This is an opportunity to join the senior management team of a dynamic and creative science museum at the University of Oxford. The Museum of Natural History is active across the full range of public engagement, research and university education, and is a valued part of the local and regional community. Its collections date back to the early 17th century, include 7 million specimens, and underpin active research across the University as well as nationally and internationally. In 2019, the museum welcomed over 800,000 visitors. 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 Head of Operations has primary responsibility for commercial operations, visitor services and facilities management, and maintains an overview of finance and HR. You will work closely with the Director, Deputy Director and other members of the senior leadership team as the museum recovers from pandemic closures and undertakes a major redisplay programme in the public areas. You will lead the visitor services, events, retail and building services teams, which together include over 20 staff members. Overall, the museum has an annual budget of £4m and a staff of over 70.
You will be a creative and collaborative problem-solver as well as an effective and empathetic leader with excellent inter-personal skills and substantial experience of operating in a museum or heritage environment with high visitor numbers. You will be an excellent communicator, be entrepreneurial and have strong analytical skills and judgement in order to undertake data-led decisions. Experience of working in a higher education environment will also be an advantage.
This is a full-time, permanent post and the work will principally be on site. Part-time applications (minimum 0.8 FTE) will be considered.