The Chester Beatty, one of Ireland's National Cultural Institutions at Dublin Castle, is recruiting a Collections Coordinator on a permanent, full-time contract, with a starting salary of โฌ41,201 per year and applications closing on 11 November 2026 at 5pm (IST). At Youth Works Hub, we read the full Employment Information Pack, and this guide covers the three dimensions of the role, every responsibility, the essential and desirable requirements, pay, leave and the application rules.
A Newly Created Role at the Centre of the Collections Department
The Chester Beatty is seeking to recruit a Collections Coordinator. This is a newly created, multifaceted role that sits at the centre of the Collections Department. The Collections Coordinator provides structured, high-quality administrative and operational support to the Head of Collections and thereby the department as a whole, while also taking a proactive coordinating role in the delivery of special projects of strategic importance to the institution.
The successful candidate will be proactive, highly organised, and a skilled communicator and relationship-builder. They will have a sound understanding of how a collections department works and will be equally comfortable supporting day-to-day administration and co-ordinating communications for complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
Key Facts About the Position
๐ท๏ธ Job Title: Collections Coordinator
๐ค Reports to: Head of Collections
๐ Location: Ireland, Dublin Castle, Dublin, D02 AD92
๐ Contract: Permanent, subject to probationary period, full-time
๐๏ธ Grade: CBL Assistant Keeper II
๐๏ธ Start Date: TBC
๐ถ Starting Salary: โฌ41,201 per annum
โฐ Closing Date: Wednesday 11 November 2026, 5pm (IST)
About the Chester Beatty
Welcoming over 500,000 visitors each year, the Chester Beatty contains a world-famous collection of manuscripts, prints, miniature paintings, early printed books and objects d'art from countries across Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. The collection is principally focused on the written word and its associated painted and printed images.
One of Ireland's National Cultural Institutions, the Chester Beatty is a public charitable trust established under the will of the late Sir Alfred Chester Beatty and is governed by a Board of Trustees.
Vision, Mission and Values
๐ญ Vision: The Chester Beatty will be Ireland's window on the world, celebrating the richness of human creative expression and our shared global histories.
๐ฏ Mission: To create opportunities to engage with diverse cultures and faiths through the brilliance of their artistic achievements and spiritual expressions, and to care for, research and make its world-class collections accessible for Irish and global audiences.
๐ค Values: Ambitious, Collaborative, Respectful
The Collections You Would Be Working Around
๐ Islamic Collections: over 6,000 individual items, mainly manuscripts and single-page paintings and calligraphies, including more than 260 complete and fragmentary Qur'ans, the earliest dating from the eighth and ninth centuries and including the work of the leading calligraphers of the Islamic world.
๐ Western Collections: rare Biblical papyri dating from the second to the fourth centuries, some of the earliest sources on papyrus for the Bible, plus Armenian and Western European manuscripts from medieval, Renaissance and modern times.
๐ East Asian Collections: albums and scrolls from China, the largest collection outside of China of jade books from the Imperial Court in the 18th century, as well as a large collection of textiles and decorative objects.
๐พ Japanese holdings: many superb hand-painted scrolls from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and woodblock prints by Hiroshige and Hokusai, among others.
The Three Dimensions of the Role
The role has three distinct but interconnected dimensions:
๐งโ๐ผ Executive Support: acting as a trusted executive assistant to the Head of Collections.
๐๏ธ Departmental Administration and Coordination: providing administrative and operational support across the five sections of the Collections Department (Archives, Conservation, Curatorial, Education, Registration), helping to ensure effective communication, coordination and cohesion across the department as a whole.
๐ Coordination of Special Projects: acting as coordinator for a portfolio of special projects involving national and international partners, including research collaborations, digitisation initiatives, exhibition and loan partnerships, and other projects that further museum practice.
The Team: A Collections Department of 13
The Collections Coordinator is part of a Collections Team of 13, including Archives, Conservation, Curatorial, Education and Registration.
Responsibility Area 1: Executive Support to the Head of Collections
๐ Manage the calendar and scheduling for the Head of Collections, including coordinating meetings, site visits, travel arrangements and institutional engagements.
๐ Prepare agendas, papers and briefing materials for meetings; take accurate minutes and ensure that actions are followed up and completed.
โ๏ธ Draft, proof and manage select correspondence on behalf of the Head of Collections, exercising appropriate discretion and judgement.
โฑ๏ธ Ensure that time-sensitive matters are prioritised and that relevant stakeholders are kept appropriately informed.
๐ Assist with the preparation of reports, presentations, budget submissions, policies and other documents.
๐งฎ Support the Head of Collections in monitoring departmental budgets, tracking expenditure, and liaising with the Finance team as required.
๐ Handle sensitive and confidential matters with the utmost professionalism and discretion.
Responsibility Area 2: Departmental Administration and Coordination
๐งญ Act as an administrative and operational hub for the Collections Department, supporting effective coordination and communication across Curatorial, Registration, Archives, Conservation and Education.
