Project Scientist: Heritage Science Data Service

Project Scientist: Heritage Science Data Service

Project Scientist: Heritage Science Data Service
Scientific Research
Full-time (41 hours per week)
Fixed term (3 years)
£35,165 per annum
Application deadline: 12pm (midday) on 15 November 2024

About the role:
To develop the Department of Scientific Research’s heritage science collection catalogue, working closely with research staff to deliver an accessible catalogue as part of the Archaeological Data Service (ADS) led AHRC-funded project to deliver and a Heritage Science Data Service (HSDS) for research and public access as part of the RICHeS heritage science infrastructure. Liaising with the ADS/HSDS team and other project consortium partners to deliver the British Museum’s contribution to the project.

Key areas of responsibility:
• Develop the Department of Scientific Research’s heritage science collection catalogue with a focus on petrographic thin sections and other prepared samples.
• Assess and improve current sample and reference material catalogue records.
• Develop sustainable workflows, agree data entry standards and quality check catalogue entries in liaison with the Scientific Records Manager, the HSDS team, RICHeS HQ and project consortium partner organisations.
• Set and review data entry targets for object records, data, and terminology improvement tasks in agreement with line manager and HSDS team.
• Ensure that the catalogue entries conform with collections documentation standards as specified by Museum Policy and the requirements of the HSDS.

About you:
• Degree in a subject relevant to the Museum collection, heritage science, or equivalent experience
• Highly IT literate with proficiency in Excel and Word and high levels of proficiency in collections databases (data entry, retrieval and terminology issues)
• Knowledge of museum, cultural and heritage science sectors
• Ability to synthesise and report on information orally and in writing
• Stakeholder management experience
• Excellent co-ordination and time management
• Experience of delivering a collection related project

About the British Museum:
Founded in 1753, the British Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history and culture. The Museum is a leading visitor attraction, and its world-famous collection includes the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, the Sutton-Hoo finds, and the Lewis Chessmen. The Museum also holds an extensive collection of prints and drawings spanning 600 years, including works by the greatest graphic artists Dürer, Michelangelo and Rembrandt.

You can view a selection of our impressive collection of prints and drawings in our virtual gallery.

The Museum offers a competitive benefits package including:

• Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service) plus 2.5 privilege days and plus bank holidays.
• Membership of the civil service defined benefit pension scheme (find out here what benefits a civil service pension provides).
• Free entry to a wide range of museums and exhibitions
• Participation in private and public Museum activities, including talks by leading curators from around the world and behind-the-scenes opportunities to learn how museums care for and manage their extraordinary collections.
• Interest-free travel, bicycle, and rental deposit loans
• Professional and personal development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounts on food and gift shop purchases

Additional details:
For more information about this role, please see the job description.
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.

We have a legal responsibility to ensure that employees have the right to work in the UK. If you currently do not hold the right to work in the UK, we can only sponsor a limited number of roles that meet eligibility criteria. To offer a sponsorship, the job role you apply needs to be in the list of eligible occupations: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations. Additionally (with some limited exceptions), the role will need to meet the minimum salary threshold of £38,700 or the going rate for the job, whichever is the highest. You can find more information here: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-job

The British Museum is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals can make best use of their skills, free from unlawful discrimination or harassment. We value the benefits that a diverse workforce brings to a museum which represents world culture. The Museum is committed to ensuring that no job applicant suffers unlawful discrimination because of any protected characteristics. Our recruitment procedures aim to ensure that individuals are treated because of their relevant knowledge, skills, and experience.

We offer a flexible way of working scheme that allows our employees to work remotely in a way that suits them and the organisation. We welcome questions and conversations at interview stage about how flexible working could work for you.

The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.

National Museum Directors' Council, Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG.