Join us

Curators Matt Lee and Iris Veysey look at images on a table

IWM tells the story of people who have lived, fought and died in conflicts involving Britain and the Commonwealth since the First World War.

We challenge people to look at conflict from different perspectives, enriching their understanding of the causes, course and consequences of war and its impact on people’s lives.

Our staff play a crucial role in caring for our unique collections, welcoming our visitors to our five branches and ensuring we continue to preserve and share powerful personal stories for generations to come.

At IWM we seek to address the need for greater diversity within our workforce as well as the wider museum and heritage sector.

In all our practices we embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity and we welcome applications from suitable candidates of all backgrounds.

Useful links

  • Vacancies

    We have a wide range of different roles and career opportunities from curatorial and collections management, to marketing and communications, education, development, business support, IT, digital, retail and admissions and many more.

    Please explore our current vacancies and create job alerts to receive updates straight to your inbox. 

  • Contact HR

    You can reach the recruitment team via e-mail at [email protected].

    Please note that we are unable to respond to speculative enquiries or CVs.

  • Volunteering

    Volunteers make an important contribution to IWM and opportunities are designed to be meaningful, enjoyable and flexible.

    Find out more about what roles are available at our branches and explore remote volunteering opportunities.

Why work for us?

The benefits listed below are discretionary and IWM reserves the right, with due notice, to vary or withdraw them at any time. All such benefits apply during the course of your employment only.

  • Full-Time Equivalent Annual Leave: from the start of your employment we will give you 25 days of annual leave, with public holidays on top. After 3 years, this allowance increases to 27 days and after 5 years, you’ll get 30 days - an opportunity for rest, rejuvenation, and personal pursuits.
  • Company Group Pension Plan: Our commitment to your financial well-being includes competitive employer contributions to your pension starting at 7% to a maximum of 12%.
  • Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Benefits: Celebrate life’s milestones with confidence, knowing that our policies support growing families. 
  • IWM4me: Tailor your benefits to your unique needs through IWM4me. Access health, protection, and lifestyle benefits at corporate rates, ensuring your holistic well-being. 
  • Free Sanitary Products: We prioritise your comfort by providing free sanitary products across all our sites.
  • Retail Discounts: 25% off IWM Cafes, 20% discount in on-site shops, Benefits hub offering retail discounts to several high street shops (via our EAP provider) and MyActive discounts for health and wellbeing based retail discounts (via IWM4me).
  • Free Entry to IWM Air Shows: Witness the thrill of vintage aircraft at our air shows. 
  • Free Entry to Partner Museums & Galleries: Immerse yourself in art, history, and culture through our reciprocal arrangements with other institutions. 
  • In-House Training Programmes: Fuel your intellectual curiosity and professional growth through our comprehensive training initiatives.
  • Season Ticket Loan Scheme: Simplify your daily commute with our interest-free loan program. 
  • Cycle 2 Work & Cycle Hire: Promote well-being and environmental consciousness by cycling to work. 
  • Eye Tests: Money back up to £80 for an eye test and a new pair of glasses. 
  • Employee Assistance Programme: Access confidential support for personal or work-related challenges. 
  • Benenden Healthcare & Dental Insurance: Prioritise your health with access to quality healthcare services (subject to terms and conditions). 
  • Civil Service Sports Club Membership: Opportunity to join and enjoy additional discounts and perks as part of a vibrant community. 
  • Staff Events and Networks: Join fellow colleagues in social gatherings and events, fostering camaraderie and shared experiences. 

...and more!

Ready to embark on this exciting journey with us? View current vacancies and become part of IWM!

Our culture and values

IWM staff preparing an artwork for display in the Second World War Galleries at IWM London
© IWM

Our vision is to remain a leader in developing and communicating a deeper understanding of the causes, course, and consequences of war. Using the personal stories and experiences in our unique collections, our objective is to challenge people of all ages to look at war and conflict from different perspectives.

Our people are critical to the success of our organisation.

We are investing in staff wellbeing, which includes the introduction of 14 Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) across all our branches and across departments. Our Smarter Working Programme will provide staff with greater flexibility to work in a way that is best for them, helping them to live healthier and more balanced lives. The new ways of working will also improve our environmental sustainability, make us a more inclusive workplace, and support our staff to work more collaboratively, effectively, and efficiently.

Four core values guide IWM in our day-to-day work and also set out principles for how we expect IWM employees to approach their work. 

We are authoritative, we are relevant, we are empathetic and we are courageous. 

What our staff say

  • “Apart from working with an incredible team of people, the best thing is how different each working day is. One day you can be working with an artist on a really exciting idea, the next you are in your scruffy clothes and overseeing a big tank being dragged into a gallery.”

  • “Having the opportunity to work so closely with items of historical significance. When you open a storage container and see an object with an incredible personal story, it really takes your breath away.”

  • “I love interacting with people from all walks of life, be they colleagues from across many different departments and sites or visitors to the museum. I've had the chance to meet some fascinating individuals."

More about IWM

Three Auxiliary Territorial Service plotters at a plotting table, Headquarters of 428 Battery, Coast Defence Artillery
© IWM TR 572

About IWM

Discover how IWM was founded and find out more about each of the five museums. 

A person who works for IWM cleaning models of dazzle ships in 1926.
©IWM (Q 45234)

Collections online

Explore over 1 million items from IWM's collections that tell the story of war and conflict.

A view from the top of a ridge on the Falklands. Two helmets are visible against the blue sky.
© IWM (FKD 2779)

Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Projects

Explore CDP research projects with topics ranging from 'Dreaming and the First World War' to 'Surviving Modern War: experiences British service personnel in the Falklands campaign, 1982'.