Museums and Heritage Highland is seeking two freelance Museum Operations & Support Coordinators to join our Pathways to the Future project, funded by Museums Galleries Scotland, and help strengthen the sustainability and resilience of museums across the Highlands.
Inspired by collaborative working and practical support, these new freelance roles will work directly with clusters of small and rural museums, helping reduce operational pressure and creating more space for strategic thinking, creativity and community impact.
About the Project
Pathways to the Future is a collaborative initiative led by Museums and Heritage Highland supporting museums to work in more connected, resilient and sustainable ways.
The project recognises the growing pressures faced by many museums – particularly small, volunteer-led and rural organisations – and aims to provide hands-on operational support where it is needed most.
Each coordinator will support a cluster of up to four museums, working flexibly with each organisation to identify practical support needs and improve day-to-day operations.
The Role
The coordinators will provide a mixture of operational, administrative and organisational support tailored to the needs of participating museums. This may include:
- Supporting finance and administration systems
Coordinating visitor services and reporting
Assisting with marketing and communications activity
Helping streamline systems and shared ways of working
Supporting training, wellbeing and organisational development initiatives
Exploring opportunities for collaboration and shared resources across museums
The role is designed to ease pressure on museum staff and volunteers while helping organisations build confidence, capacity and long-term resilience.
Key Details
Role: Museum Operations & Support Coordinator
Number of roles: 2
Contract: Freelance fixed-term role (2 years)
Fee: £30,000 per annum (£60,000 over two years)
Hours: Around 35 hours per week
Location: Home-based with travel across the Highlands as required
Start Date: 29 June 2026 (or as close as possible)
Who We’re Looking For
We are looking for organised, collaborative and proactive people who are passionate about supporting museums and heritage organisations to thrive.
You may already have experience working in museums, heritage, arts, cultural, community or voluntary organisations and be comfortable balancing multiple priorities across different teams and locations.
We’d especially like to hear from people who:
- Enjoy practical problem-solving and improving systems
Communicate well and build positive working relationships
Are confident working independently and collaboratively
Have strong organisational and digital skills
Understand the challenges facing small and rural museums
Can provide supportive, flexible and people-focused assistance
Experience in marketing, administration, operations or coordination work within the cultural or community sector would be particularly valuable.
How to Apply
Please submit:
Your CV or details of relevant experience
A covering letter (maximum 1000 words) explaining your suitability for the role
We also welcome alternative application formats, including:
A video application (maximum 5 minutes)
A PowerPoint presentation (maximum 10 slides)
Applications and enquiries should be sent to:
Nicola Henderson
nicola.henderson@museumsandheritagehighland.org.uk
Deadline
Applications close: 1 June 2026 at 5pm
Further Information
Full details about the role, responsibilities and person specification can be found in the Job Pack.
