Overview
The Design Museum, in partnership with UKRI’s Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), is seeking maternity cover for its Head of Curatorial Programme to help lead Future Observatory, the national design research programme for the green transition.
The primary purpose of this role is to translate cutting-edge research into displays, publications and programming, making it engaging for a broad audience. The Head of Curatorial Programme (maternity cover) will oversee displays, public programmes and publications, creating bridges with the public and bringing new audiences into a relationship with design research.
Job scope
The successful candidate will have a deep knowledge of contemporary design and architecture and a commitment to the green transition. They will be an excellent communicator and be able to demonstrate that they have the ability and commitment to engage a wide range of audiences. They will have varied curatorial and programming experience and an understanding of the research landscape.
Job description
- The full job description/person specification is available to download from our careers portal vacancy posting.
Delivery
- Direct and ensure public engagement with major research strands supported by Future Observatory and AHRC, including Green Transition Ecosystems, Design Exchange Partnerships and Design Accelerators;
- Oversee the 2026 Future Observatory Design Researchers in Residence, including its research design, final exhibition and annual publication;
- Convene stakeholders and build effective private and public sector networks under the umbrella goal of designing the green transition.
- Deliver the Future Observatory UK 2040 project, comprising two design studios and final published report planned for early 2026.
Leadership
- Be an advocate for the museum as one of its thought leaders for a wide range of stakeholders and audiences, including public speaking, media interviews, membership of juries, committees and advisory groups;
- Act as a champion for Future Observatory, to both internal and external audiences;
- Broaden participation in design research as a foundational principle of the programme. This will involve promoting and role-modelling equality, diversity and inclusion best practice to encourage participation amongst demographics that are currently under-represented in the field;
- Keep abreast of relevant new developments and promoting developments widely across the museum.
Management
- Liaise regularly with the other museum heads of department to integrate the work of the Future Observatory with that of the museum;
- Act as representative of Future Observatory on the museum’s Learning and Research Committee;
- Line manage the Future Observatory Curator and Future Observatory Programme Producer, with the potential for one other line report if the team grows.
Person specification
Essential - Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Leadership and Strategy
- Demonstrable experience of strategic thinking and developing cultural programmes;
- In-depth knowledge of the current design and design research national and international landscape, especially as it relates to the green transition, regenerative practices, the circular economy, and the reduction of waste;
Communication and Engagement
- Outstanding communication skills, suitable for engagement with a range of different audiences – specialist and non-specialist, within the academic and non-academic communities;
- Ability to influence others and liaise effectively with colleagues and external contacts within a museum/gallery environment;
- Demonstrable ability to speak for the value of design and design research, both to internal UKRI and to external audiences, using existing and new networks;
Delivery
- Working familiarity with the processes, methods and intellectual framings of research, both in the written and practice-based contexts;
- Experience in delivering public engagement in the context of displays through effective application of interpretation strategies;
- Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines and retain good attention to detail;
- A realistic appreciation of what can be achieved over the timescale, including overcoming key barriers and management of risks
Salary: up to £51,000 per annum, dependent on experience
Holidays: 25 days per annum + Christmas eve (museum closed)
Hours: 35 hours per week/ full-time/ 5 days per week
Contract: 12 months fixed-term contract (Maternity Cover)
Location: the Design Museum Kensington is the place of work, with a hybrid arrangement of 60% of an employee’s role to be performed at the museum and 40% remote.
Closing date: Sunday 17 August, midnight
Interviews: w/c 25 August 2025
Application process
For all the latest job vacancies at the Design Museum, please visit our Careers page to apply via our online portal: https://careers.designmuseum.org/vacancies
If you encounter any issues while completing your application, please email peopleteam@designmuseum.org before the vacancy closing date. We will be in touch as soon as possible; (please note the inbox is monitored Monday-Friday).