Assistant Curator Renaissance and Early Modern History

Consortium of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Voluntary and Community Organisations Limited; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 31,000 - GBP 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading museum organization in Edinburgh is seeking a full-time Assistant Curator for Renaissance and Early Modern History. This fixed-term role involves enhancing collections documentation and responding to inquiries while contributing to public engagement. The ideal candidate will have experience in museum settings and a passion for historical collections. The organization offers a competitive salary ranging from £31,929 to £34,549 and various benefits, including generous annual leave and pension scheme contributions.

Benefits

28.5 days annual leave, rising to 33.5 after 5 years

28.97% pension contribution

Free access to museums and exhibitions

Wellbeing benefits including 24/7 support

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in paid or unpaid work in museums.
• Knowledge or enthusiasm about Renaissance and early modern history.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Create and improve documentation programmes for collections.
• Assist with collections care improvements.
• Manage secure movement and documentation of collections.
• Handle public and researcher enquiries.

Skills

Knowledge of Renaissance and early modern history collections

Experience in museums or similar environments

ICT skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook

Experience dealing with public enquiries

Job description

Asst Curator Renaissance and Early Modern History

Job Location: Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Location: Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Job Type: Temporary

Overview

Assistant Curator role in Renaissance and Early Modern History, based at National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, with hybrid options. Supporting the Department of Scottish History and Archaeology.

Role details

Assistant Curator, Renaissance and Early Modern History | Fixed Term | 35 hours

Full Time Salary: £31,929 - £34,549 (pay award pending)

Hours: 35 hours per week | Monday - Friday

Location: National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh and National Museums Collection Centre, Granton | Hybrid

About National Museums Scotland

National Museums Scotland is one of the leading museum groups in Europe with one of the largest and most diverse collections in the world. Our values are Creative, Inclusive, Collaborative and Forward-thinking.

Benefits

• Annually alongside your salary, National Museums Scotland contributes 28.97% of this towards you being a member of the Civil Service Pension Scheme
• A generous annual leave of 28.5 days – rising to 33.5 after 5 years, plus an additional 8 paid days public holidays.
• Free access to national (and international) museums and exhibitions
• A range of wellbeing benefits including Employee Assistance Programme 24/7
• Access to all the above and more from day one of employment.

About the Assistant Curator role

Based at the National Museum of Scotland you will support the work of the Department of Scottish History and Archaeology, primarily within the Renaissance & Early Modern Section of the Department. This is a fixed term full-time post currently based within the National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh. The department’s collections are also stored and displayed at the National Museum Collection Centre, Granton.

The Renaissance & Early Modern section collections are representative of cultural, social, political, military and domestic history in Scotland from c.1450-1750, including decorative arts, jewellery, metalwork, furniture and weaponry, and objects relating to monarchical power, religion, trade and everyday life.

Responsibilities

• Apply expert knowledge of subjects and collections to create and improve National Museums’ documentation programmes
• Assist with programmes of improvement to collections care to meet National Museums’ best practice
• Be responsible for the secure movement and appropriate documentation procedures of the collections, as requires
• Answer public and researcher enquiries and enable access to collections

Skills and experience

• Knowledge of, an interest in, or enthusiasm about the Renaissance and early modern history collections at NMS
• Demonstrable experience in paid or unpaid work in museums or similar environment
• ICT skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook, and database entry.
• Experience of dealing with public enquiries, visitors and/or volunteers

Please view relevant attachments for this role (available on our Careers Portal: careers.nms.ac.uk) for full details of the position.

The closing date for this role is 18/02/26. The Selection Event is likely to take place week beginning 23/02/26.

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