Project Curator: Documentation and Recovery

Role Summary

Project Curator: Documentation and Recovery
Full-time 41 hours per week

Hybrid (at least 3 days per week on-site)
6 month fixed-term contract (possibility to extend)
£36,396per annum
Application deadline: 12pm (midday) on 4th March 2026

About the role

Join the British Museum’s Greece and Rome department in a focused, high‑impact curatorial role. As Project Curator for Documentation and Recovery, you’ll research the history and documentation of the collection, support ongoing efforts to recover missing or stolen items, and contribute to a major documentation and digitisation programme. Your work will help shape the Museum’s understanding of historic losses and strengthen the care, accuracy and visibility of the collection.

Key areas of responsibility

• Conduct archival research to assess the scale and nature of losses and damage in the Greece and Rome collections.
• Support documentation and digitisation, including registering unregistered or recovered items and updating records.
• Publish and share findings from the recovery programme, contributing to the Museum’s understanding of historic losses.
• Support conservation and restoration work on damaged items, and promote the importance of collection documentation.
• Contribute to wider departmental collaboration, sharing lessons learned and supporting cross‑team processes.

About you

We’re looking for someone with strong research skills, experience working with archives or collection records, and an understanding of how collection‑based organisations operate. You’ll be highly organised, able to handle sensitive information confidentially, and comfortable balancing different project demands. You communicate clearly, work well both independently and collaboratively, and can manage your time effectively in a fast‑moving environment.

Benefits

• Be a part of a world-renowned institution, where history, culture, and innovation come together!
• Generous Leave: 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 with service) plus 2.5 privilege days and bank holidays.
• Exceptional Pension: Secure your future with one of the UK’s most generous defined benefit schemes – guaranteed income for life.
• Cultural Perks: Free tickets to exhibitions, plus complimentary and discounted entry to leading museums and galleries worldwide.
• Financial Support: Interest-free travel loans and rental deposit loans.
• Wellbeing: Access to our Employee Assistance Programme for mental health and wellbeing support.
• Everyday Extras: Paid 1-hour lunch break, subsidised staff canteen, and discounts in our gift shop.

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. These are:

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

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.