Associate Director of Communications

About the role:

We are seeking an experienced individual to lead the Museum’s Communications Department in the delivery of a strategic and proactive approach to communications - using all available channels. The department is responsible for promoting the British Museum’s collection, programmes, corporate strategic objectives, and overall public profile. Crucially this role also includes leading the communications campaign around the Museum’s ambitious Masterplan.

Key areas of responsibility:

• Lead delivery of a global, integrated communications strategy for the British Museum that presents a consistent and compelling account of the Museum and its collection to relevant audiences in the UK and around the world through traditional and digital media.
• Lead, manage, motivate and develop the members of the Communications team within its reporting line.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the executive team on all aspects of communications and, when appropriate, act as a spokesperson and ambassador for the Museum.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the Board of Trustees on all aspects of communications
• Work collaboratively across the Museum to ensure that accurate and attractive content is captured, developed, and presented consistently and efficiently using traditional and/or digital channels as appropriate to ensure maximum impact.
• Ensure effective communications regarding the delivery of our long-term Masterplan and playing a key role in generating public awareness and support of it.
• Identify and plan strategic engagement with key stakeholders in the wider cultural sector as well as in the media in support of the Museum’s objectives.
• Where necessary, oversee the Museum’s crisis communications in response to emergencies.
• Manage the communications team budget.
About you:
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience of working at a senior management level in a communications role.
• Experience of leading a multidisciplinary communications team, and skilled in the management and development of that team.
• Proven ability to lead, influence, negotiate and work collaboratively across a complex organisation.
• Experience of strategic business planning.
• Experience of handling a departmental budget.
• Experience of liaising with senior internal and external stakeholders with a track record of successfully managing stakeholders with conflicting priorities.

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 such as 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.
• Interest-free travel, bicycle, and rental deposit loans
• Professional and personal development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounts on food and gift shop purchases

Additional details:

For more information about this role, please see the job description.

The interviews are expected to take place between 2 - 4 June.

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 specifically encourage applications from candidates from ethnic minority groups who are underrepresented within our senior roles.

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 expect this role to include working on site for a minimum of 4 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_8072.aspx