Building Fabric Manager

Join the British Museum in this unique new role supporting a new programme of masterplan and critical projects while supporting the museum to welcome approximately 6 million visitors annually. This is a crucial role, involving working closely with senior stakeholders, supply‑chain partners, and the support teams across the museum. As Building Fabric Manager, you will be responsible for managing and delivering facilities management‑related conservation, maintenance and statutory compliance of the Museum’s historic fabric and drainage systems, ensuring all works are heritage‑appropriate and contractors are effectively appointed, monitored and controlled across the Grade I listed estate.

About you

• Proven experience in maintenance and statutory compliance of fabric and drainage systems ideally within a heritage, museum, or cultural setting.
• Strong knowledge of building systems, compliance, and project management.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• A passion for heritage and a commitment to preserving it for future generations.
• You will be familiar with travelling to other Museum locations as necessary and ensure continual on‑site fabric management presence to support stakeholders.

Key areas of responsibility

• Act as the technical interface between the Museum and its FM service providers for all fabric, envelope and drainage‑related matters.
• Provide subject matter expertise and local site knowledge for master planning, infrastructure and capital project reviews where fabric, conservation or groundworks are involved.
• Ensure proposals are technically sound: review consultants’, FM and contractors’ proposals to confirm they are conservation sensitive (working with the Conservation Management Plan and in collaboration with the Design Management team), statutorily compliant, offer value for money and align with the Museum’s strategic objectives.
• Develop and review technical briefs: assist in, and where relevant lead, the preparation of technical project briefs, scopes of work and specifications for fabric, drainage and conservation projects, considering the Museum’s Information requirements (in collaboration with the Building Information team).
• Manage handover and approvals: manage the approval process for FMWS and CD fabric projects at handover to the Museum for operation and maintenance; as per the information requirements and including integration into the Asset Information Model (AIM); support or act as the Authorised Person for fabric related statutory duties where required (for example temporary works/scaffolding, access and drainage remediation).
• Provide input to risk management: contribute strategic input to the Museum’s operational risk management process on fabric related risks and remedial action plans.

The Masterplan

The British Museum is undertaking its biggest transformation since its founding nearly 300 years ago. This physical and intellectual transformation includes large scale building and gallery transformation, new ways of connecting with audiences and different ways of working. As we look towards this exciting future, we remain guided by the words of our founder Hans Sloane – who dreamed of a museum connecting all arts and sciences, which would be accessible to everyone, everywhere.

Benefits

Our full list of benefits can be found here, but we’ve outlined some highlights below:

• Free exhibition entry for you and guests, exclusive private views, ICOM and reciprocal museum access.
• Civil Service Pension Scheme defined benefit with 28.97% employer contribution.
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days (and +5 days after 10 years).
• Social and wellbeing perks including Staff parties, social clubs, CSSC sports and leisure, and support from the Civil Service Retirement Fellowship.
• Learning and development through courses, mentoring and Athena as well as support for professional qualifications.
• Enhanced parental leave including maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave.
• Support for carers through Employers for Carers.
• Interest‑free loans including season ticket, rental deposit and bicycle loans.

Values

Our values drive everything we do, from how we handle our objects to how we work in our team to fostering a culture where everyone feels heard and empowered:

• Care Deeply
• Embrace the Unknown
• Spark Curiosity
• Value Many Voices

Additional information

If you have any additional needs that we should be aware of to support you with your application, please provide details to bmrecruit@britishmuseum.org.

Right to work

The British Museum holds a Skilled Worker sponsor licence. Applicants are responsible for determining whether the advertised salary and role meet current UKVI sponsorship requirements and for ensuring they have, or can obtain, the appropriate right to work in the UK. The Museum cannot provide immigration advice, and eligibility should be checked before submitting an application. The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre‑employment screening of Civil Servants.