Jobs Archive
Project Curator, South African Collections
We are now seeking an exceptional candidate to lead the development of community-led research and knowledge sharing methodologies around South African collections in Scottish museums. The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting collaborative engagements between community members and museum curators in Scotland and South Africa to develop scalable and transferable participatory practice methodologies, increasing meaningful community engagement and improving collections knowledge and management. This project is generously funded by a grant from Museums Galleries Scotland.
As a Project Curator at National Museums Scotland you will:
Support digital remote and in-person community consultation and knowledge sharing events at museums in Scotland based on South African collections.
Develop partnerships with Scottish museums
Develop partnerships with descendent and diaspora communities in South Africa and Scotland
Develop guidelines and training and prepare a final report for online publication
Skills and experience we’re looking for in our Project Curator:
A relevant first degree or equivalent experience
Experience of working with African collections and/or collection histories
Experience of undertaking research
Experience of working with communities
Knowledge of and commitment to collection management best practice
Hiring the right person for the right job is everything to us. We want to encourage you to apply if you think this is the role for you.
Object Conservator (Natural Sciences)
The Object Conservator (Natural Sciences) provides specialist support in the conservation and care of Manchester Museum’s diverse natural science collections.
This role focuses on ensuring the preservation, accessibility, and sustainability of the collections for research, education, and public engagement.
As part of a collaborative team, the post-holder will contribute to the overall workload and priorities of the CCATS and Collections teams, supporting major conservation projects beyond natural sciences when required. The role will also involve leading and coordinating conservation projects, contributing specialist expertise to acquisitions and disposals, and supporting loans and exhibitions.
Provenance Researcher – Geology, Natural History and Antiquities
Canvas Art Law is a team of like-minded lawyers, provenance researchers and advisors working in the international arts, culture and heritage sector. Founded in London in 2017, we have grown our team and our client base steadily over the last few years, taking Canvas to clients all over the world. We are now recruiting for a mid-level Provenance Researcher to join our join our dynamic team as we continue to grow. Due our varied client base and projects, the ideal candidate will have experience in Geology and Natural History. You can find out more about us at www.canavasartlaw.co.uk
About us:
Our team is ambitious, enthusiastic and passionate. We care deeply about the work we do, the impact we have and about those we work with. We are a multi-national firm which has steadily grown over the years expanding into new areas and regions. We cover all areas of art, heritage and cultural property law, but we are best known for our extensive practice in the Middle East, cultural property protection and policy, museum advisory and our work empowering artists and creatives. Over the last 5 years, we have expanded our practice to include natural heritage, natural history and geology, both in regulation, policy and due diligence.
Whilst our office is in London (Somerset House), 50% of the team are based internationally and we are currently expanding to open offices in the Middle East. We try to get together throughout the year for events, team building and training, and our company retreat.
The role:
The role is for a full-time provenance researcher to provide support to Canvas’ due diligence team, primarily serving its museum clients, but also supporting the policy team in the advisory and heritage protection work we do. Whilst the candidate will be expected to work across all areas of art and cultural property, a large part of this role will focus on natural history and geology, including researching geological objects and collections, such as minerals and gemstones, meteorites, and other petrological objects, as well as natural history objects, including dinosaur fossils and collections of flora and fauna.
The ideal candidate will be a mid-level professional with 2-5 years’ relevant experience and preferably with knowledge of the market for natural history and geological specimens and an understanding of the ethical and legal considerations surrounding the trade in this field.
Responsibilities
• Conduct comprehensive research into the provenance of objects or collections through analysis of primary and secondary sources and thoroughly document all research, maintain accurate records of research findings, and communicate findings effectively
• Communicate with external stakeholders and experts and participate in client meetings.
• Contribute to advisory reports, policies and wider regulatory projects in the heritage sector.
• General administrative duties including email filing, document and file management, minute-taking and generating actions and follow-ups.
Experience, skills, and attributes:
ESSENTIAL Qualifications and Experience:
• Between 2-5 years’ experience in provenance research, museum due diligence, acquisitions, collection management or related field;
• Undergraduate degree in any of the following fields: art history, museum studies, archaeology, palaeontology, geology, natural sciences, earth sciences, natural history OR 1 years’ experience working in the field of geology or natural history including in an art market context;
• Familiarity with art market practices and auction processes.
• Fluency in English.
ESSENTIAL Skills and Qualities:
• Excellent organisation skills; time management, prioritisation and multi-tasking.
• Strong research and analytical skills, including being able to synthesise information from diverse sources and identify patterns or trends in the history of an object.
• Strong drafting and report writing with a keen eye for detail.
• Good communicator who enjoys working in a team and demonstrates commitment to the role.
• Ability to work independently and take the initiative in seeking out relevant sources and leads.
DESIRABLE Skills and Qualifications
• Educated to postgraduate level (Master’s) in any of the following: art history, museum studies, archaeology, palaeontology, geology, natural sciences, earth sciences, natural history.
