Senior Curator (maternity cover)

Benefits: Annual leave entitlement of 25 days pro rata, plus Bank Holidays. 8% employer pension contribution.

Fixed Term: 12 months, to begin October 2026

Hours: Part-time (28 hours per week, although flexibility may be possible for the right candidate)

The Senior Curator (maternity cover) is an in-person role based on-site at Gainsborough's House in Sudbury, Suffolk. It is a role reporting directly to the Executive Director and part of the museum’s leadership team. This is an exciting opportunity to join Gainsborough’s House at a crucial moment in our story. In 2027, we celebrate the tercentenary of Thomas Gainsborough with a landmark exhibition at his birthplace in Sudbury, Suffolk.

We are seeking a Senior Curator (maternity cover) for a 12 month contract leading on the delivery of the Gainsborough 300 exhibition and broader season programme, which has already been two years in the planning. The Senior Curator (maternity cover) will be the museum's curatorial lead for our collection and exhibition programme, working closely with the Executive Director on the development of the artistic programme.

The postholder will manage a small curatorial and learning team, providing leadership and guidance, as well as determining work schedules and assisting with budget management. They will work independently and in collaboration with others to curate and deliver exhibitions and displays, working on all aspects of development and delivery. Sharing their passion for Thomas Gainsborough, our collection and broader exhibition programme, they will be able to work well with colleagues and specialists as well as general museum visitors. The Senior Curator will deliver talks and tours that aim to inspire and engage with the broadest audience possible. They will be a strong public advocate for the museum’s mission and vision. Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends will be required.

Responsibilities

• Curate the permanent displays including providing interpretation
• Lead on the collection catalogue and research
• Be a key advocate for Thomas Gainsborough, his art and legacy at his birthplace
• Ensure collections management, accreditation, collections, conservation and salvage policies and plans are maintained
• Line-manage the Assistant Curator and curatorial office
• Line-manage the Learning and Engagement Curator to ensure delivery of an integrated programme
• Communicate details of the collection and exhibitions to the wider GH team, including volunteers
• Oversee the environmental conditions of the galleries, condition checks and cleaning
• Manage insurance, conservation and photography of the collection
• Assist with the annual finance audit, including the valuation of Heritage Assets
• Manage the art stores, study room and library
• Assist the Executive Director with acquisitions, manage long-term loans and loans out from the collection
• Facilitate research visits, and answer public enquiries relating to the collections and exhibitions
• Assist the Executive Director and Development Manager to write grant applications relating to the collection and exhibitions

Temporary Exhibitions

• Assist the Executive Director to develop the exhibitions programme
• Deliver and manage the exhibitions programme
• Manage exhibition loans, transport, conservation and insurance etc.
• Develop the exhibition layout, installation and hang
• Write interpretation and publication texts
• Support the Executive Director and Communications & Marketing Manager with press releases and marketing

Other

• Deliver talks and tours relating to the collections and exhibitions
• Assist with the development and delivery of collection or exhibition related events
• Assist the Executive Director and Development Manager in strategic fundraising activities
• Collaborate with marketing and front-of-house teams to communicate the collections and exhibitions
• Participate in museum networks such as the Association for Suffolk Museums
• Manage curatorial interns and work experience
• Support organisational recruitment as required

Knowledge, skills and experience required

• A degree in Art History or a closely related subject
• A proven track record of exhibition development and delivery
• A specialist interest relevant to Thomas Gainsborough and/or a broad knowledge of the history of European art
• Some management experience, with a proven ability to guide and encourage more junior team members
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Good experience of designing and presenting talks and tours for a wide range of audiences
• Knowledge and experience of collection care
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Experience managing project budgets and schedules
• Solid IT literacy
• A relevant post-graduate degree or equivalent research experience
• Experience working with historic interiors
• Experience of the Museum+ database software or comparable collection management systems
• Experience of environmental monitoring software (such as Hanwell)
• Established relationships with relevant regional, national and international networks and contacts

How to apply

To apply, send an up-to-date CV and a supporting statement to mail@gainsborough.org. These should be PDF or MS Word documents and both file names should include your full name. The supporting statement should be no longer than 2 sides of A4 and should directly relate your personal skills and experiences to the list of Essential and Desirable attributes listed above. The closing date for applications is: Monday 20 July at 12 noon. We expect interviews to be w/c 3 August.

Equal Opportunities and Privacy

Gainsborough’s House is an equal opportunities employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Our selection process is based entirely on merit and experience relevant to the role. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups. All recruitment processes at Gainsborough’s House are covered by our privacy policy, which states that your personal data is only kept for the intended purpose, and only for as long as it is relevant. Read our Privacy Policy on our website.