Pension scheme
Flexible working
Discounts & tickets

Lecturer, History of Design and Material Culture

Salary £40,770 - £45,300
Location Cromwell Road, London
{Mergefield Value}
{Mergefield Value}

This is a Fixed Term Contract, Full Time vacancy that will close in {x} days at {xx:xx} BST.

The Role

The Lecturer in History of Design and Material Culture will contribute to teaching on the V&A/RCA History of Design Programme in the Summer and Autumn terms of 2026. They will supervise MA dissertations and support students in the planning and delivery of student-led projects. In Autumn 2026, the Lecturer will deliver a research-led module based on their specialist area of expertise, preferably with a focus on global and decolonial perspectives, with responsibilities for marking and supervision of students extending into early 2027.

We are looking for an outstanding Lecturer who has an acknowledged standing as a researcher and/or practitioner in the field of design history and material culture studies. They will have experience of teaching and supervising students of design history and material culture at postgraduate level.

Demonstrable commitment to global design histories and an active engagement with ethical working and equal opportunities within the discipline is also essential.

The Lecturer in Design History may have an opportunity to contribute to the V&A’s wider research culture and activities through their own innovative research and by contributing to programming and other activities.

To Apply - please be sure to upload together with your CV, in one document, a one page description of a course you might teach in the autumn.

The V&A

The V&A is the world’s leading museum of art and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.8 million objects, books and archives that span over 5,000 years of human creativity. The museum holds many of the UK's national collections and houses some of the greatest resources for the study of architecture, furniture, fashion, textiles, photography, sculpture, painting, jewellery, glass, ceramics, book arts, Asian art and design, theatre and performance.  

Our mission is to be recognised as the world's leading museum of art, design and performance, and to enrich people's lives by promoting research, knowledge and enjoyment of the designed world to the widest possible audience. We strive to make the V&A matter to more people and in that context we work to the following six strategic objectives:

  • To create a world class visitor and learning experience across all V&A sites and collections.
  • Focus and deepen the relevance of our collections to the UK creative and knowledge economy.
  • Expand the V&A's international reach, reputation and impact.
  • To operate with financial and organisational initiative and efficiency.
  • Showcase the best of digital design and deliver an outstanding digital experience.
  • Diversify and increase private and commercial funding sources.

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Benefits

Generous pension scheme

29 days plus bank holidays

Flexible working​

Tickets to V&A exhibitions

Subsidised staff canteen

25% discount in V&A shops

Give as you earn scheme

Bicycle loan

Interest-free season ticket

Interest-free rental deposit loan

Free safety checks and small repairs to your bike with Doctor Bike

Wide range of training and professional development opportunities

Employee Assistance Programme

Staff diversity networks

ED&I at The V&A

At the V&A, we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) for all and strive to go above and beyond public duty placed upon us by the Equality Act 2010.  As such, we are delighted to share that we are a Disability Confident Employer Level 2. The V&A makes the following commitments to all applications:  

  • The Disability Confident Employer scheme offers guaranteed interviews – Interviewing applicants with a disability who successfully evidence the essential criteria on a person specification and consider them on their abilities;  
  • Providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process.  
  • Making reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process so disabled job applicants have the best opportunity to demonstrate that they can do the job.  
  • Supporting employees and adjustments during employment.  

Job Descriptions are currently uploaded as PDF's, if for any reason you require the documents in Word Format, please email careers@vam.ac.uk with your request.

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