Assistant Curator - Visual Media and Archives

Overview

The Royal Air Force Museum is hiring an Assistant Curator for Visual Media and Archives to work from its London site on a full-time, permanent basis. The role offers an annual salary of £26,851.50.

The Museum is a national museum, a Government non-departmental public body (NDPB), and a registered charity. It operates two public sites in London and the Midlands, along with a stored collection in Stafford. Its mission is to share the RAF story — past, present, and future — through the experiences of its people and its collections, with the aim of engaging, informing, and inspiring audiences.

The Museum’s vision is to inspire everyone through the RAF story, highlighting the people behind it and its significance in everyday life. Its work is guided by core commitments to Health and Wellbeing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and Sustainability.

Role summary

This is an important position within the Collections and Research team. The successful candidate will report to the Curator of Photographs and collaborate closely with the wider Curatorial and Exhibition teams on projects across all Museum sites. The work will focus on the Visual Media and Archive collections.

The post is based in London, and travel between sites and to other locations may be required whenever the role demands it.

Responsibilities

In this role, you will support access, care, research, and interpretation across the collections. You will handle enquiries, contribute to exhibitions, and help generate material for public audiences.

Additional information

The closing date for applications is 26 July 2026. Interviews are scheduled for 11 August 2026.

There is no fixed number of vacancies stated in the source, and no separate details were provided for perks, eligibility, or a start date.

Terms and conditions

The appointment is permanent and full time. The role is based onsite in London. Salary is £26,851.50 per year.

Person specification

The Museum is looking for someone with strong knowledge of museum collection practice and administration, gained either through work experience or a relevant qualification. You should also bring excellent written and spoken communication skills.

The ideal candidate will show initiative, a constructive attitude, and the ability to encourage and work well with colleagues. You should be able to use established practices and professional judgement to assess situations, make sensible decisions, and offer appropriate guidance.

You must be comfortable dealing with unfamiliar issues effectively and know when to escalate matters to the relevant person. A willingness to contribute ideas, adapt to change, and take a proactive approach is also important.

Key duties

• Enable access to collection items and related information in line with department policies and procedures.
• Respond to requests from museum colleagues, visiting researchers, and outside enquirers within agreed deadlines.
• Support the care of the Museum’s collections as directed, following museum policy and sector best practice.
• Assist with developing the collections through acquisition and disposal activity, working with relevant stakeholders.
• Supervise volunteers where needed.
• Gather data and prepare written reports, presentations, and discussion updates as required.

What the Museum offers

The source does not list separate employee perks or benefits beyond the salary and permanent appointment.

About the Museum

The Royal Air Force Museum is a national institution dedicated to preserving and sharing RAF heritage. Its work spans public engagement, collection stewardship, research, and exhibitions across multiple sites.