Keeper of Western Art

Open since 1683, the Ashmolean Museum is the University of Oxford’s Museum of art and archaeology. Situated in the heart of the city, we are an iconic destination open to everyone, every day. With c.900k visitors a year pre-Covid, we are the most visited university museum in the world. The collections and archives at the Ashmolean are a global resource comprising over 1 million objects and works of art covering almost the entire span of human history.

As Keeper of Western Art, you will lead one of the Museum’s four major curatorial departments, which holds internationally important collections of paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, decorative arts, and musical instruments from the Middle Ages to the present day (approximately 370,000 items), incorporating numerous individual collections of high specialist importance. You will manage a team of 9 permanent staff including 4 curators as well as further fixed-term researchers, research assistants and volunteers. You will report to the Director of Collections.

You will be research active and bring a specialisation in one of the key areas of the Ashmolean’s Western Art collection, with a track record of significant publication and an international scholarly reputation. The post carries a Sabbatical Leave entitlement. You will contribute to University teaching, proactively working with academic departments to develop teaching opportunities. You will have management experience, as well as a track record of planning, developing and delivering major exhibitions or projects, internally and jointly with other institutions.

The post carries a college fellowship, currently a fellowship at Balliol College and you will be expected to play an active role in the academic life and management of the college.

This is a permanent, full-time position, working 37.5 hours per week.

You will be required to upload your CV and a supporting statement as part of your online application. Your supporting statement should list each of the essential and desirable selection criteria, as listed in the job description, and explain how you meet each one.

Recognising that diversity is our strength, vital for innovation and creativity, we aspire to build a truly diverse community which values and respects every individual’s unique contribution, while providing all our staff with a welcoming and inclusive workplace that enables everyone to develop and do their best work. No applicant or member of staff shall be discriminated against because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Only applications received online before 12:00 midday (GMT/BST) on Friday 26 May 2023 can be considered. Interviews are expected to take place during the week commencing Monday 12 June 2023.