Keeper of Africa Oceania and the Americas
Africa Oceania and the Americas
Full-time, 41 hours per week (including one hour paid lunch break)
Permanent
Hybrid – approximately 4 days per week onsite
We may be able to provide visa sponsorship for this role, subject to meeting eligibility requirements.
About the role
This is a fantastic opportunity for a specialist of academic distinction and curatorial experience to lead and manage the department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas. The department cares for over 350,000 cultural objects, and for hundreds of thousands of digital assets, archives and photographs. It is responsible for a range of research, global collaborations, exhibitions, international loans, and the Endangered Material Knowledge Programme, African Histories and Heritage Programme, and the Santo Domingo Centre of Excellence for Latin American Research.
In 2024, the British Museum in Camden received 6.5 million visitors, more than any other museum in the UK. Against this backdrop, the Museum is now undergoing an extraordinary transformation, both intellectual and physical, and there could not be a more meaningful time to join.
The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing and supporting the department to successfully deliver curatorial and academic work and care for an internationally important collection. You will provide strategic leadership and mentoring to your team, helping to inspire them and have the opportunity to participate widely in delivering the Museum’s goals and objectives. This will include representing the Museum in the UK and abroad.
Key areas of responsibility
• Deliver strategic leadership and management of a large department including major research programmes
• Develop strong partnerships and collaborations, strengthening existing relations with external colleagues, Indigenous communities and stakeholders
• Work with the Head of Research and the Research Board to ensure research activity is in accordance with strategic objectives and financially sustainable
• Ensure the safety and security of the collection in line with agreed standards, strategies, processes and procedures
• Work openly and collaboratively with colleagues across the Museum to ensure appropriate care, documentation, curation, and display of the collection,
• Provide strategic direction and support for work on the Museum’s major redisplay project
• Support the Directorate in the management of major collection issues, including questions of strategic importance and with significant risk profile
If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, then we’d love to hear from you. A full job description is available; this details the key dimensions of the role and the person specification.
About you
The successful candidate will have significant management and leadership skills and experience with a strategic and analytical approach. They must have excellent communication skills and be able to stay calm under pressure. They should also be able to evidence:
• Degree educated or equivalent in a relevant subject with membership of relevant learned and professional societies
• International recognition as a scholar in a relevant field
• Excellent understanding of the Museum and wider academic and cultural world
• Experience of major income generation
• Experience working internationally and generating collaborative partnerships
• Experience of delivering and managing effective change
Benefits include
• Be a part of a world-renowned institution, where history, culture, and innovation come together!
• 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 days after long service) plus 2.5 privilege days, in addition to bank holidays
• Generous civil service pension scheme (find out more here)
• Complimentary exhibition tickets
• Free and discounted entry to international cultural organisations, national museums and gallery exhibitions
Our values
Our values drive everything we do, from how we handle our objects to how we work in our team to fostering a culture where everyone feels heard and empowered. These are:
• Care Deeply
• Embrace the Unknown
• Spark Curiosity
• Value Many Voices
Additional details
If you have any additional needs that we should be aware of to support you with your application, please provide details.
The British Museum is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all employees 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 in line with their relevant knowledge, skills and experience.
The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.
Application Instructions
Application deadline: 12pm (midday) on Wednesday, 26 November 2025
