Interim Commercial Director

The British Museum

Hours
40 hours per week

Length of contract
12 month

About the Organisation

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.

About the role

We are seeking an exceptional Interim Commercial Director with an international profile to lead our commercial enterprise, the British Museum Company (BMCo), through an exciting period of change, transformation and transition. The British Museum is entering one of the most significant and ambitious periods in its history. With our Masterplan moving into delivery, and the transformative Western Range programme in development, we are redefining how millions of visitors experience our collections, our buildings, and our stories. 

Part of this extraordinary transformation – both physical and intellectual – is already underway. We have built a new state-of-the-art research centre in Reading, have begun work on a new energy centre to support our drive towards net zero, and we have just appointed world-renowned architect Lina Ghotmeh to rejuvenate and redevelop our Western Range – accounting for over a third of our galleries. This will be the biggest building project the Museum has undertaken since the Victorian era, and indeed one of the most exciting cultural renovations in the world, making it a uniquely exciting time to join the Museum.

As Interim Commercial Director, your leadership will ensure we continue to offer an outstanding visitor experience through unavoidable disruption while maintaining strong commercial performance. As these essential works progress, parts of our estate will be temporarily closed. Through careful planning, you will balance these disruptions to maximise revenue, elevate our brand, and ensure visitors feel welcomed and inspired.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Provide clear commercial leadership aligned with the Museum’s strategic priorities, Masterplan objectives, and Western Range development timeline.
• Ensure every aspect of commercial delivery upholds, strengthens, and
• communicates the Museum’s brand identity.
• Deliver a cohesive commercial strategy that optimises revenue across retail, licensing, publishing, catering, international touring exhibitions and digital commerce.
• Act as a senior advisor on commercial opportunities arising from capital projects, opportunities for international exhibitions, changing visitor flows, and evolving public expectations.

Operational Excellence:

• Ensure consistent commercial performance during periods of estate change, temporary closures, and shifting visitor patterns.
• Work with the Finance team to ensure robust, accurate financial reporting, using data to inform decisions.
• Oversee all commercial operations, maintaining high service standards, cost efficiency, and strong financial controls.
• Work closely with Visitor Experience, Capital Projects, and Public Engagement to plan around disruptions and maintain seamless customer journeys.

Innovation and Growth:

• Identify and activate existing and new revenue streams that enhance the Museum’s global brand and support long-term financial sustainability.
• Lead development of compelling new retail, food and beverage, and digital products that celebrate the Museum’s collections and scholarship.
• Evolve commercial offers to reflect changing audience behaviours, including digital-first opportunities.

Stakeholder Engagement: 

• Collaborate with internal and external partners, ensuring commercial insights inform planning, programming, and capital decisions.
• Represent the commercial function at Executive-level forums and Board committees where required.
• Build strong relationships with contractors, concession partners, and suppliers, ensuring delivery against agreed standards.

Team Leadership:

• Lead, motivate, and develop the Commercial Directorate—fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and high performance.
• Provide stability and direction through change, ensuring teams remain engaged and supported.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Specific Technical, Professional Skills & Experience:

• Proven track record of successful senior-level delivery and complex projects involving multidisciplinary teams.
• A strong track record of driving commercial growth and operational excellence.
• Confidence navigating environments with estate closures, redevelopments, and large-scale transitions.
• Creative thinking grounded in robust commercial discipline.

Specific Managerial Skills:

• Extensive management experience and a successful track record of building, transforming and developing high-performance teams.
• A strategic and analytical approach, and able to demonstrate excellent judgement.

Specific Interpersonal Skills:

• Demonstrably good presentational and interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate confidently, effectively and persuasively to stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to guide and support teams through periods of change.
• Diplomatic and calm under pressure.
• Open and inclusive communication style with proven ability to inspire trust.
• Confident, resilient and resourceful in solving problems and proposing solutions.

Desirable:

• Experience in a senior leadership role in the culture, heritage, attractions, retail, hospitality, and leisure industry.
• Relevant private sector experience.

Required Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant subject or equivalent practical experience.
• Management qualification (MBA, CMI, ILM).

Compensation & Benefits

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service) plus 2.5 privilege days and bank holidays.
• Generous annual leave allowance 
• Membership of the civil service defined benefit pension scheme
• Free entry to a wide range of museums and exhibitions
• Participation in private and public Museum activities
• Interest-free travel, bicycle, and rental deposit loans
• Professional and personal development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounts on food and gift shop purchases

Conditions of employment

• We may be able to provide visa sponsorship for this role, subject to meeting eligibility requirements.

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely

How to apply

• Apply to our website
• If you have any additional needs that we should be aware of to support you with your application, please provide details to [email protected]

Policies

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 the best use of their skills, free from unlawful discrimination or harassment. We value the benefits that a diverse workforce brings to a museum that 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 based on their relevant knowledge, skills, and experience.

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