Curator

About Us

The Clockworks, London, is a unique charitable institution. Based in West Norwood, it is dedicated to the history and practice of electrical timekeeping from about 1840 through to 1970. It is simultaneously a museum, library, archive, conservation workshop, and event space. It is accessible to a wide and growing public audience. You can find out more at:

• theclockworks.org
• instagram.com/theclockworkscio/
• youtube.com/@theclockworkscio-g3n

The Clockworks houses the most important and representative collection of electric clocks and associated technologies accessible to the public anywhere in the world. It is supported by an increasingly extensive specialist library and archive.

It includes a fully equipped conservation workshop to support the conservation of the Clockworks collection itself. It also acts as a training facility for disseminating this knowledge and its associated skills, thus strengthening the wider museum and collector community by nurturing more electro-technical conservators.

The Clockworks operates as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) run by a team of Trustees (including the founder, James Nye) supported by a Secretary. A self-employed Conservator-in-Residence occupies space in the workshop.

About the role

We have ambitious plans to consolidate the organic growth of the last decade and move forward with renewed energy and new expertise. This is why we are now recruiting for a Curator of The Clockworks. More background to the role can be found in the application pack.

Key Responsibilities

The Curator, working with the CIO Trustees, Secretary, Conservator-in-Residence, volunteers, and other specialists and stakeholders as necessary, will be responsible for all aspects of the development and operation of The Clockworks apart from object conservation.

You will research, interpret and share stories of electrical horology and the objects in the collection for a range of audiences, from specialist to general, whether located in-person, at a distance, or online.

This will include developing a knowledge and understanding of the collection, increasing the visibility and presence of The Clockworks among its target audiences, developing and delivering a curatorial strategy and forward plan, including potential future projects and ways of working, and helping shape and progress the institution’s display, interpretation, and engagement practices.

You will also be the primary advocate and public spokesperson for The Clockworks (working with the Conservator as appropriate) and will be the principal point of contact for the Secretary of the CIO, assisting them in the routine administration of the museum. Depending on the ambition of future plans for the museum’s development, the role is also likely to involve significant fundraising activity.

As the sole employee of The Clockworks, you will carry out a wide range of tasks as part of the role, from high-level strategic development and stakeholder liaison, research, copywriting, web development, cataloguing, and guiding, to routine practical housekeeping, maintenance, and administration.

About you

You will have:

• Significant experience (developed over several years) of researching, curating, cataloguing, interpreting, and managing museum collections, ideally involving the history of science, technology, engineering or related fields.
• A proven ability to interpret a technical subject for non-specialist as well as specialist audiences, using traditional and digital interpretation tools, with demonstrable experience working with websites, digital catalogues, and social media channels.
• Excellent written and verbal skills, coupled with communications experience, including being comfortable communicating with a wide audience of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities - whether visitors, researchers, volunteers, funders, local stakeholders or the media.
• A proven ability to be diplomatic and empathetic in prioritising the needs and perspectives of others and in representing The Clockworks to a wide range of stakeholders.
• An ability and enthusiasm to carry out routine practical housekeeping, maintenance, and administration associated with the premises, with a problem-solving approach (experience of clock maintenance and operation is not required although the ability to liaise successfully with conservators and other technical specialists is essential).
• An ability to work independently without supervision – to be self-reliant and self-motivated but happy working with others.

Ideally, you may also have:

• Experience in fundraising, ideally within a museum context, and an awareness of the varying needs of different types of funders, including corporate, trusts, foundations, local and national government, and individual giving.
• Some experience of library or archive management, ideally within a museum context.
• Some experience of volunteer management and motivation, ideally within a museum context.

To find out more, including how to apply for the role, please see the Application Pack that can be downloaded from this site.