"Assistant Collection Manager, Department of Antiquities"

THIS POST COULD BE CONSIDERED AS A SECONDMENT OPPORTUNITY. Please discuss secondments with your line manager in the first instance, as you must have their agreement that you can be released for a secondment before you submit an application https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/secondments.

About the Role

The Department of Antiquities at the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology cares for around 275,000 objects representing the material cultures of Europe, Egypt and Sudan, and the Middle East, spanning almost the entire history of humanity. The Department is undertaking an ambitious multi-year Collections Management Project, DigitiseLocateStore (DLS), to audit, document, and digitise the collections with the goal of enhancing access—both physically and online—and ensuring best practice in collections care and long-term storage.

To support this work, we are seeking to appoint an Assistant Collections Manager to work closely with the Department’s Collections Manager and a team of Collections Assistants. The postholder will play a key role in delivering the project, coordinating the audit and rehousing of objects, improving storage conditions, and maintaining accurate records within the museum’s Collections Management System. This role will directly contribute to the preservation, accessibility, and understanding of the Ashmolean’s world-renowned collections, supporting the museum’s core activities of research, teaching, and public engagement.

You will support project planning, documentation, and progress tracking, contributing to the successful delivery of the Department of Antiquities’ DigitiseLocateStore project. You will locate, identify, and assess artefacts and their storage needs, transferring and enhancing object data within the Collections Management System. You will implement storage area improvements to increase capacity and collections security.

The role is based across Ashmolean Museum sites in Oxfordshire (including off-site stores near Bicester and Botley).

The role involves physical activity, including standing for extended periods, regularly using stairs and ladders to access collections, lifting objects and packed storage boxes, and operating manual handling equipment.

This is a full-time (36.5 hours per week), 2 year fixed-term post until 28 February 2028.

Due to the nature of this post, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a satisfactory Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check due to working in the stores with the museum collection.

About You

You will have experience working in a museum or cultural-heritage environment, handling delicate artefacts. You will have specialist knowledge in collections storage including object packing and movement. You will be confident using Collections Management Software and Digital Asset Management Systems, with excellent data-entry, cataloguing, and IT skills (including Excel). You will demonstrate strong attention to detail, the ability to manage a busy workload, and the physical capability to work in a standing position for part of the day and to carry out manual-handling tasks safely. You will ideally have a degree in Archaeology, Museum Studies, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience), along with knowledge of UK museum data standards and Accreditation Scheme requirements. Experience of digital imaging work would be an advantage.

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days of annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans

More information is available at https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/staff-benefits

Diversity

Our staff and students come from all over the world, and we proudly promote a friendly and inclusive culture. Diversity is positively encouraged, through diverse groups and champions, as well as a number of family-friendly policies, such as the right to apply for flexible working and support for staff returning from periods of extended absence, for example, shared parental leave.

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment processes are inclusive and accessible. If you require the job description or any other materials in an alternative format, or if you would like to request any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please contact the recruitment team at recruitment@glam.ox.ac.uk.

How to Apply

You will be required to upload your CV and a supporting evidence form using the attached template as part of your online application. Your supporting evidence form should list each of the essential and desirable selection criteria, as listed in the job description, and explain how you meet each one. CVs alone will not be considered.

We aim to provide a supportive working environment and are happy to discuss training and professional development opportunities. The Chair of this recruitment panel will be Liam McNamara, Department of Antiquities Collections Manager, who can be contacted with enquiries relating to the role (liam.mcnamara@ashmus.ox.ac.uk). General queries about the recruitment and application process should be directed to the Recruitment team within our Human Resources department (recruitment@glam.ox.ac.uk).

Only applications received online by 12.00 midday GMT on Wednesday 7 January 2026 can be considered. Interviews will be held between 6 and 13 February.

An automatic annual increment each year will be paid up to (and not including) the discretionary range within the University of Oxford’s grade 5 salary scale.

Salary: £32,108 per annum

Location: Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2PH