The British Museum
Curator: Early South Asia
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Curator: Early South Asia
Full-time
Hybrid (at least 4 days per week on-site in Bloomsbury, London)
Permanent
£36,396 per annum
Application deadline: Monday, 20 July 2026
About the role
We are seeking an ambitious and knowledgeable Curator: Early South Asia to play a key role in researching, developing and sharing one of the most significant collections of South Asian heritage in the world.
This is an exceptional opportunity for a curator, researcher or museum professional with a specialist interest in the archaeology, art and material culture of South Asia to help make internationally important collections accessible to diverse audiences through research, display, publication and public engagement.
As Curator: Early South Asia, you will be responsible for the care, development, research and interpretation of collections spanning ancient to medieval South Asia, including material from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and parts of Afghanistan. Collections include archaeological assemblages, Indus Valley Civilisation material, Buddhist reliquaries, Amaravati sculpture and early Sri Lankan bronze and stone sculpture. You will collaborate with leading scholars and museum professionals and contribute to new interpretations of South Asia’s rich cultural heritage.
Whether through groundbreaking research, engaging public programmes or innovative collection interpretation, you will play a vital role in connecting people with the stories and cultures of Early South Asia.
About you
You will be an enthusiastic curator or researcher with specialist knowledge of Early South Asian history, archaeology, art history or material culture, coupled with a passion for sharing collections with broad audiences.
You will have:
- BA/BSc and postgraduate qualifications (MA, MSc or PhD) in a relevant discipline and membership of relevant professional bodies or societies.
- Demonstrable experience of research, fieldwork and publication in the relevant field.
- Experience working within a museum environment.
- Evidence of publication in peer-reviewed journals in a relevant subject such as South Asian art history, history, archaeology or museum studies.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Able to engage audiences through talks, presentations and public-facing activities.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to balance multiple projects and priorities.
- Ideally, you will also have experience securing funding and experience of a temporary exhibition or gallery refurbishment.
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Key areas of responsibility
Working collaboratively across the museum and with external partners, you will:
- Increase public access to collections and knowledge through exhibitions, publications, digital content and public programmes.
- Lead on improving and developing the documentation of the collection and curatorial records.
- Collaborate with relevant institutions or groups, developing good relations with relevant stakeholders.
- Undertake research into the Early South Asia collections and raise money to support them.
- Support gallery displays, collection interpretation and future exhibition projects, in particular, the Sir Joseph Hotung Gallery for South Asia.
- Build the collection through acquisition via donation and purchase.
- Respond to public and scholarly enquiries and act as an advocate for the museum and its collections.
The Masterplan
The British Museum is undertaking its biggest transformation since its founding nearly 300 years ago. This physical and intellectual transformation includes large scale building and gallery transformation, new ways of connecting with audiences and different ways of working. As we look towards this exciting future, we remain guided by the words of our founder Hans Sloane - who dreamed of a museum connecting all arts and sciences, which would be accessible to everyone, everywhere.
Benefits
At the British Museum, we believe our people are at the heart of everything we do and have designed a benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary. Our full list of benefits can be found here, but we’ve outlined some highlights below:
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- Free exhibition entry for you and guests, exclusive private views, ICOM and reciprocal museum access.
- Civil Service Pension Scheme defined benefit with 28.97% employer contribution.
- 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days (and +5 days after 10 years).
- Learning and development through courses, mentoring and Athena as well as support for professional qualifications.
- Employee Assistance Programme available 24/7 for counselling, wellbeing support and more.
- Enhanced parental leave including maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave.
- Support for carers through Employers for Carers.
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
- Spark Curiosity
- 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.
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.
Interviews are expected to take place on the week commencing 27 July.
Internal Applicants: We welcome internal applicants regardless of background, department or length of service but encourage you to let your manager know before applying.
The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.
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