Ms Clare Valentine

Roles:

Head of Life Sciences Collections

I lead the strategic development and management of the collection and associated staff within the Life Sciences Department to deliver the objectives of the Museum and Science strategies. I am expected to benchmark our collections and collections management standards against other international institutions, to deliver ‘research ready’ and ‘exhibition enabled’ collections for the future. Working together with colleagues across the Science, Public Engagement and Development groups, I am expected to deliver major cross-museum projects, secure external funding and represent the collection and the Museum to scientific, public and corporate audiences. I work closely with staff to prioritise activities and resources to ensure collections are expertly curated and both the specimens and the associated data are accessible to users.

Main Accountabilities:

Collection development

• Lead and deliver a long-term, sustainable vision for development of the Departmental collection guided by the Museum and Science Strategies

• Derive an international benchmark for the relevant collections in consultation with other equivalent collections leaders on the international stage

• Develop and implement a strategy for moving the NHM collections towards greater international relevance and excellence, working towards a ‘research ready’, ‘exhibition enabled’ collection for the future

• Lead the acquisition and digitisation strategies for the Department

Management of collection, staff and resources

• In conjunction with the Head of Department and Heads of Division, oversee the integration of research and curation activities and the delivery of income targets

• Line manage the Principal Curators-in-Charge to ensure delivery of targets and performance expectations, establishing a culture of performance management

• Prioritise and manage collection resources and budgets in line with Departmental plans

• Lead major collection-oriented projects within the museum’s project management framework

• Work with HR to develop a strategy for succession planning, talent management and development for growth

• Work with the Registrar in developing and reviewing collections policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance and relevance

• Work to ensure Departmental collections are housed under acceptable minimum standards, including those relating to conservation and security

• Leads Departmental collection management input into Museum disaster and business continuity plans.

Cross-museum leadership, projects and income generation

• Play an active role as senior leader and manager in the Museum, establishing strong relationships with other senior managers across the organisation

• Represent collections in cross-museum activities and work with colleagues across the museum to deliver major projects and activities and secure external support for Museum strategic priorities

• Represent the Museum to promote the use of the collection for both internal and external research, public outreach and exhibitions

I have expertise, personal interest and involvement with a number of cross-departmental projects such as the collections store room refurbishments and collections moves; curator competencies and Integrated Pest Management risk zones.