Head of Collections Services

Salary: (pay range )

Closing date: 31st August 2026

Contract type: Permanent

Interview dates: W/C 7th September

Wellcome Collection is a free museum and library. We believe everyones experience of health matters. Through our collections exhibitions and events in books and online we explore the past present and future of health.

Wellcome Collection opened in 2007 and currently welcomes around 400k visitors per year with over 4m online visits. We care for many thousands of items relating to health medicine and human experience including rare books artworks films and videos personal archives and objects. Were part ofWellcome a charitable foundation supporting science to help build a healthier future for everyone.

We are looking fora Head of Collections Services to join our team.

Where inWellcomewill I be working

You will be leading the Collections Services team within the Collections Research and Digital Directorate. Youll report to the Associate Director of Collections and Digital.

The Collections Services team comprises expert teams across Registration Conservation and Collections Care and Collections Development. They are responsible for developing and delivering Wellcome Collections varied collections work including but not limited to: loans; conservation and heritage science; collections development and acquisitions; and sustainable storage practice.

Head of Collections Services

You will be a vital member of Wellcome Collections newly formed leadership team that will oversee the running of the museum and library working closely with the Directorate and Wellcomes Executive Committee.

You will oversee the operational collections processes for Wellcome Collection translating and prioritising the Strategic Plan with team managers to deliver against Wellcome and Wellcome Collections strategy and mission delivery.

This roleiscriticalinguiding key teams within the Collections Research and Digital department through a period of change as we embark on a new strategic plan and capital project that will see Wellcome Collection grow in ambition and scale.

What will I be doing

As Head of Collections Services you will:

• Lead senior managers to own ongoing strategic alignment with Wellcome Collections Strategic Plan across Registration Conservation and Collections Care and Collections Development to deliver against Wellcome Collections strategy.
• Provide leadership and advocacy for expert teams responsible for delivering Wellcome Collections varied collections work. Particular focus will be on facilities environmental conditions and security; digital collections infrastructure and fostering an environment within which innovative and progressive collections practice can become embedded.
• Increase the visibility and accountability for collections practice including heritage science collections development sustainable storage practice and similar long-term strategic ambitions.
• Approach collections management work from a human-centred perspective placing our audiences communities and stakeholders at the core of the way we think about collections and the knowledge we create and capture for them.

Is this job for me

We are looking for an exceptional collections leader with expertise in working across Collections Services disciplines and managing multi-disciplinary teams within an archive library or museum setting.

• Do you have proven experience in managing uncertainty change and sensitive issues and achieving positive outcomes with a high degree of probity and integrity
• Are you able to communicate to and influence a range of audiences including executive and non-executive board members and stakeholders across the arts cultural and research sectors
• Do you have a personal commitment to equitable practice across access diversity and inclusion and an understanding of how to embed these commitments into collections services

If this criteria resonates with your skills and experience we encourage you to apply.

To apply for this role pleasesubmitan update CV and answer 2 application questions todemonstratethat you meet theminimumrequirements for the role.

MinimumCriteria:

• Demonstrable experience of working across Collections Services disciplines within a complex organisation advocating for collections work across all levels of governance.
• Appropriate management experience in an archive library or museum with responsibility for developing and managing significant multi-format collections with a strong understanding of the need for coherent digital services and the vital role digital plays in driving increased accessibility to collections.
• Demonstrable experience of managing a multidisciplinary team comprised of a range of collections specialisms.
• Demonstrable experience of providing leadership and advocacy for expert teams responsible for delivering varied collections work. Relevant examples should include environmental conditions and security digital collections infrastructure heritage science collections development and sustainable storage practice.

You can view the fullJob Description on our website

You can read more about the benefits we offer our employees on our website

Our HybridWay ofWorking

We understand that our colleagues have commitments and personal interests outside of work and we strive to build a flexible working environment in which people can perform at their have a hybrid way of working which is 3 days in our Euston Road offices (TuesdayWednesdayand Thursday) with the remaining 2 days working either remotely or in the office.

Diversity and Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do

Diversity and Inclusion is a priority are committed to cultivating a fair andinclusiveenvironment where everyone can be themselves and thrive. We are happy to discuss flexible working options for all roles. We work to ensure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible to everyone. This includesmaking adjustmentsfor people who have a disability or long-term visitourwebsitefor more information on adjustments andaccessibility orcontact us

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