• Experience in museum acquisition or experience working in the art market, specifically in the field of natural history and geological specimens or in a museum environment.
• Understanding of the ethical and legal considerations surrounding the trade in and collection of specimens.
• Foreign language(s).
Further details:
The role will be hybrid or remote based on location, with the successful applicant preferably based in the UK or the GCC but we are also open to considering those based in Europe on a consultancy basis. If you work remotely, you must have a suitable and secure home office from which to work. From time to time, you may be asked to carry out research at local libraries and institutions and some international travel may be required.
Position: Full Time but willing to consider 4 day week options
Salary range: Competitive salary based on experience, plus benefits (including Private Medical Insurance), pension (if UK based) and art and cultural events, discounts and exhibitions.
Holiday entitlement: 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays (Full Time Entitlement).
Requirements: Right to work in the UK (if UK based) or to work on a consultancy basis in your current location, without sponsorship.
Application process:
Please send a CV and covering email to us at info@canvasartlaw.art Your cover letter should answer three questions:
• Why are you applying for this role at Canvas?
• What skills and experience do you have that are directly relevant to the role?
• What makes you stand out from other candidates?
Timeline:
• Applications will close on Friday 14th March at 5pm GMT
• First Interview and Second Interview for selected candidates: anticipated to take place virtually at the end of March (each between 30-45 minutes)
• Offer, subject to Reference checks: anticipated early April
• Anticipated start date: within one month of offer
Collections Assistant (Earth Collections)
Oxford University Museum of Natural History houses the University’s internationally important geological and zoological collections, which are used for research, teaching, and public engagement. These comprise around 7 million specimens and are second in importance only to the national collections. The museum is part of the Gardens, Libraries & Museums of the University of Oxford, which include the Ashmolean, History of Science and Pitt Rivers museums, the Bodleian Libraries, and the Botanic Gardens & Arboretum.
The Collections Assistant will work across the full range of geological material but with a particular emphasis on the mineralogy and petrology collections. They will work as part of a team to carry out collections-related tasks, including assisting with loan processes, dealing with enquiries and facilitating visits to the collections. They will also help to deliver strategic projects, including preparing petrology collections and their associated metadata for moving into a new Collections Storage Facility in Swindon.
This is a fixed-term, 4-month, full-time post, and the work will principally be on site.
Due to the nature of this post, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a satisfactory Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) due to access to Museum collections.
Senior Curator, Geosciences (Mineralogy/Geology)
Australia’s largest public museum organisation is seeking a Senior Curator, Geosciences (Mineralogy/Geology) to join Museums Victoria.
ABOUT MUSEUMS VICTORIA:
Welcome to Museums Victoria (MV), where we care for the state’s scientific and cultural collections, and every day brings new opportunities to inspire, challenge, and educate. From the awe-inspiring Melbourne Museum to the culturally significant Immigration Museum, the innovative Scienceworks, and the World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building, we are a team of passionate professionals dedicated to preserving the past and shaping the future.
And now, we are on the lookout for a Senior Curator, Geosciences (Mineralogy/Geology). If you are passionate about leading innovative research projects, preserving collections, and collaborating with a dynamic team to make geosciences accessible and impactful, this role could be your next great adventure!
ABOUT THE POSITION:
Museums Victoria has the largest Geosciences collections (Minerals, Rocks, Ores, Meteorites and Impactites) in Australia, and an internationally significant mineral collection. The purpose of this position is to develop research programs and collaborations in geosciences, particularly Mineralogy, develop the museums geoscience collections, provide collection access, and contribute to public program outputs for Museums Victoria.
Some of the key duties include:
Lead a research program in mineralogy and geology to enhance the Museum’s profile.
Conduct collections-linked research and coordinate development of mineralogy, petrology, and meteorite collections.
Initiate and maintain research collaborations with museums, universities, government departments, and community groups.
Secure research funding through grants, collaborations, and philanthropic programs.
Lead and supervise staff, postgraduate students, and volunteers in research and collection projects.
Provide geosciences expertise to Exhibitions, Education, Public Programs, Outreach, and Media.
Communicate geoscience to diverse audiences through public programs, exhibitions, online services, and other media.
Ensure ethical and safe work practices in laboratory, collection, and field research activities.
Comply with Museums Victoria's policies, procedures, and relevant legislation.
Curator of Zoology
Leading on the key management and ethical issues relevant to Manchester Museum’s internationally significant Zoology collections (including around 1 million preserved animals), you’ll use your specialist expertise and digital skills to improve access and spark connections. We are looking for someone who can work collaboratively with colleagues and partners to reconnect nature and culture and who will champion biodiversity and environmental action within and beyond the museum
Manchester Museum is proud to be part of the University of Manchester, so a diligent and engaging approach to building research and supporting teaching is essential. We are also one of the north’s most popular visitor attractions so you’ll need to be a brilliant communicator, able to talk about complex ideas to wide ranging audiences. If you love storytelling and exhibition-making you will thrive in this role; the Zoology collection is hugely popular with audiences and central to developing inclusive public programmes within and beyond our walls.
