Acquisition & Disposal Manager

As Acquisition & Disposal Manager, you will have demonstrable experience of collections management and can use your knowledge of the legal, ethical and policy environment, and your ability to analyse museum records, to determine ownership and implement robust and risk-aware collections development decisions.

You will drive forward IWM’s programme of curatorially-motivated disposals, ensuring that approved items complete the process and exit our estate. You will take responsibility for all elements of the process, from securing all relevant approvals and liaising with internal colleagues on issues such as hazard and risk assessment, to identifying new recipients for items and managing a compliant exit process. Further, you will manage the entry and acquisition of items into the collections, ensuring all relevant approvals are secured, due diligence applied and compliance with relevant policies and procedures.  

Duties will include:

• Leading and implementing a programme of curatorially-motivated disposals and exits, in support of larger IWM plans. These disposals and exits need to comply with our internal procedures (informed by Museums Association guidance and Spectrum) as well as, in some cases, legislation around hazardous and licensed collections.
• Taking responsibility for driving forward every element of the disposal process and ensure that disposals are timely, compliant, and safe. This includes working effectively with external bodies including DCMS, MOD, National Archives, the Museums Association, and networks of other museums.
• Identifying, recommending, seeking relevant internal and external approvals for and implementing suitable disposal/exit methods.
• Governance of entry & acquisitions leading curatorial colleagues in conducting due diligence, seeking relevant approvals and proactively progressing cases from approval through to entry and transfer of title. These activities must comply with our internal procedures as well as, in some cases, customs regulations and legislation around hazardous and licensed collection.
• Acting as Secretariat of the Collections Development Committee, including presenting reports and recommendations and minuting meetings.
• Maintaining and delivering a schedule of disposal activity, agreed with key stakeholders, and using this to inform budget spending over the financial year.
• Line managing staff as required (currently one post).
• Applying your collections management knowledge and experience to give appropriate guidance to staff within the Collections Management team and throughout IWM.,
• Creating, maintaining, and disseminating as needed the project management documentation including budgets, schedules, issue logs, change control logs, risk registers and progress reports.
• Maintaining accurate records using IWM’s collections management system (Axiell Collections) and other tools.
• Monitoring disposal progress against agreed targets and communicate this in appropriate levels of detail to stakeholders, identifying impacts.
• Working collaboratively to ensure interdependencies are identified and reviewed regularly allowing for efficient and effective completion of disposals.
• Resolving obstacles to acquisitions and disposals in an effective and compliant way, knowing when to consult relevant colleagues and refer to appropriate managers.
• Acting as a deputy for the Head of Collections Registration and attend meetings as required.

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