Curator: Modern Archives and Manuscripts

About the role 

The British Library is seeking to recruit a Curator to join the Modern Archives and Manuscripts section at St Pancras on a permanent basis. The Modern Archives and Manuscripts section is responsible for the Western Manuscript collections 1601-1950, including major holdings of historical, political, literary, theatrical and scientific papers. 

The post holder will work across the chronological range of the collection, but with a focus on the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The post will contribute to the full range of curatorial work on this collection. Tasks will include acquisitions work, cataloguing and collection management activities. The post holder will also contribute to public and academic engagement programmes and provide support for digitisation projects, exhibitions and learning programmes.

We are looking for candidates with experience of working with manuscripts and archives in a professional context, including cataloguing, collection management and work to promote the collection to academic and public audiences. The ability to work effectively as part of a team and to manage competing demands on your time are vital. Good IT skills are essential, as is a good knowledge of relevant standards and digital formats and experience of managing digital projects and/or collections.

For more information, please review the Job Profile.

About us 

We are the national library of the UK and we are here for everyone. Our shelves hold over 170 million items – a living collection that gets bigger every day. Although our roots extend back centuries, we aim to collect everything published in the UK today, tomorrow and far into the future. Our trusted experts care for this collection and open it up for everyone to spark new discoveries, ideas and to help people do incredible things. 

What we can offer you 

• 25 days’ holiday plus 2.5 privilege days in addition to 8 statutory holidays
• Access to a defined benefit Civil Service pension scheme
• Flexible working arrangements, including flexi-time
• Full details of employee benefits can be found on our Careers: Benefits page

Things you need to know 

• We are unable to provide sponsorship under the UK Skilled Worker visa for this role. 
• Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check (DBS check). 
• Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn. 
• We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian, Mixed Race and other ethnically diverse candidates and disabled candidates. Creating an inclusive workplace is the core of our business and a way to engage the diversity of thought that is essential to achieve our aims. 

Closing date: 23:59 on 14 June 2026

To apply, please click the 'Apply' button above.

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