Job vacancy – Collections Manager at Black Country Living Museum

Job title: Collections Manager
Salary: c£30,000 per annum
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Location: Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, West Midlands
Closing date: Friday 8 January

BCLM is an equal opportunities employer and we are particularly keen to hear from applicants from BAME and disability groups as we are underrepresented in these areas.

Black Country Living Museum is one of Europe’s most successful open-air museums. Our strategic view is that our success originates from being an independent heritage business, and giving equal weight to our purpose as a museum, charity, and visitor attraction. The Museum is also regularly used for TV and Film locations, and hosts some fantastic seasonal and themed events including our 1940s Weekend and Peaky Blinders Nights. We are currently embarking upon the single largest development in our 40-year history with a multi-million pound investment to take our story into the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.

The role of Collections Manager is critical to the Museum’s responsibility to ensure the care and conservation of its designated collections. With the support of the Director of Programmes and small team of Collection Assistants, your key responsibilities will include:

  • Implementing and keeping under review, optimum standards in collections management, care and ethics.
  • Promoting and facilitating access to the collections for research, interpretation, programme development and study.
  • Contributing to the development of the Museum’s collecting policy to inform acquisitions, disposals, site developments, exhibitions and public programmes.
  • Administering incoming and outgoing collection loans procedures.

A key part of this role is working collaboratively with wider Museum teams to ensure the appropriate use and display of the Collection to support our busy events programme. Consequently, evidence of confident communication, influencing and collaboration skills are crucial. Equally important is evidence of strong people skills to manage both a small team of volunteers and direct reports.

We are keen to hear from candidates with evidential experience of the above gained within a similar heritage organisation.

The role is based in the heart of the Black Country’s regeneration zone, with good road, rail and, shortly, metro links. We are within good commutable distance from many of the surrounding counties, including Worcestershire and Staffordshire. As well as financial rewards, the museum offers a truly invigorating and kind work environment with a positive attitude to work life balance.

Please visit our website to view the full job profile: www.bclm.com/jobs

If you’d like to apply for this role, please send your CV and one-page covering letter to jobs@bclm.com.

Closing date is Friday 8 January 2021, however applications will be reviewed on an immediate basis as they come in.