Imperial War Museum locations: IWM North, HMS Belfast, IWM London, Churchill War Rooms, IWM Duxford

Head of Preservation (Maternity Cover)

628

IWM Duxford, IWM London
£55,400 - £65,000 depending on experience
36 hours net per week
Collections & Curatorial
Fixed Term
Maternity Cover contract – 12 months

Are you a strategic thinker with a passion for preserving history? Join Imperial War Museums (IWM) as Head of Preservation (Maternity Cover) and lead the charge in safeguarding extraordinary collections across our sites in London, Duxford, and Salford. You’ll work closely with conservators, stakeholders, and partners to deliver risk-aware, sector-leading preservation strategies that protect our heritage for future generations.

What You Will Be Doing

  • Lead the delivery of IWM’s Priority Preservation Strategy and Collections Care Programme.
  • Manage budgets (typically £600K), contracts, and external suppliers.
  • Oversee environmental monitoring, hazardous collections, and disaster recovery planning.
  • Represent IWM at national conservation forums and conferences.
  • Inspire and manage a skilled team across multiple sites, ensuring high standards and compliance.

Who We Are Looking For

We’re looking for a Preservation professional with:

  • A postgraduate qualification in museum studies, preservation, or related field.
  • Proven experience managing complex projects, budgets, and teams.
  • Strategic vision and operational expertise in preservation across diverse media.
  • A collaborative leadership style and commitment to best practice.
  • Eligibility to work with hazardous materials (clear DBS and no drug convictions).

We welcome interest from both external and internal candidates who may wish to apply on a secondment basis.

Apply Now

Ready to make a lasting impact? Apply today and help shape the future of one of the UK’s most iconic museum collections.

For a full list of duties and the person specification (which your application will be marked against) please view the Job Description.

November 21st 2025, 11:00 PM

Interviews for this post are planned for the week commencing 19/11/2025

The benefits listed below are discretionary and IWM reserves the right, with due notice, to vary or withdraw them at any time. All such benefits apply during the course of your employment only.

  • Annual Leave: You'll have 25 days of annual leave, with public holidays on top. After 3 years, this increases to 27 days and after 5 years, you’ll get 30 days
  • Company Group Pension Plan: Our commitment to your financial well-being includes competitive employer contributions to your pension starting at 7% to a maximum of 12%.
  • Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Benefits: Celebrate life’s milestones with confidence, knowing that our policies support growing families. 
  • IWM4me: Tailor your benefits to your unique needs through IWM4me. Access health, protection, and lifestyle benefits at corporate rates, ensuring your holistic well-being. 
  • Free Sanitary Products: We prioritise your comfort by providing free sanitary products across all our sites.
  • Retail Discounts: 25% off IWM Cafes, 20% discount in on-site shops, Benefits hub offering retail discounts to several high street shops (via our EAP provider) and MyActive discounts for health and wellbeing based retail discounts (via IWM4me) 
  • Free Entry to IWM Air Shows: Witness the thrill of vintage aircraft at our air shows. 
  • Free Entry to Partner Museums & Galleries: Immerse yourself in art, history, and culture through our reciprocal arrangements with other institutions. 
  • In-House Training Programmes: Fuel your intellectual curiosity and professional growth through our comprehensive training initiatives.
  • Season Ticket Loan Scheme: Simplify your daily commute with our interest-free loan program. 
  • Cycle 2 Work & Cycle Hire: Promote well-being and environmental consciousness by cycling to work. 
  • Eye Tests: Money back up to £80 for an eye test and a new pair of glasses. 
  • Employee Assistance Programme: Access confidential support for personal or work-related challenges. 
  • Benenden Healthcare & Dental Insurance: Prioritise your health with access to quality healthcare services (subject to terms and conditions). 
  • Civil Service Sports Club Membership: Opportunity to join and enjoy additional discounts and perks as part of a vibrant community. 
  • Staff Events and Networks: Join fellow colleagues in social gatherings and events, fostering camaraderie and shared experiences. 

…and more!  

Ready to embark on this exciting journey with us? Apply now and become part of 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.

We value and respect difference and are committed to building an inclusive culture by creating an environment where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work. We believe that you will do your best at work if you have a work / life balance. Some roles lend themselves to flexible options more than others, so if this is important to you please raise this with your recruitment contact, as we are open to discussing agile working opportunities during the hiring process.

This vacancy is closed to applications.