๐๏ธ Maintain departmental administrative systems and processes, including shared deadlines, filing structures, tracking tools and internal communications channels.
๐ฅ Coordinate cross-departmental meetings, working groups and internal planning processes; prepare agendas, record decisions and track action items.
๐ฅ Monitor and manage departmental correspondence, supporting the timely processing of incoming requests, enquiries and documentation.
๐ Assist in the preparation and management of contracts, agreements and MoUs involving external partners.
๐ Support procurement and logistics for the department, including managing supplier relationships and processing purchase orders and invoices.
๐ Coordinate onboarding and support new members of the Collections Department, including managing access to systems, orientation materials and departmental processes.
๐ Serve as a point of contact for other departments within the museum on Collections-related matters, helping to facilitate cross-institutional collaboration and information-sharing.
๐ Support the Head of Collections in ensuring that the Collections Department meets its reporting obligations, including contributing to the museum's Performance Delivery Agreement and Strategic Implementation Plan.
๐ Assist in monitoring and maintaining alignment with relevant national and international professional standards, including the Heritage Council's Museum Standards Programme for Ireland (MSPI) and applicable international frameworks such as the International Council of Museums (ICOM).
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Responsibility Area 3: Coordination of Special Projects
๐ฏ Support the Head of Collections to identify, develop and manage a portfolio of special projects aligned with the Chester Beatty's strategic priorities.
๐ค Act as project coordinator for national and international partnerships.
๐๏ธ Play an important role in maintaining detailed project plans, timelines, budgets and risk registers for assigned projects; coordinate project-related documentation, reporting and evaluation requirements, and report regularly to the Head of Collections on progress.
๐ Serve as a point of contact for external partners throughout project lifecycles, maintaining strong, professional working relationships and ensuring effective communication and information-sharing.
โ๏ธ Support the development of project proposals, funding applications and partnership agreements in collaboration with the Head of Collections and colleagues across the museum.
โ Support the delivery of projects in accordance with the Chester Beatty's values, policies and professional standards.
What Kinds of Partnerships Will You Coordinate?
The national and international partnerships the Collections Coordinator manages may include:
๐ Research collaborations with universities, scholarly institutions and cultural organisations.
๐ผ๏ธ Exhibition and loan partnerships with museums and galleries in Ireland and internationally.
๐ฑ Other collaborative projects that advance museum practice, such as capacity-building initiatives, knowledge exchange programmes or grant-funded projects.
Working Context: A Period of Growth and Change
This role is set against the backdrop of a significant period of growth and development for the Chester Beatty, including a major capital development project. The post-holder will need to be flexible and responsive to evolving institutional priorities, and will play an important role in ensuring that the Collections Department remains well-coordinated, outward-facing and strategically engaged during this period of growth and change.
โ๏ธ Some international travel may be required in connection with special projects and partnerships.
Person Specification: Who the Chester Beatty Is Looking For
The successful candidate will be:
๐ Proactive and self-directed, with the confidence to take initiative and anticipate the needs of the Head of Collections and the department.
๐งฉ A natural coordinator, with a talent for bringing people and information together across different teams and disciplines.
๐ A relationship builder, who understands the importance of trust, diplomacy and consistent follow-through in sustaining effective partnerships.
๐ Detail-conscious, with the rigour to maintain accurate records, manage complex documentation and produce high-quality written materials.
๐ Adaptable and resilient, with the capacity to manage competing priorities calmly and effectively in a fast-paced environment.
๐ก Genuinely committed to the Chester Beatty's mission and to the values of public access, cultural understanding and professional excellence in collections care.
Essential Requirements
๐ A third-level degree in a field relevant to the Chester Beatty; a postgraduate qualification is desirable.
๐๏ธ A minimum of three years' professional experience working in or closely with a museum collections environment, with demonstrable familiarity with the functions of one or more of the following: curatorial, registration, archives, conservation or education; OR a minimum of three years working as an Executive Assistant.
๐๏ธ Strong administrative and organisational skills, with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage a complex and varied workload.
๐ค Demonstrated experience of coordinating or supporting projects involving multiple stakeholders.
โ๏ธ Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft clear, well-structured documents and correspondence for a range of audiences.
๐ A track record of building and maintaining effective working relationships.
๐ก๏ธ A high degree of professionalism, discretion and emotional intelligence, particularly in relation to handling sensitive information and working with senior leadership.
๐ป Strong IT proficiency, including Microsoft Office 365.
โ๏ธ An ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team, adapting to changing priorities in a dynamic institutional environment.
Desirable Requirements
๐ผ๏ธ Experience working on museum exhibitions.
โ๏ธ Knowledge of the Irish museum sector and its institutional landscape.
๐บ Knowledge of history/art history relevant to the Chester Beatty's collections.
๐ ๏ธ Experience with project management or collections management tools.
