Short Description

Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales is a charity and family of seven national museums and one collections centre located across Wales. Our seven museums consist of:

  • National Museum Cardiff
  • St Fagans National Museum of History
  • National Waterfront Museum
  • Big Pit National Coal Museum
  • National Slate Museum
  • National Wool Museum
  • National Roman Legion Museum

Salary: upwards of £75,512, dependent on skills and experience.
Annual leave: 27 days plus 8 Bank Holidays and 1 privilege day. Annual leave increases by 5 days after 5 years.
Contract: permanent.
Contract hours: 35.

Main Purpose of the role:

To provide intellectual, compassionate and strategic leadership of Amgueddfa Cymru’s Collections & Research Division, ensuring the nation’s collections are cared for, developed and shared for the greatest public benefit. This role sits at the heart of delivering Amgueddfa Cymru’s Vision, combining academic rigour, creative innovation and strong people leadership to ensure the collections inspire and engage audiences across Wales and beyond.

As a senior leader, you will combine academic rigour, creative innovation and strong people leadership to:

  • Safeguard, grow and make accessible the collections for the public good.
  • Oversee the Exhibition Strategy for Wales, aligned with the Public Programme Strategy and Amgueddfa Cymru 2030.
  • Drive research excellence by keeping abreast of cutting-edge museological practice and personally leading its application across the Division.
  • Inspire transformational change, ensuring curatorial, exhibitions and research teams collaborate effectively and deliver a truly visitor-focused culture.
  • Ensure resources are managed with integrity, efficiency and compliance, while finding innovative ways to generate income and meet ambitious targets.
  • Contribute fully to collective leadership within the Senior Leadership Team, supporting the Vision, Operational Plan and forward programme.
  • Represent Amgueddfa Cymru nationally and internationally, raising its profile and reputation as a national institution.

Key Responsibilities include:

  • Take overall responsibility for Amgueddfa Cymru’s collections, ensuring they are researched, developed, cared for, and accessible, while fostering cross-divisional collaboration.
  • Lead the development and implementation of policies on collections, research, and exhibitions, embedding professional standards and ethical practice.
  • Champion accessibility and inclusion, ensuring diverse audiences shape the Museum’s work and experience it as meaningful and open to all.
  • Deliver the Research Strategy and Action Plan, ensuring projects strengthen Amgueddfa Cymru’s role as a centre of expertise.
  • Set targets and implement the Digitisation Strategy, expanding online access to collections and resources.
  • Inspire cultural change, motivating staff across curatorial, exhibitions, and research teams to innovate with a visitor-focused ethos.
  • Identify and pursue bold, original opportunities for income generation, diversifying revenue streams to support sustainability.
  • Work with fellow Directors to plan and deliver impactful learning programmes, public engagement and participation events.
  • Manage the acquisition budget responsibly and coordinate bids for external funding.
  • Ensure the Division’s financial and human resources are managed effectively and in line with best practice.
  • Play an active role in the Senior Leadership Team, ensuring the Division contributes to corporate goals within the matrix structure.
  • Represent Amgueddfa Cymru with authority across Wales and beyond, strengthening its reputation and public profile.
  • Uphold the Museum’s public service ethos, ensuring transparency, accountability, and commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Knowledge and Experience:

  • Up-to-date knowledge of museological thinking and practice, and ability to apply this effectively to strategy, policy and operations.
  • Understanding of museum audiences and how this informs curatorial work, including selection, care, conservation, display and interpretation of objects.
  • Knowledge of current museum exhibition practice, focused on engaging, inclusive and accessible experiences.
  • Expertise in collections management best practice and awareness of health and safety considerations.
  • Awareness of national and international developments in the museum sector.
  • Proven senior leadership in research, public engagement, and collections management.
  • Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams, motivating staff, managing budgets, and delivering complex projects.
  • Track record of developing and implementing strategy and inspiring teams to achieve organisational objectives.
  • Experience managing research programmes, publishing outputs, and interpreting collections for diverse audiences.
  • Commitment to professional standards and good practice in collection management.
  • Understanding of how the Division contributes to government strategies, including the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act (Wales) 2015

Skills and Personal Attributes:

  • Passion for Amgueddfa Cymru’s mission and empathy for the history and heritage of Wales.
  • Strategic thinker, translating plans and policies into tangible outcomes.
  • Excellent communicator, able to inspire and engage staff and external stakeholders.
  • Demonstrable change management skills to deliver sustainable organisational improvements.
  • Tenacious, resilient and courageous, able to work at pace.
  • Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, with the ability to embed these principles in practice.
  • Demonstrates emotional intelligence, active listening, and the ability to lead with compassion and kindness to build trust, foster inclusion, and strengthen human connection.

How to Apply

Online Application

Location

United Kingdom

Timeline

  • Application Deadline: 30 September 2025

Website Link: https://www.saxbam.com/appointment/amgueddfa-cymru/

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