At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage and deliver conservation and maintenance of the Museum’s historic fabric and drainage systems.
- Company: Join the British Museum, a cultural icon welcoming 6 million visitors annually.
- Benefits: Enjoy free exhibition entry, generous leave, and a strong pension scheme.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional development and a supportive team culture.
- Why this job: Be part of a major transformation while preserving heritage for future generations.
- Qualifications: Experience in heritage maintenance and strong project management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
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, 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.
- Manage handover and approvals: manage the approval process for FMWS and CD fabric projects at handover to the Museum for operation and maintenance.
- 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.
At the British Museum, we believe our people are at the heart of everything we do and have 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.
- 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.
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.
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 also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre‑employment screening of Civil Servants.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Building Fabric Manager
✨Networking in the Right Circles
Dive into communities focused on building systems and supply engineering. Join LinkedIn groups, attend industry-specific trade shows, and don’t shy away from local meetups. These are golden opportunities to connect with industry professionals who could help you land that full-time role at places like THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
✨Showcase Your Projects
If you've worked on any projects—big or small—related to building systems, make sure to showcase them! Creating a portfolio or a detailed case study on your approach can do wonders. It’s all about showing prospective employers, like THE BRITISH MUSEUM, that you’ve got hands-on experience and a solid understanding of the field.
✨Leverage University Resources
Are you still connected with your university? Tap into their career services! Many universities have relationships with firms in the building systems sector and can provide leads on exclusive job openings. This could be your ticket to landing the full-time job you want.
✨Get Involved in Professional Bodies
Consider joining professional organisations related to building systems and supply engineering. These often have job boards, career development events, and networking opportunities. Engaging with these can significantly increase your visibility to firms like THE BRITISH MUSEUM and may help you secure that full-time position sooner!
We think you need these skills to ace Building Fabric Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Engineering Skills:In the building systems supply engineering field, make sure to highlight your technical skills in your CV. Include any relevant software certifications or engineering tools you’re proficient with. Demonstrating your ability to use industry-specific technologies can really set you apart!
Quantify Your Achievements:Employers love to see how you've made an impact in your previous roles. When detailing your work experience, try to include quantifiable achievements—like how you improved a system’s efficiency by a percentage or managed a project that saved your last company X amount. This shows you're results-driven and could help us at THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Don’t just reuse the same old cover letter! Personalise it for the Building Fabric Manager role at THE BRITISH MUSEUM. Talk about your passion for building systems and why this position excites you. We want to see your personality shine through and how you envision contributing to our team.
Include Relevant Projects:If you’ve worked on specific projects related to building systems supply engineering, don’t forget to mention them! Include any reports or case studies that showcase your problem-solving abilities and project management skills. This portfolio of work can really illustrate your expertise to us.
How to prepare for a job interview at THE BRITISH MUSEUM
✨Know Your Technical Stuff
For a role in building systems supply engineering, make sure you're clued up about the latest technologies and tools in the field. Brush up on your knowledge of HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical layouts, and any relevant software used in modelling or design.
✨Showcase Real Projects
Since this is a full-time position, the interviewers will be keen to see your relevant experience. Bring along a portfolio that highlights the projects you've worked on, focusing on your role and the impact you had. Be ready to discuss the challenges faced and how you overcame them.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions during your interview. They may ask how you would approach a specific design challenge or troubleshoot an existing system. Think about examples from your past work where you successfully tackled problems, and be ready to articulate your thought process.
✨Understand the Industry Landscape
It's crucial to have a good grasp of the current trends affecting building systems, like sustainable engineering practices or smart technology integration. Familiarise yourself with recent advancements and be prepared to discuss how they might influence your work at THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
