At a Glance
- Tasks: Capture and produce high-quality digital images of collection objects for a major digitisation project.
- Company: Join the British Museum, a world-renowned institution with a rich cultural heritage.
- Benefits: Enjoy free exhibition entry, 25 days' leave, discounts, and social perks.
- Other info: Be part of a transformative journey at one of the world's most important museums.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on public engagement and academic research in a historic setting.
- Qualifications: Experience in photography or digitisation, strong attention to detail, and teamwork skills.
The predicted salary is between 29642 - 29642 £ per year.
On-site in Bloomsbury, London (with occasional travel to our other sites) Fixed term contract to 31 December 2028 £29,642 per annum
About the role
The British Museum is recruiting multiple Imaging Assistants to support an ambitious, museum-wide digitisation effort. These roles sit within the Documentation and Digitisation Programme and will be embedded across four curatorial departments: Africa, Oceania and the Americas; Middle East; Money and Medals; and Britain, Europe and Prehistory. The British Museum’s Documentation and Digitisation Programme is creating and enriching digital collection records; providing images, and enhancing metadata above our nationally recognised standards. Working across the collection, this ambitious programme plays a strategically vital role in enabling the Museum’s vision for greater access, scholarship and long‑term collection stewardship. It is delivering research‑ready collection information that is transforming how the collection is understood, used and shared.
As an Imaging Assistant, you will produce high‑quality digital images of collection objects using photography and scanning techniques, ensuring that they are accurately processed, documented and linked to collection records. You will play a key role in improving access to one of the world’s most important collections, supporting both public engagement and academic research.
About you
You have experience in photography, digitisation or image processing, with strong attention to detail and the ability to work accurately and consistently. You are confident using spreadsheets, databases and digital tools, and can quickly learn new systems. Organised and self‑motivated, you can manage your workload to meet targets while maintaining quality. You collaborate effectively with others but are equally comfortable working independently. An interest in museum collections or cultural heritage is an advantage.
Key areas of responsibility
- Capture and produce high‑quality digital images of collection objects using photography and scanning
- Process and prepare images to agreed standards (including cropping, background, orientation and quality checks)
- Accurately match images with collection records and associated metadata
- Manage and validate data using spreadsheets and collections management systems
- Safely handle a wide range of collection objects, following collections care procedures
- Work with colleagues to resolve data issues and support accurate, consistent digitisation outputs
Benefits
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.
- 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days (and +5 days after 10 years).
- Discounts at onsite catering, Museum shops and local Bloomsbury partners.
- 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.
- Interest‑free loans including season ticket, rental deposit and bicycle loans.
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.
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. 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 Digital Imaging Assistant
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We think you need these skills to ace Digital Imaging Assistant
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When preparing for your interview with THE BRITISH MUSEUM, think about how you can showcase your creative approaches to digital learning. Bring along examples of projects or modules you've designed, especially those that highlight your ability to engage students remotely. It’ll help demonstrate your hands-on experience, which is essential for this role.
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