Salary: The CBL Assistant Keeper II Scale
An incremental salary scale applies: CBL Assistant Keeper II, PPC Scale, as at 1 June 2026. The scale has 17 points:
1๏ธโฃ Points 1 to 4: โฌ41,201 ยท โฌ44,009 ยท โฌ44,704 ยท โฌ48,212
2๏ธโฃ Points 5 to 8: โฌ51,730 ยท โฌ55,369 ยท โฌ59,182 ยท โฌ61,081
3๏ธโฃ Points 9 to 12: โฌ63,001 ยท โฌ64,912 ยท โฌ66,838 ยท โฌ68,743
4๏ธโฃ Points 13 to 17: โฌ70,657 ยท โฌ72,572 ยท โฌ74,485 ยท โฌ76,404 ยท โฌ78,299
Where New Entrants Start on the Scale
New entrants from outside the Irish public/civil service are required to commence employment at the minimum point of the scale, which is โฌ41,201 gross per annum, in line with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regulations and guidelines on public service pay. Accordingly, the salary will differ for existing, non-new entrant, Irish civil/public servants.
Pension and Annual Leave
๐ฆ Pension: new entrants are required to join the Single Public Sector Pension Scheme on commencement.
๐ด Annual Leave: 25 working days a year, subject to the usual conditions regarding the granting of annual leave, on the basis of a five-day week and exclusive of the usual public holidays.
Working Hours, Onsite Attendance and Probation
๐ข The role is based in Dublin, Ireland (Dublin Castle) and requires full-time onsite (or as applicable for role) attendance.
โณ A probationary period of one year applies.
๐ This is a full-time position averaging 41.25 hours gross / 35 hours net per week.
Pre-Employment Checks
๐ The role will be subject to reference checks.
๐ชช It may also be subject to Garda clearance and a pre-employment medical assessment.
How to Apply
To apply, interested candidates should submit by email, with Collections Coordinator in the subject line:
๐ A cover letter outlining how they meet the essential requirements of the role and their particular interest in the Chester Beatty.
๐งพ An up-to-date CV.
โ๏ธ Names and contact information of 2 professional referees.
โ ๏ธ Incomplete applications will not be progressed, and applications that do not meet the Application Guidelines will not be progressed.
๐ซ Canvassing will disqualify.
Screening and Interview Process
๐ Applications will be screened and shortlisted for interview.
๐ช The selection is a minimum 2-stage process.
๐ต Referees will not be contacted until the search committee has informed the candidate in advance of doing so.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The Chester Beatty is committed to encouraging and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion amongst its workforce. Candidates can review the EDI, Data Privacy, Data Protection, Protected Disclosures and Code of Conduct policies under Careers/Vacancies/Policies on the Chester Beatty website.
Find more museum, culture and administration roles in our Jobs listings on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the Chester Beatty Collections Coordinator?
The role is graded CBL Assistant Keeper II on the PPC Scale, which runs from โฌ41,201 to โฌ78,299 across 17 points. New entrants from outside the Irish public/civil service start at the minimum point of โฌ41,201 gross per annum.
Is the Collections Coordinator contract permanent?
Yes. The contract is permanent and full-time, subject to a probationary period of one year. The start date is to be confirmed.
Where is the job based, and is remote work possible?
The role is based at Dublin Castle, Dublin, D02 AD92, Ireland. It requires full-time onsite (or as applicable for role) attendance.
How much experience do I need?
You need a minimum of three years' professional experience working in or closely with a museum collections environment, with familiarity with curatorial, registration, archives, conservation or education functions. Alternatively, a minimum of three years working as an Executive Assistant also meets this requirement.
Do I need a degree?
Yes. A third-level degree in a field relevant to the Chester Beatty is essential, and a postgraduate qualification is desirable.
Who does the Collections Coordinator report to?
The Collections Coordinator reports to the Head of Collections and acts as their trusted executive assistant. The post-holder also supports the whole Collections Department, a team of 13 across Archives, Conservation, Curatorial, Education and Registration.
What are the working hours and annual leave?
The position averages 41.25 hours gross / 35 hours net per week. Annual leave is 25 working days a year on the basis of a five-day week, exclusive of the usual public holidays.
Does the role involve travel?
Some international travel may be required in connection with special projects and partnerships.
What documents do I need to send?
You need a cover letter explaining how you meet the essential requirements and your particular interest in the Chester Beatty, an up-to-date CV, and the names and contact information of 2 professional referees. Incomplete applications will not be progressed.
What does the selection process look like?
Applications are screened and shortlisted for interview, in a minimum 2-stage process. Referees are only contacted after the candidate has been informed in advance.
Are there any pre-employment checks?
The role is subject to reference checks and may also be subject to Garda clearance and a pre-employment medical assessment.
What is the deadline?
The closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday 11 November 2026 at 5pm (IST).
Deadline
โณ 11 November 2026
Application Email
๐ง Application email (subject line: Collections Coordinator): personnel@cbl.ie
๐ Employment Information Pack: https://chesterbeatty.ie/assets/uploads/2026/10/Collections-Coordinator-JD-2026-Final_.pdf
