Head of Research

Hybrid (at least 3 days per week on-site in Bloomsbury, London)

Permanent

£77,816 per annum

Application deadline: 12pm (midday) on Friday, 24 April 2026

About the role

The British Museum is looking for a visionary leader to shape the Museum’s intellectual agenda and vision for research as Head of Research. This is a rare opportunity to shape research strategy at an internationally renowned institution with the chance to influence research across the UK museum sector. With a strong track record of world-leading research, you will ensure the Museum has one of the world’s most researched, accessible and visible collections. Working closely with the Trustee’s Collections and Research Committee, and over 100 researchers and curators across all Collection Departments, you will lead the development and delivery of a compelling Research Strategy that enriches understanding of the Museum’s collections, supports major projects, and fuels the next generation of researchers. You will reimagine what it means to be a research-led international museum in the 21st century as the Museum embarks on the biggest redisplay of its permanent galleries in the past 150 years. To achieve this, you will build strong internal and external partnerships at the highest levels, champion research excellence, and secure significant external funding to advance the Museum’s ambitions. If you are looking for a new challenge and an opportunity to make a major contribution to the future of the Museum, we invite you to apply for this role.

Key areas of responsibility

• Ensure the Research Strategy drives a strong and dynamic programme of research that supports and develops the Museum’s intellectual agenda.
• Catalyse high quality research across all areas of the Museum, ensuring all elements of the Museums work is informed by research, especially the Masterplan, new galleries, and exhibitions.
• Guide the development of major research projects and funding bids, focusing on income-generating activities.
• Manage the Deputy Head of Research and other team members and support the development of early career researchers and young researchers embedding a strong research culture across the Museum.
• Represent the Museum internally and externally, cultivating strong stakeholder relationships and partnerships, increasing collaborative research partnerships.
• Contribute to the national and international research landscape through advocacy and strategic insight.
• Lead key relationships with external organisations for the development of the Museum’s research at BM_ARC in Reading.
• Deliver internal and external research reviews and continuously elevating research quality.
• Lead the Museum Research Board and oversee relevant policies.

About you

We’re looking for a strategic, inspiring leader with a clear and sensitive leadership style. You’ll be able to motivate teams, forge successful partnerships, and champion research excellence. You will be comfortable operating at the highest level, balancing multiple priorities, and delivering work of long-term significance for the Museum and its audiences.

What you’ll bring to the Museum:

• Strong reputation in a relevant research field with significant experience developing and implementing strategies within a research-focused environment.
• Proven leader in securing external funding, delivering funded high-profile projects and managing large budgets.
• Understanding of issues facing the museum or heritage sector.
• Strong managerial experience, including motivating teams and leading change.
• Ability to lead, influence and collaborate with stakeholders internally and externally, across academia, government and media.
• Evidence of a strong research and publications record.

At the British Museum, we believe our people are at the heart of everything we do. That’s why we’ve designed a benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary. 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.
• 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.
• Peer support and allyship with five diversity networks for community.
• Learning and development through courses, mentoring and Athena as well as support for professional qualifications.
• Employee Assistance Programme available 24/7 for counselling, wellbeing support and more.
• Enhanced parental leave including maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave.
• Support for carers through Employers for Carers.
• Civil Service Pension Scheme with a secure, inflation‑linked defined benefit.

Our 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
• Value Many Voices

These are a core part of how we recruit. Throughout the application, interview and selection process, we look for examples of how candidates demonstrate these behaviours in their own work and experiences. We encourage you to familiarise yourself with our values and reflect them in your application.

At the British Museum, we are committed to a fair and inclusive recruitment process where every applicant has the opportunity to present their genuine strengths and experience in their own voice. While we recognise that AI tools can be helpful when preparing applications, we expect all submissions to accurately reflect everyone’s skills and background, and we may withdraw applications that appear to be generated entirely by AI. During interviews, we want to hear directly from candidates and therefore do not permit the use of AI to generate or support answers, though assistive technologies used as reasonable adjustments are fully welcomed. 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.

*We may be able to provide visa sponsorship for this role, subject to meeting eligibility requirements. You can find out more about these here.*

The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.