Salary: £66,845 per annum
Location: Bloomsbury
Role Summary
Keeper of Egypt and Sudan
Egypt and Sudan
Full Time
Permanent
£66,845 per annum
Closing date: Monday 28 February 2022, Midday
Application deadline:
The British Museum is looking to appoint an outstanding expert in the history, archaeology and cultures of ancient Egypt and Sudan and related disciplines, to lead and manage its team of specialists in these areas. This is an exciting opportunity to reshape the department’s public and curatorial activity in support of the Rosetta Project – the Museum’s ambitious masterplan –– and the Museum’s cross-disciplinary research programme.
About the Museum
The British Museum is unique in bringing together the cultures of the world under one roof, spanning continents and oceans. No other museum is responsible for collections of the same depth and breadth, beauty, and significance. Its eight million objects allow us to explore the extraordinary diversity of human cultures, from small communities to vast empires, to discover the many forms and expressions human beings have given to every aspect of life, and to realise how closely they are interconnected.
About the role
Specialising in the Museum’s collections from Egypt and Sudan, this role has responsibilities for the management and academic leadership of curatorial staff across the department. The Keeper of Egypt and Sudan will lead in Museum wide initiatives, collaborating across collection departments, functions and policies and, more specifically, supporting the Museum’s strategic priorities and masterplan for future development, the Rosetta Project.
About you
You will be educated to degree level, or equivalent in a relevant subject, with international recognition as a scholar in a relevant field and ideally with a postgraduate degree in a subject relevant to the department’s collection.
With previous experience of a senior curatorial or research role in a major museum or cultural institution, you will show excellent understanding of the museum and wider academic and cultural world in one or more areas relevant to the Museum’s collection and be confident in major income generation and liaising with external funders and investigating major research projects.
You will be able to show significant management experience and a successful track record of developing high performance teams, through influencing, negotiating and working collaboratively across a complex organisation. As a good communicator with an open and inclusive style which inspires trust, you will demonstrate success in getting staff and peers to work together for the benefit of the wider institution.
Good presentational and interpersonal skills are essential to communicate confidently, effectively and persuasively at a senior level. When working in a complex and intellectually rigorous environment you remain, calm, confident, resilient and resourceful in solving problems and proposing solutions and diplomatic under pressure.
Key areas of responsibility:
- Lead and engage the department in the development of ideas and plans in support of the Museum’s long-term strategic aims and objectives (e.g the redisplay of the collection).
- Strategic management of key relationships with stakeholders in relevant fields.
- Support the generation of significant income, in consultation and collaboration with the Advancement department, to further delivery of Museum priorities (e.g. delivering the Rosetta Project, relieving core budgets and advancing the research programme)
- Develop and maintain succession plans to enable effective identification of future leaders and ensure academic and managerial development of department staff.
- Lead the department in the delivery of the Research Strategy, working with the Head of Research and the Research Board to raise money in support of strategically significant and ground-breaking international research projects on and, where appropriate, beyond the Egypt and Sudan collection.
The Museum offers a competitive benefits package including, but not limited to:
- Membership of one of the Civil Service Pension schemes
- Generous holiday and parental leave entitlement
- Professional and personal development opportunities
- Free entry to a wide range of museums and exhibitions
- Occupational health service and Employee assistance programme
- Interest free loans for season tickets, bicycles and rental deposits
- Discounts at British Museum shops and catering outlets and with local and national businesses
