You will support the Exhibitions Workshop team with the maintenance of both the long term and temporary galleries, conducting regular gallery checks and undertaking any maintenance and repair tasks arising. You will also support the Exhibitions workshop team in the construction, installation and dismantling of temporary exhibitions across all IWM branches.
You may also be required to assist the Exhibitions Display team with aspects of maintenance, dressing and mounting of exhibits and exhibitions (including art exhibitions) and displays throughout IWM where required.
This is a varied and physically demanding role which will require someone with a flexible and hardworking attitude.
Your duties will include:
Gallery Maintenance:
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You will be required to assist with gallery maintenance for the London branches (Lambeth Road, HMS Belfast, Churchill War Rooms) and IWM Duxford as well as occasionally at IWM North.
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You will support the Exhibitions Workshop team in carrying out daily gallery checks to ensure that the displays are maintained to a high standard. You will undertake any maintenance or repair tasks arising, such as making good walls and setworks structures, painting decorations and cleaning.
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You will also assist in the moving of display cases, exhibition props and workshop materials between the museum stores at Lambeth Road, IWM Duxford and other locations.
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You may also be required to support the Exhibitions Display Team with the cleaning and redressing of display cases in the long-term galleries. You will also assist with the removing of exhibits that have been requested for press, photography, filming or other approved IWM activities as required.
Exhibition Build and Display Projects:
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Working as part of the Exhibitions Workshop team you will assist with the construction of wall structures, display cases, claddings and panels, plinths and exhibition furniture as required by the project.
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You will assist with removing temporary and permanent exhibition displays, the making good and decoration of gallery walls and exhibition structures.
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You will assist the Exhibitions Display team with the production of object mount supports, the installation, dressing and de-installation of exhibits in temporary exhibitions and the long-term galleries as required.
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You will assist the Exhibitions Display team with the hanging of works of art as required.
Collections Care:
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You may be required to assist with providing access to display cases, cleaning of display cases and large objects and the transportation of objects across the site and to other branches.
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Support the maintaining of documentation records relating to the galleries and displays, e.g. display case opening records and object movement records on the IWM collections database, Axiell.
Budget & Administration:
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You will be responsible for meeting deadlines for work requests that have been assigned to you.
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You will assist with the updating of information on the branch maintenance planners.
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Assist with maintaining inventories for the exhibition stores at all IWM branches and assist with keeping the stores and mount- making areas tidy.
Health & Safety:
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You will be expected to keep up to date with current Health & Safety working practises for use of woodworking machinery and equipment.
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You will be responsible for ensuring the safe use and maintenance of all equipment in the workshop in accordance with Health & Safety regulations.
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You will maintain a clean and tidy working environment within the Exhibitions workshop areas and when working on the galleries.
Working Hours
This is a five day per week post. Working hours are 08.00 to 16.15, Monday to Thursday and 08.00 to 16.00 Friday, to enable daily checks and as much maintenance work as possible to be carried out on the public site before opening. From time-to-time flexibility with working hours is required to accommodate deadlines or priorities.
Travel within the UK including to other IWM locations will be required. Out of hours and weekend work may be necessary during busy periods, in particular in the run up to exhibition openings and for maintenance purposes. Time off in lieu will be offered to cover this.
This job description is not all encompassing. Over time the emphasis of the job may change without changing the general character of the job. Your duties may be reviewed from time to time and revised and updated in consultation with you to reflect appropriate changes.
Important Additional Apprenticeship Information for Applicants
Start Date
This position will commence in August 2025.
The Apprenticeship
This is a Carpentry & Joinery - Architectural Joinery – Level 2 apprenticeship and full details of the qualification and training provider can be found on the Building Crafts College website: Site Carpentry Apprenticeship L2 & L3 | The Building Crafts College
Application Eligibility
Candidates with an equal or higher qualification in the same subject are not eligible to apply for this apprenticeship. Applicants must meet the essential criteria in the person specification and:
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You must be employed in the trade prior to applying for this course.
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Have Grade 4 in Maths and English.
- Have commitment to and interest in carpentry.
You will be asked to complete Maths and English basic skills assessment with the Building Crafts College.
Apprenticeship Time
As an apprentice, you will spend a minimum of 6 hours training/learning per week as part of your apprenticeship. This might be taking part in a taught session, shadowing workplace mentors or learning a specific new skill or knowledge. You will carry out training both on and off the job. You will be supported throughout the course with an allocated workplace mentor, University academic tutors and 12 weekly meetings with the apprenticeship mentor to support your learning and development.
Equality and Inclusion
IWM is looking to support applicants who have faced barriers to work and actively encourage applications from all backgrounds. We miss out when people feel IWM isn't for them and are committed to removing and reducing barriers to make IWM open to everyone. Our Access & Inclusion Strategy was created to transform the work that we do to ensure that anyone can access IWM and that staff, audiences and collections at our national museums reflect the diversity of our local communities, the nation as a whole and the Commonwealth. This involves changes across IWM to create an inclusive culture and through small, meaningful changes over time, access and inclusion will become embedded and part of business as usual.
For a full list of duties and the person specification (which your application will be marked against) please view the Job Description.
