People's History Museum Recruiting Director of Collections and Engagement in Manchester
People's History Museum is recruiting a Director of Collections & Engagement to guide the development of its socially important museum and archive collection, future exhibitions, cultural learning and partnerships. Based in Manchester, the position calls for senior leadership of curatorial direction, collection care and inclusive public activity, and offers the opportunity to shape how visitors encounter social history through visual and material culture.
Position, contract, remuneration and deadlines
Organisation: People's History Museum, Manchester, United Kingdom. Permanent contract. Full time 35 hours per week, with an option of 28 hours at 0.8 FTE. Annual salary £44,000–£48,000 full-time equivalent; actual 0.8 FTE pay would be £35,200–£38,400. Employer pension contribution 10%; holiday entitlement 24 days plus bank holidays, pro rated when appropriate. Official employer closing date: Monday 23 November 2026 at exactly 10am UK local time.
Main duties
Provide direction for museum collections, archives, learning, interpretation, community activity and public programming. Work with the museum's estimated 65,000 objects, printed materials and significant banners, overseeing collection care, programming and access. Develop strong exhibitions, public learning and engagement, support gallery redevelopment and maintain effective budgets and cultural-sector relationships. Lead and develop teams, uphold appropriate object and archival stewardship, and assess programmes against visitor experience and inclusion objectives.
Professional eligibility and experience
Applicants should show senior experience in museum curatorial or public engagement leadership, sound organisational management, team development, exhibitions and learning programming and responsible governance. Commitment to accessibility, collaborative relationships and the public interpretation of visual and social history is especially relevant. Review the official job description for detailed professional criteria and right-to-work requirements.
How to apply
Submit a CV of no more than three A4 pages and a covering letter of no more than three A4 pages to hr@phm.org.uk, addressed to Jackie Royle, Finance & Operations Manager, by 10am on Monday 23 November 2026. The employer currently expects first interviews during the week of 7 December and possible second interviews the week of 14 December. Confirm the latest application pack and any access arrangements before sending.
Original organiser and application sources
About the organiser
People's History Museum is an independent Manchester museum dedicated to the history of democracy, movements and participation in the United Kingdom. Its collection includes political banners, printed ephemera and archives, and its specialist Conservation Studio supports the care of important textile and historical objects.
Editorial verification and disclaimer
The original professional recruitment information was checked on 13 November 2026 after examining the available historical published and unpublished articles of both Ise-Shima Art and Aion Laboratory without a 14-day limit.
This independently edited article is a reference summary of an external job or prize announcement, not the official organiser's information. Updates, translation and editorial interpretation may differ. Before applying, sharing personal information or making any payment, check the latest official eligibility, application or entry fees, closing time, remuneration, award and acquisition conditions, and application procedure. Where any discrepancy arises, the original organiser's current notice and rules prevail.