Senior Curator

JOB DESCRIPTION

Hours 36 hours net per week

Department Narrative and Curatorial

Job Summary

The Second World War and mid twentieth century conflict team is one of four chronological narrative teams at our museum. Its key role is to curate and develop the collection relating to the time period 1929-1949. It looks at the causes and consequences of the war – the most devastating conflict in human history - as well as its course and conduct. The team facilitates and supports access to our collection to our audiences and to colleagues across our organisation and the wider heritage sector. We develop and deliver content for our public programme, interpreting collections objects which fall within the team’s remit.

We have an internationally important and world-renowned collection, unique in its scale, depth and scope. The museum has recently opened award-winning Second World War Galleries and The Holocaust Galleries. The narratives within these Galleries reflect a shift in focus towards representing the truly global nature of the conflict.

Aligned with this shift, the Second World War curatorial team’s Collections Development Strategy emphasises a need to focus activity on seeking out new angles, perspectives and voices, prioritising the histories of those who have demonstrably been underrepresented in the museum’s collection in the past. A key area of responsibility in this role will be to deliver on this, seeking out diverse perspectives which better reflect the global nature of the Second World War, with a focus on the Commonwealth and former countries of Empire, and significant Allies currently underrepresented in the collection. Aligned to this will be the need to develop and implement new ways of working incorporating co-creation, embedding these approaches across all projects and workflows in line with this role.

As a Senior Curator within the team, you will support the Head in all aspects of the work of the Second World War and mid twentieth century conflict team. You will be involved in the acquisition, assessment, review and cataloguing of collections material relating to the period 1929-1949, with specific responsibility for collections development and collecting personal stories relating to global and underrepresented perspectives of the conflict.

You will collaborate with specialists across the Narrative and Content department, as well as with external networks, as you build and develop your own expertise in these areas, also taking prime responsibility for building international relationships and partnerships which further the team’s ambitions. Your practical archival and curatorial skills will be accompanied by a specialist, in-depth knowledge of the Second World War’s global impact and you will have a strong appreciation and understanding of the material culture of the period.

As a Senior Curator, you will form part of the team’s leadership group and will work with, and support, the Head of Team in developing, planning and delivering corporate objectives. You will line manage, support, develop and mentor curators, assistant curators, apprentices and volunteers, as required. Through relevant experience, you will be able to demonstrate the critical ability to plan and manage resource. The postholder will be required to provide strategic direction both for the staff they directly line manage and assist the Head to prioritise and manage the application of all of the team’s resources in the pursuit of agreed strategic objectives.

As a senior specialist , you will spearhead new research projects related to the causes, course and consequences of the Second World War, with a particular focus on global and underrepresented narratives, and engage with the Research team to inform high quality strategic research prioritisation, the Collaborative Doctoral Partnership programme and other existing frameworks of research. You will maintain and communicate your expertise by engaging with relevant conferences, talks, symposia, network events, and also through writing for diverse audiences. You will also contribute to organisation-led events, supporting the wider work of the Second World War and mid twentieth century conflict team and other content-creating teams at our organisation.

You will need to work proactively and imaginatively to develop the collection in ways outlined in the Second World War Collections Development Strategy and which help to deliver the public programme. This will involve actively engaging stakeholders, communities and academic experts. It is essential you are able to demonstrate or develop an extensive understanding and proven experience of applying the relevant practical, legal and ethical considerations pertaining to the acquisition of collections material relating to the Second World War.

Your duties will include:

• applying to all areas of activity a detailed knowledge of the global narratives of the Second World War and a strong understanding of visual media, material culture and historiography relating to the period of events.
• implementing and advocating for the Second World War and mid twentieth century conflict Collections Development Strategy, strengthening our ability to record and explore global narratives and underrepresented perspectives of the conflict, with a focus on the Commonwealth and former countries of Empire and significant Allies.
• line-managing, developing, supporting and mentoring curators, assistant curators, apprentices and volunteers towards our standards of core behaviours.
• working practically to deliver interpretation and storytelling relating to the Second World War for our core and developmental audiences in fresh and creative ways.
• supporting the Head of Team in identifying strategic priorities, the development of corporate plans and managing available resource appropriately.
• working collaboratively and proactively with narrative teams, media heads, collections management and other departments across our organisation.
• delivering and supporting delivery of historical content for galleries and exhibitions, as well as for Learning, Development, Press, Media, Marketing, Commercial and museum Institute activities and mentoring those who report to you in best practice approaches in these areas.
• working with Collections Management to ensure effective stewardship and care of the collection, and to target priorities for acquisition and disposal and mentoring those who report to you in best practice approaches in these areas.
• guiding and overseeing the development of academic research projects and meaningful partnerships that enrich understanding of our collection as it pertains to the global perspectives on the Second World War, and representing us on external professional and academic settings, including at conferences, workshops and seminars.
• facilitating and supporting access to our collection, knowledge and skills to the public and to colleagues across our organisation.
• working at all times as a team member, consulting with colleagues and sharing knowledge and information.
• applying excellent two-way communication skills in working with audiences, stakeholders both internal and external and the Second World War and mid twentieth century conflict team.
• ensuring that all areas of activity deliver our brand values and comply with corporate priorities, standards and systems at all times.
• providing media interviews and giving tours and presentations to stakeholders and VIP visitors.
• actively engaging with best practice and training opportunities, including around access, inclusion and diversity, and embedding them into your work.

This role may include working with film; images and recordings of a highly graphic nature which you may find distressing. we are working with staff to further develop formal and informal training and support for those encountering sensitive and challenging materials.