Keeper of Africa Oceania and the Americas

The Keeper of Africa Oceania and the Americas is a specialist of academic distinction who leads and
manages the department of Africa Oceania and the Americas. The role is responsible for overseeing
the department’s curatorial and academic work, including the care of an internationally important
collection and the community engagement built around it. Required to manage, mentor, and inspire a team of curators and other staff, the postholder is expected to participate widely in support of the Museum’s goals and objectives, including representing the Museum both in the UK and abroad.

Key areas of responsibility:
 Ensure the safety and security of the relevant parts of the collection, in line with agreed standards, strategies, processes and procedures, and in collaboration with other expert colleagues from across the Museum.
 Lead and engage the department in the development of ideas and plans in support of the Museum’s core aims and objectives and, in so doing, further the care and increased understanding of the collection and engagement with it by a wide public. Recruit, develop and motivate a team of curators and other staff, in line with the goals and requirements of the Museum. Provide guidance and support to curatorial colleagues who will be at different stages of their academic career, ensuring high quality research and engagement outputs, and with a view to succession planning and the Museum’s future.
 Work openly and collaboratively with colleagues across the Museum to ensure appropriate care, documentation, curation, and presentation of the collection, in line with Museum values.
 Work with the Head of Research and the Research Board to ensure research activity is in accordance with strategic objectives and is financially sustainable.
 Develop strong partnerships and collaborations and maintain positive relations with external colleagues and stakeholders. These will include, but are not limited to, academic peers, international and national museum partners, governments and official bodies, communities, and supporters. Deliver high-profile advocacy for the Museum locally, nationally, and internationally.
About you:
• Degree educated or equivalent in a relevant subject.
• Evidence of international recognition as a scholar in a relevant field.
• Excellent understanding of the Museum and wider academic and cultural world, in one or more areas relevant to the Museum’s collection.
• Significant management experience and a proven track record of managing high-performance teams
• Proven ability to lead, influence, negotiate and work collaboratively across a complex organisation.
• Experience of managing stakeholders with conflicting priorities
• Excellent prioritisation and organisational skills
• Diplomatic and calm under pressure.
• A good communicator, with an open and inclusive style which inspires trust.
• Enthusiasm for the cultural sector.
About the British Museum:
Founded in 1753, the British Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history and culture. The Museum is a leading visitor attraction, and its world-famous collection includes the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, the Sutton-Hoo finds, and the Lewis Chessmen. The Museum also holds an extensive collection of prints and drawings spanning 600 years, including works by the greatest graphic artists Dürer, Michelangelo and Rembrandt.

You can view a selection of our impressive collection of prints and drawings in our virtual gallery.
The Museum offers a competitive benefits package including:
• Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service) plus 2.5 privilege days and plus bank holidays.
• Membership of the civil service defined benefit pension scheme (find out here what benefits a civil service pension provides).
• Free entry to a wide range of museums and exhibitions
• Participation in private and public Museum activities, including talks by leading curators from around the world and behind-the-scenes opportunities to learn how museums care for and manage their extraordinary collections.

Additional details:
For more information about this role, please see the job description.
If you have any additional needs that we should be aware of to support you with your application, please provide details to [email protected].

The British Museum is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals can make best use of their skills, free from unlawful discrimination or harassment. We value the benefits that a diverse workforce brings to a museum which represents world culture. The Museum is committed to ensuring that no job applicant suffers unlawful discrimination because of any protected characteristics. Our recruitment procedures aim to ensure that individuals are treated because of their relevant knowledge, skills, and experience.
We offer a flexible way of working scheme that allows our employees to work remotely in a way that suits them and the organisation. We welcome questions and conversations at interview stage about how flexible working could work for you. We would typically see this role as working on site about 3 days a week.
The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.

Museum Website: https://bmrecruit.ciphr-irecruit.com//templates/CIPHR/jobdetail_7744.aspx