Interim Head of European Collections

This is an exciting opportunity to develop a strategic approach to the British Library’s post-1851 European collections while leading the team looking after one of the world’s major collections of contemporary European published materials.

This 18-month fixed-term role is based within Collections and Curation, although it will work closely with several teams in the Library. Its primary focus will be developing a strategic and operational plan for the collecting, cataloguing and curation of post-1851

European published materials, which will provide a medium- to long-term framework for collecting and curatorial resource. The postholder will also lead the curatorial team responsible for the management, development and promotion of contemporary content published

on the continent of Europe from 1851 to the present day. Europe is one of the regions identified in the Library’s Knowledge Matters strategy as being central to its international work, and this plan will help the Library attain its strategic goals of continuing

to deliver significant cultural initiatives, digitisation projects and partnership activities in this area, as well as continuing to develop its collections in a sustainable way. As a member of the Western Heritage Collections senior management team, you will

contribute to the management of the department, as well as managing and leading the European Collections section of around ten curators. You will ensure a high level of collection management and stewardship of the collection. You will lead on internal projects

and external partnerships, and will consider the allocation of staff to ensure that strategic objectives are met, sometimes against a background of conflicting interests and priorities. You will lead the European team in developing innovative ways of engaging

a wide and diverse public nationally and internationally with enjoyable and challenging cultural experiences based on the collection and new research insights.

The minimum requirements for this role include a first degree level qualification and experience in European studies or a related discipline, with a demonstrable knowledge of contemporary and historical publishing in continental Europe. You will have significant

employment experience in a research library or similar environment. You will also have proven leadership and people management skills, including the ability to direct, motivate and develop a team of professional staff. You should have experience of change

management, developing work plans and managing budgets.

As one of the world’s great libraries, our duty is to preserve the nation’s intellectual memory for the future and make it available to all for research, inspiration and enjoyment. At present we have well over 170 million items, in most known languages, with

three million new items added every year. We have manuscripts, maps, newspapers, magazines, prints and drawings, music scores, and patents. We make our collections and programmes available to all. We operate the world’s largest document delivery service providing

millions of items a year to customers all over the world. What matters to us is that we preserve the national memory and enable knowledge to be created both now and in the future by anyone, anywhere.

In return we offer a competitive salary and a number of excellent benefits.  Our pension scheme is one of the most valuable benefits we offer, as our staff can become members of the Alpha Pension Scheme where the Library contributes a minimum of 26.6% (this

may be higher dependent on grade). Another significant benefit the Library provides is the provision of a flexible working hours scheme which could allow you to work your hours flexibly over the week and to take up to 5 days flexi leave in a 3 month period.

This is on top of 25 days holiday from entry and public and privilege holidays.

Closing date: 06 January 2025

Interview date: 27 January 2025