Salary: £35,736 – £40,395 (Pro rata)

Contract type: Temporary (September 2028)

Reporting to: Capital Project Manager

Department: Programme

Who are we?

We are Scotland’s design museum. Designed for everyone, firing imaginations and sparking curiosity in design across Scotland and around the world. At V&A Dundee we are on a mission to inspire and empower through design.

Design shapes our world, it's part of everyday life and it's everywhere. We are a museum with energy and have a vision of the future where everyone is inspired through design and recognizes its far-reaching impact in our lives.

We are a welcoming place for people of Dundee to explore design and to use as an everyday part of their city, as well as inviting visitors from around the world. We are part of the V&A family of museums that celebrate creativity in all its forms from across centuries, for everyone.

Role profile

The Project Registrar will support the delivery of the V&A Dundee 2028 Project by managing all arrangements for the audit, inventory, de-installation, storage and/or return of the 300+ objects currently on display in the Scottish Design Galleries. You will also administer all contractual and logistical arrangements for new loans-in to the V&A Dundee 2028 Project, including long loans to the Scottish Design Galleries from public and private lenders. Working closely with colleagues in the V&A Dundee 2028 team, as well across the wider organisation, you will ensure that these processes are planned efficiently and carried out to agreed project timelines and in accordance with lender requirements and sector best practice, prioritising the safety of objects under V&A Dundee’s care at all times.

You will be responsible for managing key stakeholder relationships, including with current and potential lenders to the Scottish Design Galleries. You will therefore have strong written and oral communication skills, and the ability to effectively and pragmatically negotiate loans with a range of institutional and private lenders.

You will have an awareness of the current issues, challenges and opportunities facing Museums – particularly sustainability, and access and inclusion – and how these relate to Registrar and Collections Management best practice, particularly when managing programmes of long-term loans. You will have a collaborative and solutions-focussed approach, and as part of the Capital Project team will contribute to the successful delivery of the V&A Dundee 2028 Project.

The role will be based in Dundee, however we recognise the benefits of a hybrid way of working and support our staff to make use of remote working options when combined with regular on-site days, normally 1-2days a week. It is anticipated that the requirement to be on-site will increase during the delivery phase of the project. We welcome applications from candidates seeking secondment from their current role.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage all Registration processes for the V&A Dundee 2028 Project, reporting to the touring and Programme Manager.

• Implement a full audit and inventory of objects currently on display in the Scottish Design Galleries and in storage at V&A Dundee, ensuring this inventory is accurate and maintained throughout the V&A Dundee Project lifecycle.

• Work closely with colleagues to manage the programme of loan renewals, requests, returns and rotations relating to the V&A Dundee2028 Project.

• Negotiate with lenders to the V&A Dundee 2028 project on conditions of loan and ensure these are communicated effectively to colleagues across V&A Dundee.

• Maintain full and accurate loan documentation in line with the sector standards.

• Ensure all objects relating to the V&A Dundee 2028 Project are covered under the UK Government Indemnity Scheme or commercial fine art insurance.

• In close consultation with colleagues across V&A Dundee, develop and maintain a workplan for the deinstallation, storage, movement and installation of all loan objects related to the V&A Dundee 2028 Project.

• Commission and manage object transport, packing and crating contracts for the V&A Dundee 2028 Project.

• Reporting to the Capital Project Manager, ensure that accurate and current cost estimates for object transport, crating and packing are maintained throughout the Project Lifecycle.

• As necessary, identify, appoint and manage specialist contractors, including conservation.

• Manage all lender courier requirements, delegating to the Project Officer as appropriate.

• Ensure V&A Dundee procedures and sector standards are adhered to for the receipt and despatch of objects to / from V&A Dundee.

• Working closely with colleagues and specialist conservation staff, coordinate the condition reporting of objects received and despatched to/ from V&A Dundee, ensuring accurate records are maintained.

• Support project close-down and handover to operational teams.

• Other duties as reasonably requested by the Capital Project Manager.

Person specification

Essential

• Relevant experience working in a Registrar or Collection Management role within a museum, gallery or heritage environment.

• Experience of working to national museum standards and procedures for the safe storage, packing, movement and display of museum objects.

• Strong understanding of current Registrar practice, and the ability to contribute to innovative and sustainable approaches to the care, display and transportation of museum objects.

• Knowledge of relevant SPECTRUM Standards and Procedures ,particularly relating to loans in, object entry and movement, audit and inventory.

• Experience of using Collections Management Systems to manage loans-in.

• Experience of having arranged UK Government Indemnity Scheme cover or commercial insurance cover in an equivalent context.

• Excellent organisational and planning skills.

• The ability to solve complex problems and make decisions under pressure with a high degree of professional judgement.

• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work communicate effectively with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.

• Experience of managing or supervising the work of others.

• The ability to work supportively with a diverse range of colleagues and treat all colleagues with dignity and respect.

• An interest and commitment to the work of V&A Dundee.

Desirable

• Experience of having managed a gallery decant, collections or storage movement project or similar process.

• Experience of working directly with design, textile, fashion, furniture, jewellery, architecture or mixed-material collections.

• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary project team, and of working through Design RIBA stages.

• An interest in how current issues in sustainability, access and inclusion influence Museum practice, particularly in the management of temporary loans and displays.