Museum Collections Manager

Museum Collections Manager

Job description

Museum Collections Manager

Burlington House, London

35 hours per week

Permanent

Job title:

Location:

Hours:

Contract:

Reporting to:

Head of Collections and Library

Key relationships:

Researchers and visitors to the Museum Collections
Fellows of the Society
Staff at Burlington House including Library, Archive and
Collections staff, Communications Manager, Security
Manager
Staff at Kelmscott Manor including the Property and
Estate Manager and the Curator
Staff at other museums and galleries in the UK and
abroad
External conservators and specialists

Salary:

£38,000 per annum

Overall purpose of the job

•  To manage the Museum Collections to best professional standards in the
most effective way, ensuring appropriate care, storage and documentation

•  To increase and facilitate public access to the collections through loans,

events, talks and displays

•  To develop the collections as a research and educational resource
•  To assist the Head of Collections and Library in maintaining, reviewing and

updating museum collections policies and plans, and to prepare Accreditation
returns

•  To advocate for the Museum Collections within the wider organisation in the

context of forward planning and strategic development

The role is focused on the collections at Burlington House but liaises with the
Property and Estate Manager and Curator at Kelmscott Manor on overall Society

Museum Collections Manager job description and person spec. January 2026

collection management activities. The role undertakes the administration of loans
from Kelmscott Manor collections as well as those at Burlington House

The Museum Collections Manager is part of the Library and Collections team

Main areas of responsibility

Undertake all aspects of collections management and loan administration, including
documentation, rehousing, storage moves, digitisation, access, interpretation,
display, and the organisation of conservation

Loans

• Manage long-term and temporary loans of items from the Archive, Library and
Museum Collections at Burlington House and Kelmscott Manor

• This work includes undertaking loan administration and maintaining documentation,
preparing loan request papers for the Library & Collections Committee, assessing
completed UKRG facility and security forms, obtaining valuations, commissioning
condition surveys, supervising conservation, digitisation, reviewing insurance
documentation, packing, organising transportation, and couriering

Documentation

• Manage Museum Collections documentation and records in paper and electronic
formats

• Manage the collections management system (Collections Index+) and enhance
collection records

• Identify uncatalogued areas of the collections and create records in Collections
Index+

• Maintain electronic Museum Collections files

• Produce reports on aspects of the collection where needed

• Process historic deaccession paperwork for Library and Collections Committee in
accordance with Society guidelines

• Process new acquisitions according to Society guidelines

Collections access

• Respond to enquiries about the Museum Collections

• Manage visitors to the Burlington House Museum Collections. Advise and assist
with research visits and supervise the use of the Museum Room. Maintain records of
enquiries and visits for reporting purposes

Museum Collections Manager job description and person spec. January 2026

• Organise and promote research into the Burlington House Museum Collections

• Support the Communications Manager promoting the collections through social
media

Collections care and conservation

• Manage all aspects of preventative conservation, including environmental
management, light monitoring and pest management

• Manage the conservation of objects, including producing condition reports,
commissioning conservation surveys, commissioning annual conservation work,
assessing conservation method statements, scheduling and supervising freelance
conservators and maintaining conservation records and reports

• Ensure the storage and display of objects is in line with current conservation
standards

• Manage Museum Collections storage areas

• Manage and plan the safe movement of objects

• Undertake storage and collection audits

• Liaise with the Security Manager and Head of Collections and Library on the
security and safety of collections on display and in store

• Assist the Head of Collections and Library to maintain a disaster management plan
for the Collections at Burlington House

• Ensure digital collection assets relating to Museum Collections are created, named
and stored to current standards

Interpretation and promotion

• Develop information for the public about the Burlington House Museum Collections,
in print and electronic formats

• Contribute to a programme of displays in the public spaces at Burlington House, in
collaboration with Library, Archive and Collections staff

• Participate in the development, planning and delivery of occasional temporary
exhibitions and associated activities at Burlington House which increase access to
the collections and engage new audiences

• Promote and present the Museum Collections through talks, presentations,
displays, tours and events at Burlington House and elsewhere

Museum Collections Manager job description and person spec. January 2026

• Ensure web pages relating to Museum Collections are updated and engaging to a
general audience

People management

• Manage the Curatorial Research Assistant for the Prints and Drawings Collection

• Recruit and manage volunteers and student placements assigned to the Museum
Collections

• Provide training in collections care and management activities to staff and
volunteers

Financial responsibilities

• Operate within the agreed Museum Collections budget

• Ensure Museum Collections budget spreadsheet remains updated

• Send invoices for approval and processing

• Obtain quotes for conservation, storage and project work

• Maintain budget spreadsheet for individual loans where necessary and for discrete
projects

Society wide

• Attend the Library and Collections Committee and produce and present papers
when required

• Assist the Head of Development in preparing grant applications for the benefit of
the collections and to support the Society’s fundraising activities

• Work with the Communications Manager in using the Museum Collections to
support communications activities

• Promote the profile of the Society and be an effective advocate of the Society and
its objectives

Museum Collections Manager job description and person spec. January 2026

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential
Training, Experience, Qualifications

Desirable

Degree in relevant discipline or
equivalent experience

Museum Studies or equivalent subject
(such as history, archaeology, or art
history) at MA level or substantial
equivalent experience

Good knowledge of British history,
archaeology or art history, and interest
in cultural heritage

Associate of Museums Association or
evidence of continual professional
development

Experience of managing historic
collections (minimum 3 years)

Experience of managing mixed
collections

Experience of Collections Index+

Experience of preparing applications
for accreditation and accreditation
returns

Significant experience using museum
collections management systems for
cataloguing, updating records, report
generation and digital asset
management

Experience of loans management and
administration, including loans
overseas

Knowledge and experience of working
with recognised standards in
collections management, such as
SPECTRUM

Experience of working to accreditation
standards

Experience of developing and
implementing collections management
strategies (minimum 1 year)

Experience installing objects for display

Experience of digitising collections and
managing digital assets

Experience managing digitisation
projects

Knowledge and Skills

Museum Collections Manager job description and person spec. January 2026

Thorough, professional and practical
knowledge of collections management

Excellent knowledge of conservation
and preservation issues and
requirements for a range of media

Attention to detail and an eye for the
display and presentation of objects

Experience of preparing permanent
displays and temporary exhibitions

Knowledge of health & safety
legislation and experience of producing
risk assessments

Experience of managing volunteers
and interns

Meticulous in maintaining accurate
documentation and records

Excellent organisation and planning
skills

Excellent IT skills (including Microsoft
Office) for PC

Interpersonal skills

Excellent interpersonal skills to build
good working relationships with
colleagues, Fellows, enquirers and
researchers

Excellent verbal and written
communication skills

Uses own initiative

A pragmatic and hands on approach

Ability to work calmly under pressure
and manage conflicting priorities

Particular to this post

Willingness and ability to undertake all
aspects of collections management
responsibilities

Able to travel in the UK and overseas
to accompany objects on loan

Museum Collections Manager job description and person spec. January 2026

Keeps up to date with current
professional practice

Engages with relevant subject
specialist and museum networks

Hybrid working:

The Society welcomes hybrid and
flexible working. For this role, we ask
that the post-holder usually works on
site for a minimum of three days per
week including Wednesdays. Core
hours have a degree of flexibility, to be
discussed with the Head of Collections
and Library

Museum Collections Manager job description and person spec. January 2026