Retail Services Manager  

Contract: Full time, Permanent  

Salary: £29189.19 to £32432.43 per annum (£36,000 to £40,000 per annum FTE) (YMT Grade 5) dependent on experience. 

Hours: 30 hours per week, worked over 4 days 

Your new organisation 

York Museums Trust is an independent charitable organisation created to manage York Art Gallery, York Castle Museum, Yorkshire Museum & Gardens, and York St Mary’s.  Our vision is to work together with audiences and communities to inspire, to share and to care for cultural heritage.  

Your new role 

We are seeking a Retail Services Manager to lead and grow our retail operations. This role will plan and lead the strategic direction and operational management of the retail offer. This will include ensuring marketing and promotion is carried out and future development online and in physical spaces to deliver income and profit. 

You will be responsible for retail outlets on three sites with different retail offers, placing orders and overseeing the purchasing of goods for sale as well as Oversee purchasing and management of several thousand stock lines. 

You will be managing the work of the Retail Buyer and Buying Assistant to ensure that the stock reflects the current audience profile, attracts new customers and reflects the exhibitions and trends,  as well as managing relationships with suppliers and sourcing new suppliers when appropriate. 

You will work closely with the three Site General Managers and their Site Operational Management teams to maintain and develop efficient and effective retail operations at each outlet 

What you’ll need to succeed 

You will have a background in managing multi-site teams, stock management and shrinkage control, achieving sales and profit targets as well as the ability to recognise and respond to retail and social trends. You may also have experience in bespoke product development and buying for the heritage market. 

You will have excellent knowledge of merchandising principles, commerciality in a heritage retail environment, an understanding of and ability to apply sales techniques as well as substantial knowledge of current retail practice and relevant heritage retail suppliers with a good understanding of history and art. 

You will have proven negotiation skills, merchandising and display skills with an ability to motivate the team, forge positive relationships both internally and externally as well as having sound judgement and strong decision-making skills. 

As an organisation York Museums Trust is committed to encouraging and increasing diversity amongst our workforces. YMT aims to attract and retain talented people from all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian, ethnic minority, and/or disabled applicants as these groups are currently underrepresented in the cultural sector.  We also welcome applications from all socio-economic backgrounds.  

Interested? 

How to apply:   

Please download the following documents: 

• Job description
• Equal Opportunities Form
• Applicant Privacy Notice

Send: 

• A covering letter explaining how you meet the criteria in the Knowledge, Experience, Skills and Behaviours section of the JD, 
• Your CV, and
• A completed Equal Opportunities Form

to recruitment@ymt.org.uk. Applications should be submitted in a PDF format.    

Applications can only be accepted from candidates who have permission to work in the UK.   

If, after applying, you have not heard from us by two weeks after the closing date, please assume you have not been successful on this occasion. 

Dates to bear in mind… 

Closing date for applications is 9am Friday 11th September 

Interviews will take place in week commencing Monday 21st September 

Curator of Contemporary Art – York Art Gallery 

Salary:  £24338.11 – £27518.11 per annum (£30017 – £33939 FTE) 

Contract: 30 hours a week (12 month fixed term, Maternity Cover) 

Do you have expertise in contemporary and new media art, and creative flair to produce engaging exhibitions at York Art Gallery? We are seeking maternity cover for our current Curator of Contemporary Art to care for, share and develop the Gallery’s Contemporary Art collection and exhibitions through interpretation, research, and project management.  

The post will report to the Senior Curator of York Art Gallery and will lead on developing and delivering high-quality, audience-focused exhibitions, displays and immersive experiences, particularly focusing on contemporary and new media art. You will bring expertise in contemporary and new media art, with a strong background in exhibition development and working with living artists. Your knowledge of the digital art landscape, conservation of new media art, and ethical considerations will inform your work, while your creativity and adaptability will help you develop engaging public programming at York Art Gallery. Collaborating with diverse stakeholders, you will use your strong communication and research skills to deliver innovative exhibitions, digital content, and events that inspire and connect audiences. Your commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion will underpin your approach to all aspects of the role.

As an organisation York Museums Trust is committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity amongst our workforce. We welcome applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. 

How to apply:    

Please download the following documents: 

• Job Description
• Equal Opportunities Form
• Applicant Privacy Notice

Send: 

• Completed Equal Opportunities Form
• CV
• a covering letter explaining how you meet the criteria in the Knowledge, Experience, Skills and Behaviours section of the JD

to recruitment@ymt.org.uk. Applications should be submitted in a PDF format.    

CVs can only be accepted from candidates who have permission to work in the UK. If, after applying, you have not heard from us by two weeks after the closing date, please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.   

Dates to bear in mind…  

Closing date for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 20th September 2026 

Interviews are to take place in York on Monday 5th October 2026