Alongside all this we offer one of the most unique venues in London for corporate hire and filming.

 
 
Based: The Postal Museum, Central London and our Offsite Large Collections Store in Debden, Essex. Flexible and hybrid working patterns will be considered.
Salary: £45,000 gross per annum
Reports to: Head of Collections
Responsible for: 2 Curators
Contract: Permanent Full time 35 hours per week with flexible working options considered
Start date: ASAP
 
 

Purpose of the Job

 
The Museum’s vision is to ‘use our collection to explore stories around communication, and to inspire everyone to make richer and more meaningful connections in their lives.’ The post holder is a key person in the delivery of this vision.
 
The Senior Curator is part of the Collections team, alongside the archive, conservation and digitisation teams. They will be responsible for leading the curatorial team in the care and development of the collections cared for by The Postal Museum. They will lead in developing research into the collection, ensuring that the museum collects, catalogues, and tells stories relevant to the diverse audiences we attract.
 
The Postal Museum is developing its practice in relation to research and content development, cross-team working and community engagement. The postholder must be able to lead, innovate, and motivate in how this work is carried out. The successful candidate will need to work closely alongside the Exhibitions, Access and Learning team, Marketing and Communications team and Operations team to ensure successful delivery of this collaborative approach. As well as working within the wider Collections team that they are part of.
 

Key Responsibilities and Duties

 
Team Management
 
  • Management of the curatorial team at The Postal Museum which consists of two Curators, two Deputy Curators and an Assistant Curator – a total of 5 people.
  • Developing a programme of research in partnership with the wider Postal Museum team.
  • Helping to instill an audience centered approach to content development.
  • Leading the team, helping in the development of less senior colleagues and ensuring that all members of the team are fulfilled at work.
  • Assisting the Head of Collections in the management of the collections and acting as a deputy to the Head of Collections role.
  • Supporting the Head of Collections in roll out of the new Collections Strategy to ensure our collections and stories represent the experiences of everyone who has worked for or used the postal service.
  • Develop the team to work in an integrated way with colleagues across the organisation.
 
Collections Management 
 
  • Management of the Museum collection, ensuring the Collections remain well cared for and managed in line with Accreditation standards, including with new acquisitions, documentation, cataloguing, loans management and location control to SPECTRUM standards. 
  • Supporting the management of the off-site Museum Store and practical hands-on collections care and management.
  • Managing logistics around movement, transportation, and installation of large objects.
  • Overseeing collections reviews and ensuring associated record keeping and documentation is completed.

Research and Content Development
 
  • Identifying and understanding the needs of audiences, working with others across the Museum.
  • Identifying and developing content relevant to a wide range of audiences for both onsite and online engagement.
  • Undertaking research work and overseeing the work of the team, from concept, development and in-depth research to delivery of outputs. 
  • Managing and overseeing gallery changes and temporary exhibition development with the Exhibitions, Access and Learning Team. 
  • Supporting development of public and community engagement events, both onsite, offsite, and virtually to a range of audiences.  
  • Managing the curatorial elements of all The Postal Museum’s exhibition spaces, including those offsite. 
  • Working closely with the Marketing and Communications team to connect exhibitions, public programmes, partnerships, research, and services with our audiences and ensuring the Museum’s mission, vision and values are central to decision making.
 
Other
The postholder is expected to monitor and report on their work as directed by their line manager and adhere to office guidelines on handling, health and safety, lone working, etc., as advised, taking responsibility as appropriate. Occasional weekend and evening work will be required.
 
The Postal Museum has a small, friendly team with a can-do attitude. The postholder will be expected to roll their sleeves up and get involved with practical, everyday activities as well as helping to deliver the long-term strategies of the museum.
 

Person Specification

 
Experience
 
Essential criteria
  • Experience in leading a team and motivating them to respond positively to change and opportunities.
  • Experience in understanding and responding to the needs of a diverse audience.
  • Experience in developing content including temporary and permanent exhibitions and bringing stories out from collections, virtually and physically.
  • Experience in developing fundable activity and content.
  • Experience in managing projects, using emerging technology and managing budgets.
 
Desirable criteria
  • Experience in handling and moving museum objects, especially large collection items.
 
Qualifications
 
Desirable criteria
 
  • Qualification within a discipline related to the heritage sector.
 
Skills/Knowledge
 
The successful candidate will have proven experience in successfully managing a collection, using it to engage with a range of museum or heritage audiences. They will be an experienced leader with the ability to manage change and support the development of a team. They will be a motivator and someone who actively leads a team by example. 
 
Essential criteria
  • Strong people management skills.
  • Knowledge of the museum sector.
  • Awareness of current trends in museums and new approaches to interpreting collections.
  • Flexible approach to work and willingness to change and adapt in response to changing priorities.
  • Knowledge and experience of collections care and management.
  • Creative approach to content development and research.
 
Desirable criteria
  • Excellent written and oral presentation skills, including to a variety of audiences and experience acting as a public spokesperson.
  • Knowledge of new and emerging technologies and their application within the sector.
 

Working Conditions

 
The working hours shall be 35 hours per week, exclusive of meal breaks. Working days will typically be Monday to Friday with weekend working as Duty Senior Manager with some flexibility to be agreed in advance with the line manager, in line with The Postal Museum’s policies. Some out of hours working will be required, and this will be notified in advance. Time off in lieu will be awarded in line with The Postal Museum’s policy. Variations of the hours can be made and remote working agreed at the discretion of the line manager.
 
This position will require a basic DBS check based on Guidance on Security checks at TPM. A criminal record may not necessarily be a bar to placement, as any decision will be treated on its merits and individual circumstances subject to the museum’s overriding obligations to protect the children and vulnerable adults in its charge, members of the public, the safety of the museum’s staff and the Collection. The postholder will be expected to monitor and report on their work as directed by their line manager. The postholder will be expected to pick up ad hoc duties as required.
 
The postholder will be expected to work to office guidelines on handling, health and safety, lone working, etc. as advised, taking responsibility as appropriate.
 
All staff have access to a range of employee benefits including a cycle to work scheme, employee assistance programme and a range of discounts from retail and entertainment to health and wellbeing. 
 

How to Apply


To apply, kindly upload your CV and a Cover Letter detailing how you meet the requirements of the role.
 
Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
 
Please note that all candidates must be eligible to work in the UK 
 
 
The Postal Museum is a Disability Confident Employer, if at this point you wish to disclose any disability, kindly let us know at hr@postalmuseum.org before the application deadline in order for us to take appropriate action.

Important
Please note that the system does not save incomplete applications. Kindly upload all documents when you start the application. 

If you face any technical difficulty, email hr@postalmuseum.org and we will be happy to help.
 

Closing Date 

Monday 7th October 2024, 9:00am

Interviews

Week commencing 21st October 2024 with second interviews to follow for selected candidates

This vacancy has now been closed