Head of Community Partnerships

Role Summary

Head of Community Engagement
Full-time, Hybrid (at least 3 days per week onsite)
Permanent
£43,317 per annum
Apply by 12pm (midday) on Tuesday 23 December

About the role

Are you passionate about building meaningful relationships with communities and shaping inclusive cultural experiences? We’re looking for a Head of Community Partnerships (Engagement) to lead our approach to collaboration and consultation, ensuring diverse voices are embedded across our Museum’s programmes and future plans.

The British Museum is proud to be one of the world’s most visited museums. In 2024, its home in Camden received 6.5 million visitors, more than any other museum in the UK. Against this backdrop, the British Museum is now undergoing an extraordinary transformation, with projects to reinvent some of our galleries and the visitor experience as part of the Masterplan.

As Head of Community Partnerships, you’ll provide strategic leadership for community engagement, working closely with teams across the Museum to co-develop initiatives that foster trust and long-term relationships. You’ll champion participatory practice, influence decision-making, and ensure community perspectives shape our Masterplan and learning strategies.

Key areas of responsibility

• Provide strategic leadership for the Museum’s approach to community partnerships.
• Lead and develop the Community Partnerships Team.
• Create and develop frameworks for consultation and engagement with diverse communities.
• Support teams in co-designing programmes and projects.
• Build strategic, sustainable relationships with community organisations across London and beyond, championing participatory and inclusive practice.
• Oversee engagement events, previews, and collaborative projects.
• Evaluate the impact of community engagement and consultation demonstrating value and accountability.

About you

• Experienced in developing and delivering arts, heritage, or cultural projects with community partners.
• Skilled in people management and project leadership.
• Understanding of good practice when working with community partners in a museum context with knowledge of working with Curators, Marketing, Education and Interpretation professionals.
• Strong knowledge of London’s communities and inclusive engagement practices.
• Excellent communicator and influencer, with strong diplomatic skills.
• Sensitive to diverse issues with a proven track record of building relationships internally and externally.

Benefits

• Be a part of a world-renowned institution, where history, culture, and innovation come together!
• 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 days after long service) plus 2.5 privilege days, in addition to bank holidays
• Generous civil service pension scheme (find out more here)
• Complimentary exhibition tickets
• Free entry at paid national museum and gallery exhibitions
• Free and discounted entry to international cultural organisations
• Interest-free travel loans and rental deposit loans
• Employee Assistance Programme for mental health support
• 1 hour paid lunch break
• Subsidised staff canteen
• Discounts on gift shop purchases

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. These are:

• Care Deeply
• Embrace the Unknown
• Spark Curiosity
• Value Many Voices

Additional details

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.

The British Museum is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all employees 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 in line with their relevant knowledge, skills and experience.

The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.