Head of Collections Services

Salary: (pay range 69,)Closing date:  18th August 2026

Contract type:
Permanent Interview dates: W/C 7th September Wellcome Collection is a free museum and library. We believe everyone’s experience of health matters. Through our collections, exhibitions and events, in books and online, we explore the past, present and future of health. Wellcome Collection opened in 2007 and currently welcomes around 400k visitors per year, with over 4m online visits. We care for many thousands of items relating to health, medicine and human experience, including rare books, artworks, films and videos, personal archives and objects.

We’re part of Wellcome, a charitable foundation supporting science to help build a healthier future for everyone.  We are looking for a Head of Collections Services to join our team.    Where in Wellcome will I be working?

You will be leading the Collections Services team within the Collections, Research and Digital Directorate. You’ll report to the Associate Director of Collections and Digital.

The Collections Services team comprises expert teams across Registration, Conservation and Collections Care, and Collections Development. They are responsible for developing and delivering Wellcome Collection’s varied collections work, including but not limited to: loans; conservation and heritage science; collections development and acquisitions; and sustainable storage practice.

Head of Collections Services You will be a vital member of Wellcome Collection’s newly formed leadership team that will oversee the running of the museum and library, working closely with the Directorate and Wellcome’s Executive Committee.

You will oversee the operational collections processes for Wellcome Collection, translating and prioritising the Strategic Plan with team managers to deliver against Wellcome and Wellcome Collections’ strategy and mission delivery.  This roleiscriticalinguiding key teams within the Collections, Research and Digital department through a period of change as we embark on a new strategic plan and capital project that will see Wellcome Collection grow in ambition and scale.

What will I be doing?

As Head of Collections Services, you will:

Lead senior managers to own ongoing strategic alignment with Wellcome Collection’s Strategic Plan across Registration, Conservation and Collections Care, and Collections Development to deliver against Wellcome Collection’s strategy.

Provide leadership and advocacy for expert teams responsible for delivering Wellcome Collection’s varied collections work. Particular focus will be on facilities, environmental conditions and security; digital collections infrastructure and fostering an environment within which innovative and progressive collections practice can become embedded.

Increase the visibility and accountability for collections practice, including heritage science, collections development, sustainable storage practice and similar long-term strategic ambitions.

Approach collections management work from a human-centred perspective, placing our audiences, communities and stakeholders at the core of the way we think about collections and the knowledge we create and capture for them. Is this job for me?

We are looking for an exceptional collections leader with expertise in working across Collections Services disciplines and managing multi-disciplinary teams within an archive, library or museum setting.

Do you have proven experience in managing uncertainty, change, and sensitive issues, and achieving positive outcomes with a high degree of probity and integrity?

Are you able to communicate to and influence a range of audiences including executive and non-executive board members, and stakeholders across the arts, cultural and research sectors?

Do you have a personal commitment to equitable practice across access, diversity and inclusion and an understanding of how to embed these commitments into collections services?

If this criteria resonates with your skills and experience, we encourage you to apply.

  To apply for this role please submit an update CV and answer 2 application questions to demonstrate that you meet the minimum requirements for the role.…