Senior Registrar at National Museums Scotland

Working Hours: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £46,032 – £49,569
Location: Edinburgh
Closing date: 26/04/2026

About the Role

National Museums Scotland has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Collections Registration professional to join our team on a permanent basis. Located in the Collection Services Department, you will lead the National Museums Scotland’s Registrar team with specific responsibility for the strategic development, planning, management and delivery of Collections Registration for the National Museums Scotland.

The Collections Services Department comprises multiple specialist teams, providing conservation, collections care, collections management, digitisation, analytical science, and library services expertise, to manage, preserve and enable access to National Museums Scotland collections. As Senior Registrar, you will lead on the delivery of National Museums Scotland’s loans, acquisition and collections review programmes.

With substantial experience of the collections registrar specialism, you will have excellent communication skills, including ability to prepare clear reports, guidance, and procedures for diverse stakeholders. You will have knowledge of national and international museum standards, guidance, and best practice relevant to collections registration. You will have experience of managing projects involving multiple stakeholders and professional disciplines

Key responsibilities:

• To manage, lead and be responsible for the Registrar section, motivating, developing and directing staff to deliver an excellent service and achieve departmental and organisational objectives.
• To develop, review and implement effective business systems, processes and procedures for collection registration, ensure legal and regulatory compliance in these areas.
• To develop, review and implement long-term, strategic plans to effectively manage ‘legacy’ issues within the section including loan, acquisition and disposal backlogs.
• To manage indemnity cover for all loan objects, including reporting and forecasting.
• To be responsible for loan records on National Museums Scotland’s Collections Information System, ensuring they are up to date and accurate.
• To oversee relevant training on Collection Registration.
• To oversee the planning, resource management and delegated budgets for the Registrar team to meet the requirements of National Museums Scotland’s programmes and longer-term Collection needs, including reporting and forecasting.
• To play a key role in the development of the Museum’s National and International programme working with the Head of National Partnerships and the Touring Exhibition Manager to devise effective strategies to lend the Museum’s collection.
• To promote the reputation of National Museums Scotland, acting as an external ambassador in areas related to this post.
• To ensure compliance with relevant legislation, National Museums Scotland’s standards and procedures, Health and Safety regulations, COSHH, Procurement Frameworks, Contractual terms and conditions and other statutory requirements for all aspects of Registrars operations
• To undertake any other reasonably required duties as instructed by line manager or someone acting on their behalf, in addition to the role specific responsibilities detailed above.

How to Apply

For more information head over to the Historic Environment Scotland website where you can also apply for this job role.