Heritage Science Manager in England

We are looking for an innovative Heritage Science Manager to lead all operational aspects of the BFI National Archive’s Moving Image Conservation Research Laboratory (MICRL); directing its development, enabling access to its major research themes and facilities as well as instigating original conservation research.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the MICRL heritage science laboratory, its equipment, systems and facilities.
• Managing technical aspects through to final quality control and delivery, in collaboration with the BFI's Knowledge, Learning and Collections colleagues and the Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) Infrastructure Headquarters.
• Managing RICHeS grant budget, with Head of Conservation, ensuring that the BFI’s Financial Procedures are followed for the management of all assets (including people).
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with senior colleagues across the BFI, with international peers and key figures across the film and TV industries and screen heritage sector.
• Coaching and training colleagues in policies and procedures and collections-related knowledge and skills, including scientific techniques suitable for conservation treatment.
• With the Head of Conservation and colleagues, developing policies, procedures and practices to achieve best practice for moving image conservation.
• Being an ambassador for the BFI and maintaining a professional approach at all times.

We are looking for candidates who have:

• Postgraduate degree in heritage science or related area.
• Substantial experience working within a research lab, centre, or facility.
• Demonstrable experience operating one or more of the following: XRF, FTIR spectroscopy, NMR, Microfade testing, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis.
• Experience of generation and interpretation of research data, creating written reports for various audiences.

About the BFI: We are a cultural charity, a National Lottery distributor, and the UK’s lead organisation for film and the moving image. We believe society needs stories. Film, television and the moving image bring them to life, helping us connect and understand each other better. We share the stories of yesterday, search for the stories of today, and shape the stories of tomorrow.

Benefits include:

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 with service) + bank holidays + the option to buy up to 5 extra days of annual leave.
• Additional paid time off between Christmas and New Year.
• BFI pension scheme with 5% employer contribution.
• BFI Childcare Scheme, where we contribute to childcare costs for children up to the age of 14.
• Enhanced pay for Maternity & Paternity leave.
• Complimentary tickets to BFI Southbank & IMAX screenings and events.
• Free BFI Player subscription + discount on BFI DVDs, books, merchandise, and film tickets.

We support diversity and inclusion, and as an organisation recognise that we need to address under representation within our teams. As such we strongly welcome and encourage applicants from our under-represented groups; who identify as D/deaf and disabled and/or are Black and Global Majority. We guarantee a place at the first stage selection process to our under-represented groups who meet our minimum requirements.

Further details about the role, the BFI and our benefits can be obtained by visiting www.bfi.org.uk/about-bfi/job-opportunities. Depending on the volume of applications, you may be asked to complete a small task or attend a pre-interview screening call to further assist the hiring team in shortlisting for this role. In this instance, interview dates may be subject to change. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Monday 26 January 2026. First interviews will be held w/c Monday 09 February 2026. Second interviews will be held w/c Monday 16 February 2026.