Assistant Collection Manager: Care and Access (Prints and Drawings)

Role Summary

Assistant Collection Manager: Prints and Drawings
Full-time 41 hours per week

On-site in Bloomsbury, London
Fixed term (until 31 December 2028)
£29,642 per annum
Application deadline: 12pm (midday) on 26 May 2026

About the role

This is a hands‑on opportunity to work in the British Museum’s Prints and Drawings Department, supporting the care, access and movement of a collection that covers the period from 1400 to today. As Assistant Collection Manager, you will help ensure works on paper are safely stored, documented, displayed and made accessible for study, loans and exhibitions.

Alongside artists such as Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Kollwitz, the collection also includes works by contemporary artists such as Andy Warhol, Bridget Riley, David Hockney, Yinka Shonibare and Kara Walker, with active acquisitions continuing today. The role combines study room supervision, loans and display work, storage projects and some courier activity in a dynamic museum environment.

About you

You are practical, organised and keen to work closely with artworks, with a strong interest in collections care and access. You understand the importance of careful handling, accurate documentation and best practice when working with works on paper.

A confident team‑player and clear communicator, you are comfortable engaging with curators, researchers and the public, and remain calm and professional in busy environments. Whether you bring prior museum experience or are developing your career in collections management, you are motivated by working with a collection that bridges historic and contemporary art.

Key areas of responsibility

• Supply and supervise objects for the Study Room, providing a welcoming and professional service to researchers and visitors
• Support the movement, packing, installation and display of works on paper for galleries, storage, loans and exhibitions
• Assist with loans and touring exhibitions, including acting as a UK or international courier
• Monitor the security and condition of objects in storage, transit and on display, always following best practice
• Maintain accurate collection documentation, including location tracking, condition reports and photography
• Support collections audits, mount‑making, and wider Care & Access projects across the department

The Masterplan

The British Museum is undertaking its biggest transformation since its founding nearly 300 years ago. This physical and intellectual transformation includes large scale building and gallery transformation, new ways of connecting with audiences and different ways of working. As we look towards this exciting future, we remain guided by the words of our founder Hans Sloane - who dreamed of a museum connecting all arts and sciences, which would be accessible to everyone, everywhere.

Benefits

At the British Museum, we believe our people are at the heart of everything we do and have designed a benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary. Our full list of benefits can be found here, but we’ve outlined some highlights below:

• Free exhibition entry for you and guests, exclusive private views, ICOM and reciprocal museum access.
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days (and +5 days after 10 years).
• Discounts at onsite catering, Museum shops and local Bloomsbury partners.
• Social and wellbeing perks including Staff parties, social clubs, CSSC sports and leisure, and support from the Civil Service Retirement Fellowship.
• Peer support and allyship with five diversity networks for community.
• Learning and development through courses, mentoring and Athena as well as support for professional qualifications.
• Employee Assistance Programme available 24/7 for counselling, wellbeing support and more.
• Eyecare vouchers for VDU tests and contributions toward glasses.
• Enhanced parental leave including maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave.
• Support for carers through Employers for Carers.
• Civil Service Pension Scheme with a secure, inflation‑linked defined benefit.
• Interest‑free loans including season ticket, rental deposit and bicycle loans.

Our Values

Our values drive everything we do, from how we handle our objects to how we work in our team to fostering a culture where everyone feels heard and empowered:

• Care Deeply
• Embrace the Unknown
• Spark Curiosity
• Value Many Voices

These are a core part of how we recruit. Throughout the application, interview and selection process, we look for examples of how candidates demonstrate these behaviours in their own work and experiences. We encourage you to familiarise yourself with our values and reflect them in your application.

Additional details

If you have any additional needs that we should be aware of to support you with your application, please provide details to bmrecruit@britishmuseum.org.

*Unfortunately, for this role we are unable to offer Sponsorship to applicants*

The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.