Sillitoe Research Leader, Economic Geology

We are a world‑class visitor attraction and leading science research centre. We use the Museum's unique collections and our unrivalled expertise to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. We care for more than 80 million objects spanning billions of years and welcome more than five million visitors annually and 16 million visits to our website. Today the Museum is more relevant and influential than ever. By attracting people from a range of backgrounds to work for us, we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things. We employ 1,100 staff in a variety of roles, all united by our vision of a future where people and planet thrive. We need everyone to have the passion and drive to help us with our mission to create advocates for our planet and inspire millions to care about the natural world. Diversity and inclusion matter to us. Our vision is of a future where both people and the planet thrive. Diversity is one of our core values and we strive to build a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging. All new staff who join us learn about the importance of diversity and inclusion to the Museum and how to contribute to creating an inclusive environment. We know we have more to do, but we are committed to ensuring that everyone who works at the Museum feels they can thrive and feel valued and respected.

The Natural History Museum is seeking a world‑leading scientist to join us as a Research Leader in Economic Geology, shaping research that will help secure the mineral resources required for the transition to a net‑zero economy. This is an opportunity to lead internationally significant research at the intersection of geoscience, resource discovery and sustainability. We are looking for a visionary geologist who can challenge established paradigms, develop new approaches to mineral discovery, and build a globally recognised research programme aligned with the Museum’s Resourcing the Green Economy theme. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership for economic geology across the Museum, developing ambitious projects that combine field research, advanced analytical methods and the Museum’s globally significant mineral collections. You will lead high‑impact collaborations with academic and industry partners, secure major external funding and mentor the next generation of geoscientists. The role also offers the opportunity to strengthen collaboration with the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London, with a visiting professorship envisaged to support joint research and training. Working across the Museum’s laboratories, collections and international networks, you will help position the Natural History Museum as a global hub for research into the mineral resources needed for a sustainable future.

Are you an internationally recognised economic geologist ready to shape the future of mineral resource research? You hold a doctorate in geology or a related discipline and bring a strong track record in economic geology, including field‑based research and engagement with the mining sector. Your work demonstrates scientific leadership through influential publications, successful research programmes and the ability to secure significant external funding. You are an experienced research leader who enjoys building ambitious collaborations and mentoring early‑career scientists. You combine strategic vision with the ability to deliver impactful research programmes that address major global challenges. If you are motivated by the opportunity to advance mineral deposit science and help secure the resources needed for the green economy, this role offers a unique platform to do so.

We are proud to work at the Museum and have identified the qualities we all need to embody to reach our shared ambition. This sits alongside the Museum’s values and forms the framework for the way we work.

What we offer:

• 27.5 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays (full time equivalent)
• Generous defined contribution Natural History Museum Pension Scheme (employer contribution 4 – 10%)
• Season ticket, bicycle and rental loan
• Life insurance
• Free admission to our exhibitions and many other paid exhibitions at museums, galleries and institutions across London and the UK.
• Staff discount at our Museum shops and cafes
• We offer a wide variety of training initiatives and opportunities to build skills. Investing in staff development is important to us, and we are ambitious about helping staff to grow and fulfil their potential.
• Affordable membership to the Civil Service Sports Council which offers a range of benefits including an extensive list of special offers and reduced entry fees at a selection of cinema chains, theme parks, theatres, retailers and supermarkets. It also provides entry to up to 300 English Heritage sites and other national treasures.
• Membership to our Sports and Social Association (for a small fee), which includes access to our in‑house gym and clubs such as football, softball, table tennis and tennis and classes in Middle Eastern dance, yoga and Tai Chi
• Hybrid working

We are working towards a vision where both people and planet thrive, and nothing gives a greater connection with this, than seeing first‑hand, the visitors, scientific research and collections that all of our work is inspired by and working side by side with the teams delivering the visitor experience and events. We also recognise the benefits and flexibility that hybrid working brings. We operate a hybrid working model that requires regular, weekly attendance for this role, with the precise pattern of days on site and worked from home to be agreed with your manager.

If this sounds like you, please apply via our careers page: https://jobs.nhm.ac.uk/Job/JobDetail?JobId=757

Please note that as part of our commitment to anonymised shortlisting, panels do not view CVs during the recruitment process. If you choose to upload your CV, our system will automatically pull information from your CV into our application form. We advise you to double‑check your application form data before submitting as the tool may interpret CVs differently. We’re delighted that many of our vacancies attract a high level of interest. To ensure that every application receives the time and careful consideration it deserves, we closely monitor the number of applications we receive. In some cases, where interest is particularly high, we may close a vacancy to new applications ahead of the advertised closing date. Taking this approach helps us manage the process efficiently while maintaining a fair and thorough shortlisting process for all candidates. We therefore encourage early applications where possible.

Closing date: 23:59 on 29th May. Interviews expected: w/c 8th June.

Please note that this role qualifies for Museum sponsorship. Whilst we would still expect the successful postholder to have valid right to work in the UK at the point of starting the role, the Museum can support in obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role to apply for future or continued right to work in the UK. Please contact our Recruitment Team at hrteam@nhm.ac.uk if you have any further queries regarding this.