Project Curator

Salary: £30,950 per annum
Location: Bloomsbury
Role Summary: Project Curator Sloane Lab Project
Directorate: Full-Time
Fixed-Term (30 Months)
£30,950 per annum
Application Deadline: 12pm (midday) on 2nd March 2022

The British Museum is seeking a Project Curator to join the Directorate department. The main purpose of this role is to mobilise data on Hans Sloane’s collections held at the British Museum to support the delivery of the Sloane Lab project, a collaborative research project led by UCL and funded by the AHRC’s Towards a National Collection programme.

Hans Sloane was a doctor, scientist and collector (1660-1753) whose large collections of objects, books, natural history materials, coins and manuscripts from across the World formed part of the founding collections of the British Museum. The Sloane Lab: Looking back to build future shared collections will bring Sloane’s immense collections, ranging from coins to manuscripts and stuffed animals, which are currently held in a variety of locations, together online for the first time. This role will work with other researchers, experts and communities to link up Sloane’s collections, put them in context for the 21st century, and give new opportunities to search, explore and engage critically with the UK’s cultural heritage online

The post will carry out research on Hans Sloane’s collections, his catalogues and wider connections. The postholder will be engaged in researching case studies on Sloane’s collections and in supporting the research of other project members and project-funded community fellows. These cases studies will test and help develop new digital tools to explore Sloane’s collections across the British Museum, Natural History Museum and British Library. Some of the case studies will include material for displays at the British Museum and for a touring exhibition with partners across the UK.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Research aspects of the collections of Sir Hans Sloane to support the work of the Sloane Lab project.
• Support the work of other members of the project at UCL, The Natural History Museum, including the research of project funded community-fellows to research these collections.
• Contribute to the testing and development of different digital approaches and tools to explore digital collections.
• Upgrade and amend documentation on the Museum’s databases as required.
• Write reports summarizing the results of the research for internal and external use.
• Contribute to joint publications with other project members
• Give talks about the research to diverse audiences.
• Develop content for displays at the British Museum and a touring exhibition with other partner Museums, as required.
• Work with other people and groups with different interests in Hans Sloane’s collections
• Other duties as assigned.

Person Specification:

• Education: First Degree in an appropriate subject area such as History, Art History, Archaeology, Anthropology,
• Digital Humanities, Museum Studies.
• Specific technical/professional skills & experience: experience of Undergraduate or Masters level of independent research; an understanding of workings of collection based organisations; word processing, use of spreadsheets.
• Work experience: some experience of researching with a museum collection.
• Specific managerial skills: some experience of management of projects (people, projects, budgets).
  Specific interpersonal skills: ability to work on their own to direction; strong time management skills; open, effective communicator with good spoken and written English; ability to work as part of a team; ability to work with others in different roles across the organisation.
• Publications record: some publications in peer reviewed journals or book submitted or in print.

The British Museum is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals can make best use of their skills, free from unlawful discrimination or harassment. We value the benefits that a diverse workforce brings to a museum which represents world culture. The Museum is committed to ensuring that no job applicant suffers unlawful discrimination because of any protected characteristics. Our recruitment procedures aim to ensure that individuals are treated because of their relevant knowledge, skills and experience.