Job Summary

Curator: Africa Africa Oceania and the Americas Full-time Permanent £43,207 per annum Application deadline: 07 October 2024

Job Description

The British Museum is seeking a Curator: Africa to join the Africa, Oceania and the Americas department. The main purpose of the role is to fulfil a leading role in the curation of the Africa collections, with a particular focus on East Africa collections, including documentation, research, public engagement, loans and display, and work with national and international partners.

Job Requirements

• Education: BA/BSc (or equivalent) in anthropology, history or related subject
• Specific technical/professional skills & experience: knowledge of the history, anthropology and archaeology of Africa, especially its material culture (especially East Africa); knowledge of and experience working with museum database and image systems; research experience in relation to an area of the African continent; IT literate.
• Work experience: experience of working as a museum curator/researcher.
• Specific managerial skills: assessing priorities and meeting deadlines.
• Specific interpersonal skills: articulate and effective communicator with good written and oral skills; ability to work as part of a team and independently; highly organised and self-motivated; adaptable, resourceful, imaginative.
• Publications record: publications in peer- reviewed journals or in book form

Job Responsibilities

• To make the Africa collection, and knowledge about it, publicly accessible via publication, digital, display, and broadcast
• To lead on research and enhancing documentation on key areas of the East Africa collection and the collection more widely (objects and photographs)
• To lead on collaboration with other institutions or groups, and to develop or ensure good relations with relevant stakeholders, especially colleagues on the African continent and in the Diaspora
• To manage visitors to the collection and enquiries from the public in person, in writing, by telephone and via e-mail
• To provide curatorial support and input for national and international loans
• To contribute to work on collection displays across the Museum, both in the Africa galleries and more widely
• To act as an advocate for the Museum
• To have a good understanding of museums and relevant best practice, and share this with colleagues