Senior Curator, Weapons (Fixed Term)

IWM’s weapons collection is a substantial part of the 155,000-strong Exhibits collection. The centrality of weapons to IWM’s collection and the stories they tell is clear. This role will provide curatorial expertise in the development, care, documentation and research of the weapons collections. As part of Narrative and Content, the postholder will also play a role in the wider work of IWM, providing stewardship of the collections, contributing to public programmes and research outputs, and supporting financial sustainability.

Key duties:

You will be expected to apply your expertise in conducting a review of the weapons collection in line with IWM’s Collections Development Policy, Narrative and Content’s Collection Development Strategies as well as additional legal, practical and ethical frameworks relating to the weapons.

You will demonstrate strong knowledge and expertise in weaponry, think across collections and disciplines related to curatorial remit, apply intellectual curiosity and critical thinking to develop knowledge of contexts for objects and collections in order to form the most effective possible review.

In addition, your duties will include:

1. Applying strong knowledge and expertise in weapons to ensure effective stewardship and care of the collection.
2. Thinking across IWM’s wider collections, working with curiosity and critical thinking to review the collection and develop further knowledge of contexts for the objects IWM holds.
3. Investigate existing cataloguing and documentation information to improve data held in Axiell Collections, IWM’s Collection Management System, and where necessary improve it to ensure the information is accurate, up to date and available easily to internal and external users.
4. Make new accessions for items held at entry level that should be part of the collection and identify those items that should be dispersed or disposed of.
5. Supporting the successful move of the weapons collections from IWM Lambeth Road to IWM Duxford.
6. Ensuring familiarity and compliance with all relevant legislation, standards, and codes of conduct, for you and others working with the weapons collection.
7. Working collaboratively and proactively at all times with narrative teams, media heads, collections management and other departments across IWM
8. Working with colleagues to inform and agree storage and conservation plans for relevant collections, and proactively support colleagues with object moves.
9. Providing support to any relevant digitisation projects.
10. Representing IWM on external professional and academic boards and at conferences, workshops and seminars as required to enhance the delivery of the project.
11. Oversee any other relevant curatorial aspects, including valuations and undertaking courier duties, as required; provide advice to Government and Arts Council when required - e.g. Acceptance in Lieu, the Cultural Gift Scheme, Export Licences matters and valuations.
12. Respond to both routine and complex and specialist enquiries, and support and supervise suitable public access to objects in the collection.
13. Supporting delivery of historical content for galleries and exhibitions, as well as for Learning, Development, Press, Media, Marketing, Commercial and IWM Institute activities.
14. Applying excellent two-way communication skills in working with audiences, stakeholders both internal and external.
15. Ensuring that all areas of activity deliver IWM brand values and comply with corporate priorities, standards and systems at all times.
16. Providing media interviews and giving tours and presentations to stakeholders and VIP visitors
17. Actively engaging with best practice and training opportunities, including around access, inclusion and diversity, and embedding them into your work

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