Head of Graphic Design

Design and Interpretation

Full-time (41 hours per week)

Permanent

£56,195 per annum

• Application deadline: 12pm (midday) on 13 June 2025 All applicants are required to provide samples of work that show breadth of experience in print, digital, and gallery projects spanning concept, process, and complete work. This should be a maximum of 6 A4 PDFs and should be sent to BMRecruit@britishmuseum.org. Failure to send a sample of work to the BMRecruit email address may result in your application not being considered by the hiring panel. About the role: To provide creative guidance and oversee successful design development and brand consistency for Graphic Design in exhibitions and displays, marketing, signage and wayfinding, print and other publications including other uses of brand. Manage the Graphic Design team and support the Head of Design and Interpretation in championing and developing excellence in creative graphic design. Liaising closely with colleagues across the Museum as well as external contractors, this role will act as an innovator, advisor and escalation point for the effective design and project management of these services. This role may also oversee delivery of wider design services (including 3D, 2D, lighting, AV) within exhibitions and displays. Key areas of responsibility:To oversee the graphic design development and implementation of projects from concept to completion, including design solutions for temporary exhibitions, gallery displays, signage, marketing materials, other print and digital media.
• To lead and support the Graphic Design team, ensuring they are motivated and inspired, and providing opportunities for them to develop. Report regularly to the Head of Design and Interpretation on the progress of project delivery. Line manage graphic designers.
• Working closely with the Head of Design and Interpretation to develop design briefs to guide designers and form the basis of project direction and development, working with external and internal design colleagues to develop creative concepts. Work closely with the Head of Department and Interpretation as well as other internal stakeholders, including teams from Curatorial, Capital Projects, Marketing.
• To work closely with the Head of 3D Design on exhibition and display projects in developing creative, innovative and realisable designs.

• About you:Degree in Graphic Design
• High standard of portfolio, displaying creative solutions and strong attention to detail.
• Professional experience at senior level with demonstrable ability to brief designers
• Demonstratable Museum exhibition design experience, or a recognized consultant with evidence of planning design and production, from concept to completion.
• Leadership experience managing small teams.

About the British Museum: Founded in 1753, the British Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history and culture. The Museum is a leading visitor attraction, and its world-famous collection includes the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, the Sutton-Hoo finds, and the Lewis Chessmen. The Museum also holds an extensive collection of prints and drawings spanning 600 years, including works by the greatest graphic artists Dürer, Michelangelo and Rembrandt. You can view a selection of our impressive collection of prints and drawings in our virtual gallery. The Museum offers a competitive benefits package including:

• Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service) plus 2.5 privilege days and plus bank holidays.
• Membership of the civil service defined benefit pension scheme (find out here what benefits a civil service pension provides).
• Free entry to a wide range of museums and exhibitions
• Participation in private and public Museum activities, including talks by leading curators from around the world and behind-the-scenes opportunities to learn how museums care for and manage their extraordinary collections.
• Interest-free travel, bicycle, and rental deposit loans
• Professional and personal development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounts on food and gift shop purchases

Additional details: For more information about this role, please see the job description. If you have any additional needs that we should be aware of to support you with your application, please provide details to bmrecruit@britishmuseum.org. We have a legal responsibility to ensure that employees have the right to work in the UK. If you currently do not hold the right to work in the UK, we can only sponsor a limited number of roles that meet eligibility criteria. To offer a sponsorship, the job role you apply needs to be in the list of eligible occupations: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations. Additionally (with some limited exceptions), the role will need to meet the minimum salary threshold of £38,700 or the going rate for the job, whichever is the highest. You can find more information here: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-job The British Museum is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals can make best use of their skills, free from unlawful discrimination or harassment. We value the benefits that a diverse workforce brings to a museum which represents world culture. The Museum is committed to ensuring that no job applicant suffers unlawful discrimination because of any protected characteristics. Our recruitment procedures aim to ensure that individuals are treated because of their relevant knowledge, skills, and experience. We offer a flexible way of working scheme that allows our employees to work remotely in a way that suits them and the organisation. We welcome questions and conversations at interview stage about how flexible working could work for you. The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.