Hybrid (3 days per week on-site in Bloomsbury, London. 5 days during probation)
Permanent contract
£43,317 per annum
About the Role
Join the British Museum’s award‑winning Design & Interpretation Studio at a defining moment in the Museum’s history. As we embark on the once‑in‑a‑generation Masterplan to transform the entire Bloomsbury site, this role offers the chance to shape not only major exhibitions, gallery redevelopments and public‑facing spatial projects, but also the future direction of the studio itself.
You will act as our Senior Exhibition Designer to lead the creative vision for immersive environments, craft narrative‑driven visitor experiences, and collaborate closely with curators, interpretation specialists, and graphic designers. As a hands‑on creative leader, you’ll drive design excellence from concept through to final delivery, helping to build an industry‑leading design practice and leaving a lasting imprint on the Museum’s next chapter.
About You
We’re looking for an experienced exhibition designer or architect with a strong portfolio of realised projects in museums, cultural institutions, or complex public environments. You bring a deep understanding of spatial design, materiality, and construction, alongside the ability to develop and communicate clear conceptual responses to narrative briefs.
You are confident leading multidisciplinary teams and engaging a wide range of stakeholders, from curators to fabricators. You balance creative ambition with technical expertise, and are comfortable working across all project stages, from early concept through detailed design and delivery. Experience of exhibition design, architectural practice, or scenography is essential, as is an interest in how audiences engage with space, objects, and stories.
You thrive in complex, fast-paced environments, and bring a collaborative, thoughtful approach to leadership. You are motivated by the opportunity to contribute to projects of cultural significance, and to help shape the future of exhibition design at one of the world’s leading museums.
Key areas of responsibility
* Lead creative development for temporary exhibitions, permanent galleries and public‑facing spaces, shaping compelling spatial narratives and immersive environments.
* Produce high‑quality drawings, visualisations, technical documentation and tender packages using advanced 2D/3D tools.
* Manage contractors, specialist consultants and external designers to ensure design intent, build quality and project standards are met.
* Champion sustainable design through responsible material choices, reuse strategies and environmentally informed construction methods.
* Mentor junior designers, foster an ambitious studio culture and collaborate across disciplines to deliver exceptional visitor experiences.
Please provide a portfolio that includes a well-curated selection of relevant work, clearly showing how your skills and experience match the requirements of the role. Please submit your portfolio as a PDF under the ‘Cover Letter’ Section of your application. Applications without a portfolio, or with an incorrectly submitted portfolio, cannot be considered.
At the British Museum, we believe our people are at the heart of everything we do. That"s why we\'ve designed a benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary. Our full list of benefits can be found here.
Our Values
Our values drive everything we do, from how we handle our objects to how we work in our team to fostering a culture where everyone feels heard and empowered:
* Care Deeply
* Embrace the Unknown
* Value Many Voices
These are a core part of how we recruit. Throughout the application, interview and selection process, we look for examples of how candidates demonstrate these behaviours in their own work and experiences. We encourage you to familiarise yourself with our values and reflect them in your application.
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 may be able to provide visa sponsorship for this role, subject to meeting eligibility requirements.*
The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.
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