Monument Trust Curator of British Trade cards

The British Museum is recruiting for the Monument Trust curator of British trade cards to research and catalogue its outstanding collection of over 15,000 of these prints made predominantly in London from around 1740 to 1830. These small-scale prints, akin to modern-day business card, usually consist of letterpress and an appropriate image to advertise the activities of the individual or business who commissioned them. They provide valuable social, historic and economic evidence of Britain’s growing wealth as an imperial power in late 18th and early 19th century.

Key areas of responsibility: • To lead the study and research of the Museum’s British trade cards and assist in the same for the Museum’s wider graphic holdings. • To maintain, update and improve the on-line records of the Museum’s graphic holdings of British trade cards. • To oversee the imaging of the these works. • To make the collection, and knowledge about it, publicly accessible via publication, digital, display, and broadcast • To act as an advocate for the Museum • To work as a team member with colleagues within and beyond the department, and play a full part in departmental administration

Job requirements: • Degree in history of art, history or equivalent. • Experience working in a curatorial capacity in a museum in the field of British 18th and 19th century prints • Ability to work well as part of a team • Fluent speaking and writing ability in English. • Curatorial experience and publications in the field of British 18th and 19th century prints.

Benefits: • Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service) plus 2.5 privilege days and plus bank holidays. • Membership of the civil service defined benefit pension scheme. • Free entry to a wide range of museums and exhibitions • Participation in private and public Museum activities, including talks by leading curators from around the world and behind-the-scenes opportunities to learn how museums care for and manage their extraordinary collections. • Interest-free travel, bicycle, and rental deposit loans • Professional and personal development opportunities • Employee Assistance Programme • Discounts on food and gift shop purchases

Additional details: We have a legal responsibility to ensure that employees have the right to work in the UK. If you currently do not hold the right to work in the UK, we can only sponsor a limited number of roles that meet eligibility criteria. To offer a sponsorship, the job role you apply needs to be in the list of eligible occupations: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations. Additionally (with some limited exceptions), the role will need to meet the minimum salary threshold of £38,700 or the going rate for the job, whichever is the highest. You can find more information here: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-job

The British Museum is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals can make best use of their skills, free from unlawful discrimination or harassment. We value the benefits that a diverse workforce brings to a museum which represents world culture. The Museum is committed to ensuring that no job applicant suffers unlawful discrimination because of any protected characteristics. Our recruitment procedures aim to ensure that individuals are treated because of their relevant knowledge, skills, and experience. We specifically encourage applications from candidates from ethnic minority groups who are underrepresented within our senior roles. We offer a flexible way of working scheme that allows our employees to work remotely in a way that suits them and the organisation. We welcome questions and conversations at interview stage about how flexible working could work for you. We would typically see this role as working on site minimum 2 days a week.