Assistant Curator, Design and Digital

Assistant Curator, Design and Digital at the V&A

Application deadline: 14 August 2026
Location: V&A South Kensington, London, with attendance at V&A East
Working arrangement: Hybrid, with at least three days per week in the office
Position type: Full-time, fixed-term
Contract duration: 24 months
Working hours: 36 hours per week
Salary: £28,520–£32,952 per year
Department: Art, Architecture, Photography and Design
Expected start date: Week commencing 7 September 2026 or as soon as possible afterwards
Interview dates: 24–25 August 2026

The Role

The V&A is seeking an Assistant Curator to join the Design and Digital Section of its Art, Architecture, Photography and Design Department.

The successful candidate will provide curatorial support for the development, care, documentation, research, presentation and interpretation of the V&A’s digital art and design and product design collections.

This wide-ranging position offers an opportunity to develop skills across different aspects of museum curating. The Assistant Curator will also contribute to the V&A’s wider policies, projects and public programmes while supporting fundraising and income generation.

The position reports to Corinna Gardner, Senior Curator of Design and Digital.

Responsibilities

The Assistant Curator will:

• Develop detailed knowledge of the V&A’s digital art and design and product design collections
• Build an understanding of the Museum’s collection management systems
• Work directly with objects and digital materials
• Take responsibility for object movements, documentation and collection care
• Catalogue and digitise collection materials
• Respond to public enquiries
• Help provide public access to the collections
• Contribute to incoming and outgoing loan programmes
• Support the maintenance and care of galleries
• Help develop temporary displays
• Produce material for print and digital publications
• Develop engaging narratives that connect broad audiences with the collections
• Collaborate with teams across the V&A on public programmes and other projects
• Contribute specialist content where required
• Develop an understanding of the Museum’s policies, strategies and priorities
• Maintain awareness of developments across the wider museum sector
• Assist with supervising volunteers or interns supporting curatorial activities
• Participate actively in communities of practice across the V&A’s curatorial teams

Experience and Knowledge

Applicants should demonstrate relevant knowledge and learning developed through professional experience, education or another appropriate route.

They should have:

• Knowledge of digital art and design and/or product design
• Demonstrable knowledge of the histories of art, design and performance
• Experience handling materials carefully and with sensitivity to their physical and digital properties
• An interest in interpreting collections through temporary and permanent displays, exhibitions, publications and learning programmes
• An enthusiasm for making collections accessible to broader audiences
• Strong digital skills
• The ability to manage information systematically and accurately
• Excellent attention to detail

Skills and Attributes

The successful candidate will:

• Have good time-management skills
• Be able to manage several tasks simultaneously
• Communicate specialist knowledge effectively to different audiences
• Adapt their communication style to suit its context
• Be highly motivated and able to use their initiative
• Enjoy collaborating as part of a team
• Work flexibly and calmly under pressure
• Share the V&A’s values of sustainability, equity, creativity, collaboration and generosity

Salary and Benefits

The salary range is £28,520–£32,952 per year.

Benefits include:

• 29 days of annual leave plus public holidays
• A pension scheme with a 5.5% employee contribution and a 10% employer contribution following probation
• Life assurance worth four times the annual salary
• Enhanced maternity leave and paid carers’ leave
• An interest-free loan for a travelcard, bicycle or rental deposit following probation
• Free entry to many major museums and exhibitions
• Discount schemes with major retailers
• Staff social events
• Access to a confidential Employee Assistance Programme
• Complimentary V&A exhibition tickets for employees, friends or family
• A 25% discount in V&A shops and cafés

About the V&A

The V&A is a family of museums dedicated to championing design and creativity, advancing cultural knowledge and inspiring makers, creators and innovators.

Its collection encompasses more than 2.8 million objects across approximately 5,000 years of creative history. The Museum shares its collections through exhibitions, events, educational programmes, digital experiences, conservation and research.

The V&A identifies equity, sustainability, generosity, collaboration and creativity as its institutional values. It is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and maintains a zero-tolerance policy concerning discrimination, harassment and bullying.

Disability Confident Scheme

The V&A is a Disability Confident Employer.

Applicants who declare that they have a disability and meet the minimum requirements for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.

The Museum uses anonymous shortlisting, meaning hiring managers cannot see candidates’ names, contact details or equality information while assessing applications.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the V&A’s online recruitment portal by 14 August 2026.

Interviews and assessments are expected to take place on 24 and 25 August 2026. The successful candidate may begin during the week commencing 7 September 2026 or as soon as possible afterwards.

 

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