Museum Manager – Peak District Mining Museum and Temple Mine
Location: Peak District Mining Museum, The Grand Pavilion, South Parade, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire DE4 3NR.
Contract: Permanent, 30 hours per week.
Salary: £24,000-26,000 (depending on experience) for thirty hours per week.
Closing date: 19 June 2026
The Peak District Mining Museum is a well-established museum located in the Grand Pavilion in the popular tourist destination of Matlock Bath. First opened almost fifty years ago, the Museum attracts some 10,000 visitors per year. The main theme is the historic lead mining industry of the surrounding area, but other aspects of mining and local history are also covered. We also offer visitors an underground experience in Temple Mine, approximately 200 yards from the Museum.
We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Museum Manager to lead day-to-day operations at the Peak District Mining Museum and Temple Mine, to develop engaging visitor experiences, and champion the museum’s collections, learning, and community role. This is an exciting opportunity to combine operational leadership with heritage storytelling in one of the UK’s most historic mining landscapes.
Key responsibilities
· Provide visible leadership for the museum’s daily operation, ensuring a welcoming, safe, and high-quality visitor experience.
· Manage, support, and schedule staff and volunteers; recruit and develop volunteers in line with the museum’s values.
· Ensure that bills and accounts are paid as they fall due.
· Oversee budgets and income generation (admissions, retail, donations, events), ensuring accurate record-keeping and reporting.
· Develop and deliver a programme of exhibitions, talks, tours, workshops, and family activities that reflect local mining heritage.
· Maintain museum accreditation standards.
· Ensure compliance with health & safety, safeguarding, insurance, and relevant legislation; maintain risk assessments and operating procedures.
· Lead marketing and communications activity (website, listings, social media, print) to increase footfall and community engagement.
· Build partnerships with local schools, community groups, heritage organisations, and tourism partners.
· Identify and pursue funding opportunities, grants, and sponsorship; contribute to bids and reporting.
· Monitor performance and visitor feedback; use insights to improve interpretation, operations, and commercial performance.
Person SpecificationEssential
· Proven experience of working in a visitor-facing heritage, museum, arts, charity, or tourism site.
· Strong people management skills and the ability to work within a wider team.
· Experience in income generation.
· Sound understanding of operational management (rotas, procedures, suppliers, cash handling, and customer service).
· Experience of basic business finance.
· Good written and verbal communication skills.
· Organised, proactive, able to prioritise across competing demands, and motivated to see projects through from planning to completion.
· Competent IT skills (Office/Google Workspace) and ability to use booking, EPOS, or visitor data systems (or learn quickly).
· Flexibility to work weekends and occasional evenings, as required by opening hours and events.
Desirable
· Experience of fundraising, grant applications, or reporting to funders.
· Experience developing learning programmes for schools and families.
· Experience of working with volunteers.
· Working knowledge of health & safety and risk management in a public setting.
· Museum collections care/documentation experience and familiarity with accreditation standards (or equivalent best practice).
· Marketing and digital communications experience, including social media content planning.
Knowledge of Peak District history, mining heritage, geology, or industrial archaeology.
What we offer
· Nest Workplace Pension.
· 5 weeks annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata).
· Training and development opportunities, including sector networking and CPD.
· The chance to shape an ambitious programme for a much-loved local museum.
How to apply
Please submit the following by 19th June 2026:
· A CV (maximum two pages).
· A covering letter (maximum two pages) explaining how you meet the essential criteria and why you want the role.
· Contact details for tworeferees (references will not be taken up without your consent).
Send applications to: [email protected] with the subject line “Museum Manager Application”. Alternatively, post to: Peak District Mining Museum, Grand Pavilion, South Parade, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire. DE4 3NR.
Interviews: Week beginning 6th July 2026 in person at the museum. If you would like an informal conversation about the role, contact Sean Caley at [email protected].
Equal opportunities & accessibility
Peak District Mining Museum is committed to being an inclusive organisation. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and particularly encourage applications from groups currently under-represented in the heritage sector. Applications can be submitted in video format as an alternative to written applications. If you need any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact Sean Caley [email protected]
Pay: £24,000.00-£26,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
