We are a world-class visitor attraction and leading science research centre. We use the Museum's unique collections and our unrivalled expertise to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. We care for more than 80 million objects spanning billions of years and welcome more than five million visitors annually and 16 million visits to our website.
Today the Museum is more relevant and influential than ever. By attracting people from a range of backgrounds to work for us, we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things.
We employ 1100 staff in a variety of roles, all united by our vision of a future where people and planet thrive. We need everyone to have the passion and drive to help us with our mission to create advocates for our planet and inspire millions to care about the natural world.
Our vision is of a future where both people and the planet thrive. Diversity is one of our core values and we strive to build a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging. All new staff who join us learn about the importance of diversity and inclusion to the Museum and how to contribute to creating an inclusive environment.
We know we have more to do, but we are committed to ensuring that everyone who works at the Museum feels they can thrive and feel valued and respected.
Join us at a pivotal moment in the Museum’s transformation, playing a hands on role in shaping the future of one of the world’s most important natural history collections.
We are seeking a Collections Team Manager (Large Objects) to lead the hands-on design and delivery of innovative transport and storage solutions for some of our most significant and complex specimens, as they relocate to our new TVSP site. This is a unique opportunity to work at scale—combining practical problem-solving, leadership, and technical expertise to safeguard extraordinary objects for generations to come.
In this role, you will take the lead in developing both standardised and bespoke housing solutions, ensuring the safe movement and long-term preservation of large and challenging specimens. From towering taxidermy to articulated skeletons and monumental fossils, you will directly influence how these remarkable collections are protected, moved, and accessed.
You will be actively involved in planning and executing collection moves, working hands-on with objects throughout every stage of the project. Collaborating closely with curators, conservators, and specialists across the Museum, you will help shape innovative approaches to handling and transporting unique natural history specimens.
As a leader, you will also manage and guide a team of Collection Technicians (Large Objects)—fostering a culture of precision, safety, and collaboration while ensuring the successful delivery of this ambitious programme.
We’re looking for a highly capable and hands-on leader who combines technical expertise with practical problem-solving and a passion for working with complex, unique collections.
The ideal candidate will bring proven experience managing teams to design and deliver innovative solutions for the movement and storage of oversized or complex objects. You’ll be confident developing and interpreting technical drawings, and able to translate ideas into practical, workable outcomes. Your technical skillset will extend to workshop environments, where you are comfortable setting up and operating equipment and working across a wide range of materials.
You will ideally have a background working with museum, natural history, or similarly sensitive objects, with an understanding of appropriate materials and methods to ensure their safety and preservation.
You will thrive in a role that requires both physical capability and attention to detail, bringing the manual dexterity, awareness of relevant health and safety practices, and confidence needed to handle objects of all shapes, sizes, and fragility.
Above all, you’ll be someone who takes pride in delivering high-quality, practical solutions, leading by example, and ensuring the safe handling, movement, and storage of some truly remarkable objects.
We are proud to work at the Museum and have identified the qualities we all need to embody to reach our shared ambition. This sits alongside the Museum’s values and forms the framework for the way we work.
- 27.5 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays (full time equivalent)
- Generous defined contribution Natural History Museum Pension Scheme (employer contribution 4 - 10%)
- Season ticket, bicycle and rental loan
- Life insurance
- Free admission to our exhibitions and many other paid exhibitions at museums, galleries and institutions across London and the UK.
- Staff discount at our Museum shops and cafes
- We offer a wide variety of training initiatives and opportunities to build skills. Investing in staff development is important to us, and we are ambitious about helping staff to grow and fulfil their potential.
- Affordable membership to the Civil Service Sports Council which offers a range of benefits including an extensive list of special offers and reduced entry fees at a selection of cinema chains, theme parks, theatres, retailers and supermarkets. It also provides entry to up to 300 English Heritage sites and other national treasures. For more details, visit https://www.cssc.co.uk
- Membership to our Sports and Social Association (for a small fee), which includes access to our in-house gym and clubs such as football, softball, table tennis and tennis and classes in Middle Eastern dance, yoga and Tai Chi
We are working towards a vision where both people and planet thrive, and nothing gives a greater connection with this, than seeing first-hand, the visitors, scientific research and collections that all of our work is inspired by and working side by side with the teams delivering the visitor experience and events. We also recognise the benefits and flexibility that hybrid working brings. We operate a hybrid working model that requires regular, weekly attendance for this role, with the precise pattern of days on site and worked from home to be agreed with your manager.