Curatorial Assistant - Entomology
The Entomology Collection at Manchester Museum is estimated to house more than two and a half million specimens from all over the world and is one of the largest entomological depositories in the UK. The collection house a great variety of arthropods, including insects, arachnids, centipedes, millipedes and crustaceans, preserved dried, in spirit and slides.
We are seeking to appoint a part-time (21 hours – 0.6 FTE) Curatorial Assistant to work with Manchester Museum’s internationally significant entomology collection in providing comprehensive support to the Curator of Entomology and the Curatorial Team at Manchester Museum.
We encourage applicants who are enthusiastic and motivated with a keen interest in working in natural history collections, especially insects and/or other arthropods.
This role involves assisting in the management, care and interpretation of entomological collections. Other responsibilities include supporting documentation, access to the collection, supervising visitors and volunteers, and facilitating public programmes.
Preferably, you will have previous experience in working with insects or other arthropods collections and with museum documentation.
What you will get in return:
Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers
As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.
Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here
Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.
Project Archivist – Phillips Archive
Oxford University Museum of Natural History is seeking to appoint a Project Archivist to work on the Phillips Archive, and assist with the running of the Archive for 20 months. Nephew of celebrated geologist William ‘Strata’ Smith, John Phillips (1800-1874) was Reader in Geology at Oxford University and the first keeper of OUMNH. The Phillips Archive consists of correspondence, geological papers, lecture notes, notebooks, watercolours, prints, sections, and more.
Reporting to the Librarian and Archivist, the post-holder will be responsible for arranging, cataloguing and repackaging the Phillips Archive. This will include creating an ISAD(G) compliant catalogue, supervising volunteers, participating in displays, and communicating your work both internally to the museum and externally to members of the public and other stakeholders. The post-holder will also spend one day a week contributing to the day-to-day running of the Archive including facilitating visits to the collection, answering enquiries, and cataloguing the backlog.
Project Assistant (Finding Nemo Project)
A six-month Project Assistant, based at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, is required to assist in the delivery of a project (Finding Nemo) funded by the Oxford University Digital Humanities initiative. The project aims at establishing the knowledge base to unravel biases in crustacean species eponyms (i.e. animal species named after persons), focussing in on symbiotic Decapoda (crabs, shrimp, lobsters and their allies) and by contrasting semantic (societal, historical) and biological influences.
The post holder will form part of an international team (UK, Netherlands, Belgium) data mining an extensive pdf library of relevant literature, combined with further internet and library searches, constructing a list of biological and semantic information to be extracted from the primary taxonomic literature and transferring the required information to an online database (marinespecies.org).
The position would suit a recent humanities graduate with an interest in digital humanities or a biology graduate, interested in biodiversity informatics. The position is flexible in focus and can be targeted to the research interest of the successful applicant.
This is a full-time, fixed-term position, working 36.5 hours per week for six months. This role supports a hybrid working model – please expect a minimum of two days per week on-site. This role is subject to a satisfactory basic Disclosure and Barring Service check.
Director
Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUMNH) was opened in 1860 and houses the University’s extensive scientific holdings in natural history, which are used for research, teaching, and public engagement with science. The Museum is ‘Designated’ by Arts Council England as having collections of national and international importance, and these comprise more than 7 million specimens that are second in importance only to the national collections. The Museum is one of the most popular science museums in the UK with over 800,000 visitors per year, including over 40,000 school visitors, and is the second most visited university museum globally (behind Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum).
Following the retirement of Professor Paul Smith in September 2024, the University of Oxford is now seeking to appoint a new Director for OUMNH. The Directorship is associated with a professorial fellowship at Kellogg College. The Director is responsible for taking forward the Museum’s strategic priorities in public engagement, in research, and in the curation of its 7m+ collection items. In addition to being one of the UK’s most important natural history collections, OUMNH is a department of the University of Oxford and a key part of the University’s Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM). As such, the Director will be expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to the University’s core missions of education, research, and public engagement. The role involves strategic leadership of the Museum and the setting and delivery of the strategy, policies and goals for the future in line with the overall direction agreed by the Board of Visitors of the Museum, in alignment with the Strategic Framework of GLAM. The Director will also be expected to set an agenda for growing income from across public and commercial funding sources, with an increased focus on philanthropic fundraising.
Candidates for the position should possess well-developed leadership and management skills, strong organisational and financial acumen, and the ability to develop and deliver a compelling vision and strategy for the Museum. The successful candidate will have an outstanding track record in museums, with experience of balancing the needs of large-scale collection management and research, and the opportunities for broad public access and education.