Curator, Invertebrates (non-insects)

About Us

We are a world-class visitor attraction and leading science research centre. We use the Museum's unique collections and our unrivalled expertise to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. We care for more than 80 million objects spanning billions of years and welcome more than five million visitors annually and 16 million visits to our website.  

Today the Museum is more relevant and influential than ever. By attracting people from a range of backgrounds to work for us, we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things.

We employ 1100 staff in a variety of roles, all united by our vision of a future where people and planet thrive. We need everyone to have the passion and drive to help us with our mission to create advocates for our planet and inspire millions to care about the natural world.

Diversity and inclusion matter to us.

Our vision is of a future where both people and the planet thrive. Diversity is one of our core values and we strive to build a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging. All new staff who join us learn about the importance of diversity and inclusion to the Museum and how to contribute to creating an inclusive environment.

We know we have more to do, but we are committed to ensuring that everyone who works at the Museum feels they can thrive and feel valued and respected.

About the role

This is an opportunity for a scientific collection specialist or early career researcher with strong curatorial experience to take up an important and dynamic role working with our world-class invertebrate collections. Applications for the post of Curator of Invertebrates (non-insects) are welcome in the field of invertebrate zoology (except insects and molluscs). We are looking to hear from a zoologist with experience in managing wet-preserved and dried collections, and with knowledge of frozen tissue collections and molecular biology techniques/applications.

The post holder will ensure best practice in collections care and strategic development for one or more phyla specifically, while also contributing across the invertebrate (non-insect) collections. They will deepen knowledge of, and information about, the collections, facilitating access to colleagues, researchers and wider communities of interest. They will play an active role in interpreting these specimens for a range of audiences, ensuring that the NHM collections are well known and used.

The role will work closely with NHM colleagues engaged in invertebrate systematics, as well as undertaking their own collections-focused research. They will enhance the digital and physical accessibility of collections to ensure they used by researchers, nationally and internationally. Curators may also contribute to and lead scholarly research projects, working alongside approximately 400 science colleagues, and coordinated around our nine science themes.

About you

The appointed person will have a postgraduate qualification (e.g. MSc) relevant to invertebrate zoology, expertise or knowledge across one or more groups of invertebrates (except insects and molluscs) and general experience with other invertebrate groups. You will have knowledge of invertebrates systematics and/or taxonomy, a record of scientific publication in international peer-reviewed journals commensurate with career stage, experience working with museum collections and/or databases, knowledge of frozen tissue collections and molecular biology techniques.

The appointed person will have the ability to work with multiple teams and stakeholders to share the wonder of collections and act as a strong, inspiring advocate for the museum’s collections and their value. You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, success in obtaining external funding, fieldwork experience and experience of managing postgraduate students or volunteers. The position holder will require willingness to travel between museum sites (South Kensington, London and Thames Valley Science Park, Reading) to work on Invertebrate Science collections.

Thriving at the Museum: the way we work

We are proud to work at the Museum and have identified the qualities we all need to embody to reach our shared ambition. This sits alongside the Museum’s values and forms the framework for the way we work.

Find out more here

What we offer

• 27.5 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays (full time equivalent)
• Generous defined contribution Natural History Museum Pension Scheme (employer contribution 4 - 10%)
• Season ticket, bicycle and rental loan
• Life insurance
• Free admission to our exhibitions and many other paid exhibitions at museums, galleries and institutions across London and the UK.
• Staff discount at our Museum shops and cafes
• We offer a wide variety of training initiatives and opportunities to build skills. Investing in staff development is important to us, and we are ambitious about helping staff to grow and fulfil their potential.
• Affordable membership to the Civil Service Sports Council which offers a range of benefits including an extensive list of special offers and reduced entry fees at a selection of cinema chains, theme parks, theatres, retailers and supermarkets. It also provides entry to up to 300 English Heritage sites and other national treasures. For more details, visit https://www.cssc.co.uk
• Membership to our Sports and Social Association (for a small fee), which includes access to our in-house gym and clubs such as football, softball, table tennis and tennis and classes in Middle Eastern dance, yoga and Tai Chi

Hybrid working

Due to the nature of this role the work pattern will be 100% on site.