Job Title: Curator (Collections Development)
Location: London Transport Museum, 20 Cranbourn Street, London, WC2H 7AA
Company: TfL / GLA / OPDC
Salary: £33,360 – £40,370
Contract: Permanent, Full-time, Hybrid
Application Closing Date: Thursday 4 December, 23:59
About London Transport Museum (LTM)
Based in Covent Garden, London Transport Museum is the world’s leading museum of urban transport and an award-winning cultural destination. But that’s only part of the story — we are passionate, curious, and adventurous.
As a heritage and education charity, we reach every primary school in London to inspire the next generation of engineers, designers, scientists, and arts enthusiasts. Working with business partners and industry leaders, we address key issues facing the capital, including smart cities and green innovation.
We are committed to closing skills gaps, tackling gender imbalances, and creating opportunities for under-represented and disadvantaged communities. Our mission is to ignite curiosity to shape the future.
At LTM, we welcome children, young people and adults at risk both as Museum visitors and through engagement projects. We take safeguarding seriously: all staff and volunteers are DBS checked, regularly trained, and follow our comprehensive safeguarding procedures. At LTM, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
Overview of the Role
The Curator (Collections Development) will support the management, development and interpretation of the Museum’s collection to recognised professional standards. Responsibilities include acquisition and occasional disposal, documentation, care, storage, research and interpretation of collections for public display both in-gallery and online. The aim is to maximise public access, engagement, learning and enjoyment.
This role requires well-developed knowledge of the Museum’s collections and broader subject expertise. There are five Curators in the team, each with a specific focus, reporting to a relevant Senior Curator.
This particular post focuses on content and collections development, including:
- Contributing to exhibition and gallery content
- Conducting research and selecting objects
- Writing interpretative text
- Preparing and installing objects
- Producing content for the LTM website and publications
- Advising internal and external parties on collections use and licensing
- Playing a significant role in growing and developing the collection
Key Accountabilities
- Contribute to planning and delivery of storage, documentation, presentation, movement and access arrangements for Museum collections to professional standards
- Develop collections in line with the Collections Development Policy, including recommending acquisitions and disposals and implementing decisions
- Care for collections to recognised museum standards, including maintenance of auditable records using the IMS, managing environmental conditions, and identifying conservation needs
- Under Senior Curator direction, oversee conservation, restoration and operational maintenance projects, including commissioning and supervising specialist contractors and volunteers
- Develop and manage collections-based partnership projects with stakeholders under direction of Senior and Head Curators
- Interpret and present Museum collections and themes to stakeholders and the public via talks, tours, displays, exhibitions and external events
- Maintain expert knowledge of London’s transport history and awareness of current and future issues
- Respond to public enquiries, including through the Duty Curator service, and conduct research visits when required
- Share knowledge with colleagues and contribute to a learning culture that supports continuous improvement; front-of-house work may occasionally be required
Skills
Essential
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Ability to work independently and take initiative
- Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills
- Flexible, demonstrating commitment to team and Museum-wide goals
- Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office
Knowledge
Essential
- Degree-level education or equivalent experience
- High computer literacy with understanding of budgetary control and management
- Awareness of current developments and issues in the museum sector
Desirable
- Knowledge of London past and present
- Recognised museum or relevant postgraduate qualification
Experience
Essential
- Recent experience in a museum or related heritage environment
- Proven knowledge of current sector standards in documentation, management and care of collections
- Experience using museum information management systems
- Experience working on interpretative projects (exhibitions, galleries, online content)
Desirable
- Experience writing interpretative text
- Experience managing volunteers or interns and providing training
- Experience managing collections-based projects (documentation, digitisation, conservation or interpretation)
