At a Glance
- Tasks: Build relationships with archives and institutions to acquire valuable historical content.
- Company: Join Ancestry, a leader in connecting people with their past.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, collaborative culture, and meaningful work that makes a difference.
- Other info: Opportunities for travel across the UK and Ireland, with remote options available.
- Why this job: Help preserve history and enrich lives while working in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in business development or related fields; strong relationship-building skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
We are looking for a thoughtful, motivated professional to join our Content Acquisition team on a fixed-term maternity leave cover contract. This role will partner closely with archives, historical institutions, genealogy communities, and cross-functional stakeholders to identify, acquire, and bring valuable historical records to Ancestry members across the United Kingdom and Ireland. The ideal candidate is adaptable, collaborative, commercially minded, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment while building strong external relationships, maintaining key partnerships, and managing complex projects.
What You'll Do
- Develop and manage relationships with archives, government entities, historical institutions, and genealogy organisations across the UK and Ireland.
- Identify, evaluate, and negotiate opportunities for historical content acquisition and licensing.
- Lead content acquisition projects from discovery through digitisation, publication, and launch.
- Partner with Content, Product, Marketing, PR, and Research teams to maximise the value and impact of new collections.
- Monitor collection performance and support initiatives that drive member engagement and business results.
- Represent Ancestry at industry events and contribute expertise on historical records, archives, and genealogy.
Who You Are
- 5+ years' experience in business development, partnerships, content acquisition, licensing, or a related field.
- Strong relationship-building, negotiation, project management, and analytical skills.
- Experience working with archives, government agencies, cultural institutions, or similar organisations is highly desirable.
- Commercially minded, collaborative, and comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Interest in history, genealogy, archives, or historical records; knowledge of UK and Irish records is a plus.
- Willingness to travel regularly within the UK and Ireland, with occasional international travel.
Why Ancestry?
Join a dedicated team working to connect millions of people with their past and enrich their futures. At Ancestry, you will play a key role in expanding and preserving access to historical records that help individuals and families discover their stories. Your contributions will directly support our mission while helping strengthen relationships with archives, institutions, and communities around the world. We offer a collaborative workplace, competitive compensation, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference.
Location
This role is open to candidates based in both London and Ireland. The role is expected to have regular collaboration with the London team and external partners, with candidates in London likely having more opportunities to work from the office. We are also open to remote candidates based in Ireland, with opportunities to collaborate from the Dublin office when needed. The role will require some travel to partner locations across the UK and Ireland to support relationship building, meetings, and partnership activities.
Business Development Manager | Historical Content Acquisition in London employer: Ancestry
Ancestry is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and dynamic work environment, where your contributions directly impact the preservation and accessibility of historical records. With competitive compensation and a strong focus on employee growth, you will have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with archives and institutions across the UK and Ireland, all while working alongside a dedicated team passionate about connecting individuals with their heritage. Whether based in London or Ireland, you will enjoy a flexible work culture that encourages innovation and personal development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager | Historical Content Acquisition in London
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We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager | Historical Content Acquisition in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Data Skills:In business intelligence, it's crucial to highlight your analytical skills and experience with data tools. Make sure your CV showcases any relevant software you’ve used, like SQL, Tableau, or Power BI. Add specific examples of how you've used data to drive insights or improvements in previous roles, even if they were in academic projects or internships.
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role like this, hiring managers often have limited time to sift through applications. Get straight to the point in your CV and cover letter. Use bullet points for your achievements, showcasing the impact you've made, like percentage increases in efficiency or specific results from your analyses.
Flexibility is Key:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your adaptability. Mention your quick learning abilities and experiences where you adapted to new tools or processes rapidly. This will show that you can jump in and start contributing effectively from day one at Ancestry.
Craft a Tailored Motivation Statement:In your cover letter, focus on why you’re excited about this temporary role at Ancestry. Talk about your interest in business intelligence and how this position aligns with your career goals. Remember, it’s not just about what you can offer, but why you’re passionate about becoming part of their team, even for a short time!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ancestry
✨Brush Up on Your Data Skills
For a business intelligence role, you'll want to showcase your analytical skills and familiarity with data visualisation tools like Tableau or Power BI. Be ready to tackle technical questions or case studies demonstrating your ability to interpret data and make insightful recommendations.
✨Plan Your Portfolio of Projects
Since this is a temporary position, we should highlight any past projects you've worked on in business intelligence. Prepare a portfolio that includes a couple of key pieces where you've effectively utilised data to drive decisions—this will show that you're not just a quick fix but someone who can deliver immediate value.
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Temporary roles often require us to hit the ground running, so be ready to discuss how you quickly adapt to new tools, teams, and environments. Share specific examples from previous experiences where you thrived under pressure or had to learn a new system or process in a short time frame.
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In business intelligence, quantifying your impact is key. Come prepared to share metrics from your past work: think percentages, growth figures, or efficiency improvements. This will really help us paint a picture of how your contributions directly benefited those previous roles.
