Assistant Curator London, England
Job description
Opportunity ID
237
The Contemporary Conflict team is one of four curatorial teams whose key role is to create and develop the collection and provide content for our public programme and interpret objects which fall within that time period (2001 – to date). It looks at the causes and consequences of war as well as its course and conduct. The team facilitates and supports access to our collection, knowledge and skills both to our audiences and to colleagues across IWM and the sector.
You will need to work, and support others in the team, to proactively and imaginatively to develop ways to build and interpret our collection. This may involve working sensitively and professionally with those directly involved with recent or ongoing conflicts and with internal and external partners. Working with contemporary material brings many challenges but is also engaging and exciting. Our collecting efforts will be vital for the future success of the museum.
You will be involved in the acquisition, assessment, review and cataloguing of collections material relating to conflicts after 2001, with particular focus on objects/exhibits including uniforms and equipment, weapons and ammunition, orders, medals and decorations, flags, insignia and ephemera. The IWM has an internationally important collection, unique in its scale, depth and scope. You will be pro-active in developing practical archival and curatorial skills, and an appreciation and knowledge of the material culture of contemporary conflicts.
You will support Curators and Senior Curators/Historians in all aspects of the work of the Contemporary Conflict Section. You will develop and dispense knowledge regarding the IWM collection relating to twenty first century conflict and its display and interpretation at all branches and in all areas of IWM public offer. You will apply and develop knowledge and skills for the benefit of our audiences and put forward imaginative ideas for exhibitions and other elements of public programme. Finally, you will contribute to a working culture that is responsive, collaborative and committed, and an environment that welcomes curiosity and creativity.
Your duties will include:
- to apply to all areas of activity a cohesive understanding of the material culture of twenty-first century conflict
- encourage and support development of volunteers
- support delivery of content for galleries and exhibitions other public programme-related outputs
- to work at all times as a team member, consulting with colleagues and sharing knowledge and information
- to facilitate and support access to our collection, knowledge and skills to the public and to colleagues across IWM
- To work with colleagues across IWM to support effective stewardship and care of the collection
- Actively promote and implement IWM’s strategy for widening access, inclusion and diversity within the scope of the project
- To keep up to date with changing technology to assist more efficient and effective working
- Ensure familiarity with all of the Museum's health and safety policies and procedures
For a full list of duties and the person specification (which your application will be marked against) please view the Job Description.
April 19th 2023, 9:00 AM
Interviews for this post are planned for 27th April 2023
- Our generous full-time equivalent annual leave allowance is 25 days per annum plus public holidays rising to 30 days after 5 years.
- An interest free season ticket loan scheme after successful completion of the probationary period.
- 20% discount in IWM’s shops.
- 25% discount in IWM’s cafes.
- Free entry to the majority of Air shows at IWM Duxford.
- Free entry to a large number of other museums & galleries and their exhibitions which we have reciprocal arrangements with.
- Enhanced maternity and paternity benefits linked to length of service.
- Access to our in-house training programmes and development.
- IWM staff are entitled to membership of the Benenden Healthcare Society (subject to their terms & conditions.
- Eligibility to join the Civil Service Sports Club, securing additional discounts and benefits.
- Ride 2 Work Scheme.
- Access to social events run by groups with IWM.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. This role is subject to:
A basic check, which shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions.
IWM is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunities.
We miss out when people feel IWM isn't for them, and are committed to removing and reducing barriers to make IWM open to everyone.
Our Access and Inclusion strategy has been developed to promote openness, equal opportunities to access, inclusivity and encourage diversity in everything that we do, from employment practices, the services we provide to our visitors to the facilities we make available to public.
At IWM we seek to address the need for greater diversity within our workforce as well as the wider museum and heritage sector. In all our practices we embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity and we welcome applications from suitable candidates of all backgrounds.
