Job Description

ROYAL SIGNALS MUSEUM
The Royal Signals Museum in Blandford, Dorset exists to educate the public and members of the Royal Corps of Signals in the history and military and technical accomplishments of the Corps and its antecedents; and to promote military efficiency amongst members of the Corps, including related reserve and volunteer bodies, by encouraging recruitment and fostering esprit de corps.

Based within the Blandford Army Camp, the museum provides an engaging and attractive offer to visitors, attracting around 30k visitors per annum.

The Museum is located in North Dorset, an area renowned for its beauty, close to the Jurassic Coast and its associated amenities.

Story Telling is of great importance to the Museum. The capture of stories of the by the museum is part of the strategy. It ensures the stories of the Royal Corps of Signals are not lost, and provides innovative, engaging and informative information that the Museum can then communicate more widely through a range of outlets including social media, exhibitions and lectures.

ROLE PURPOSE

This post leads the implementation of the Museum's storytelling strategy and is central to how the Museum communicates its message across exhibitions, publications, oral histories, and digital platforms (including but not limited to the Museum website, social media and Bloomberg Connects).

The Head of Storytelling also plays a key liaison role with academic institutions, professional networks, as well as the Royal Signals Association (RSA) and the Royal Signals Institution (RSI) - ensuring alignment with and contribution to outputs, including lectures and written articles.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership

Spearhead the Museum-wide storytelling strategy to inform exhibitions, digital engagement, public programming, and educational initiatives. Provide strategic and editorial leadership on how stories are curated and shared across platforms, ensuring high-quality, impactful narratives. Oversee the Museum's oral history programme, capturing contemporary and historical accounts from serving personnel and veterans.
Provide guidance to the Director and the Board of Trustees on ethical and legal issues related to oral history and content, including sensitivity reviews and copyright.

Re-tell the Corps' stories

Once stories have been gathered the post-holder will be expected to share them in ways that will inspire members of the Corps and the general public. This should be done through social media platforms, the website, the Corps magazines (the Wire and The Journal), lectures, orally, on film and using display panels in the Museum. The post-holder will work with the Curators and the Business Manager to build exhibitions and recruit and train volunteers to tell their stories and those of others, live, as part of the exhibitions.
Academic and Network Engagement

Build partnerships with academic institutions and professional networks to expand the Museum's research footprint. Promote the use of the Corps Archive, including the oral history library, to university students, researchers, media companies, the MOD and other government agencies. Act as a conduit between the Museum and the Royal Signals Institution, ensuring relevant stories and research developments are shared through RSI channels.
Content Distribution

Produce written and digital content for Museum, Corps and RSI audiences, including contributing articles, giving lectures, and leading on collaborative projects. Disseminate stories through social media, digital platforms, Museum displays, Corps publications (The Wire and RSI Journal), and live presentations. Ensure content is accessible, engaging, and aligned with Army communications standards. Propose and lead on new storytelling outputs designed to grow engagement and reach with the Museum collection.
Collections and Exhibition Support

Provide collections management and curatorial support to the wider Museum team, assisting with narrative development, object interpretation, and design input for permanent and temporary exhibitions. Collaborate with the Business Manager and the Collections Manager to identify story-rich items within the collection and develop them for public engagement.
Volunteer Management

Recruit, train, and supervise volunteers for roles such as story editors, story gatherers, archive research and digitisation - expanding storytelling capacity.
General Museum Duties

Support day-to-day Museum operations including guided tours, school visits, event support, and liaison with military visitors. . On occasions you may be required to open and/or close the Museum, and on an occasional weekend or bank holiday provide cover in the shop.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Proven storytelling, journalism, or editorial experience - written, oral, and digital. Strong research and interviewing skills.
Archival and curatorial experience.

Excellent communication skills and ability to adapt language for varied audiences.

Strong project management and organisational capabilities.

Experience managing volunteers or teams. Public speaking or stage presence for live interpretation and lectures. Willingness to travel and stayaway overnight; valid driving licence. Familiarity with content rights, data protection, and confidentiality practices, as well as oral history ethics.
DESIRABLE SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Experience contributing to academic or institutional journals. Familiarity with the ethos and operations of the Royal Corps of Signals or the British Army. Working knowledge or strong interest in military history and communications technology. Experience of managing or working in an archive Understanding of restrictions imposed by legislation relating to the Official Secrets Acts

CONDITIONS

A full time position - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday) with some evening and week-end work and some overnight stays.

Salary in the region of 30,000-34,000, per year depending on experience.

The post holder will be eligible for the Workplace Pension Scheme.

Holiday entitlement of 30 days per year excluding Bank and Public Holidays.

Based in Blandford Camp, Dorset.

The Royal Signals Museum follows a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender, age, nationality or disabilities.

APPLICATIONS

To apply please e-mail a CV (2 pages maximum) detailing your relevant experience and qualifications with a covering letter (2 pages maximum) explaining your suitability for the post to director@royalsignalsmuseum.co.uk.

Applications should be received by 5.00 pm on 16 June 2025.

Interviews are expected to take place in late June 2025

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 30,000.00-34,000.00 per year

Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Application question(s):

Do you have strong experience in managing archives?
Experience:

Journalism: 2 years (required) Public speaking: 1 year (required) Research: 2 years (required)
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 16/06/2025