Overview
Role Summary
Project Scientist: X-ray Imaging Access Manager
Scientific Research
Full-time, 41 hours per week (including one hour paid lunch break)
Fixed term for 5 years
£44,719 per annum
Application deadline: 12pm (midday) on 12 September 2025
About the role:
The successful postholder will manage the operation and maintenance of the state-of-the-art Multiscale X-ray Imaging Centre (part of the British Museum’s Scientific Research department) consisting of a large-scale X-radiography Suite, and a new Micro-CT laboratory. The appointed person will also facilitate access to the Centre for the heritage science sector, as part of the AHRC-funded national Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS).
Key areas of responsibility:
- To manage the day-to-day operation of the two X-ray imaging laboratories which make up the Centre, as well as the workstations for image processing and analysis.
- To act as Radiation Protection Supervisor of the laboratory spaces, including conducting regular radiation monitoring and maintaining up-to-date risk assessments.
- To ensure proper management of the data generated by the Centre, in collaboration with the national Heritage Science Data Service (HSDS) which will be established as part of RICHeS.
- To facilitate access to the Centre for both external and internal users, including X-ray imaging in the laboratory and assistance with image processing and interpretation.
- To provide training and supervision, where appropriate, for users of the laboratory spaces and image processing workstations.
- Any other appropriate duties related to X-ray imaging as identified by Scientific Research.
About you:
- Degree in a subject relevant to X-Ray CT imaging, heritage science or equivalent experience.
- Significant practical experience of operating micro-CT scanning equipment.
- Demonstrable experience with CT image processing software, such as VG Studio Max, Avizo or Dragonfly and the analysis and interpretation of X-ray CT data.
- Experience of maintaining and troubleshooting issues with micro-CT equipment.
- Ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders to identify and organise priorities for effective research projects execution.
About the British Museum:
Founded in 1753, the British Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history and culture. The Museum is a leading visitor attraction, and its world-famous collection includes the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, the Sutton-Hoo finds, and the Lewis Chessmen. The Museum also holds an extensive collection of prints and drawings spanning 600 years, including works by the greatest graphic artists such as Dürer, Michelangelo and Rembrandt.
You can view a selection of our impressive collection of prints and drawings in our virtual gallery.
The Museum offers a competitive benefits package including:
- Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service) plus 2.5 privilege days and plus bank holidays.
- Membership of the civil service defined benefit pension scheme (find out here what benefits a civil service pension provides).
- Free entry to a wide range of museums and exhibitions
- Participation in private and public Museum activities, including talks by leading curators from around the world and behind-the-scenes opportunities to learn how museums care for and manage their extraordinary collections.
- Interest-free travel, bicycle, and rental deposit loans
- Professional and personal development opportunities
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Discounts on food and gift shop purchases
Additional details:
For more information about this role, please see the job description.
The interviews are expected to take place in the week commencing 29 September 2025.
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.
We have a legal responsibility to ensure that employees have the right to work in the UK. If you currently do not hold the right to work in the UK, we can only sponsor a limited number of roles that meet eligibility criteria. To offer a sponsorship, the job role you apply needs to be in the list of eligible occupations: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations. Additionally (with some limited exceptions), the role will need to meet the new minimum salary threshold of £41,700 or the going rate for the job, whichever is the highest. You can find more information here: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-job
The British Museum is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals can make best use of their skills, free from unlawful discrimination or harassment. We value the benefits that a diverse workforce brings to a museum which represents world culture. The Museum is committed to ensuring that no job applicant suffers unlawful discrimination because of any protected characteristics. Our recruitment procedures aim to ensure that individuals are treated because of their relevant knowledge, skills, and experience.
We specifically encourage applications from candidates from ethnic minority groups who are underrepresented within our senior roles.
We offer a flexible way of working scheme that allows our employees to work remotely in a way that suits them and the organisation. We welcome questions and conversations at interview stage about how flexible working could work for you. We would typically see this role as working on site about 4-5 days a week.
The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
