The Tank Museum is not your average client, and this was not your average recruitment brief. Based at Bovington Camp in Dorset, the home of the tank, the Museum holds the most comprehensive collection of armoured fighting vehicles in the world. From the mud of the Somme to the deserts of Iraq, the collection tells the stories of soldiers who fought in some of history's defining conflicts. With over 200,000 visitors a year, a nationally designated collection, and the legendary TANKFEST on the calendar, the Museum punches well above its weight in the heritage sector.

When the Museum Director approached Charisma to find a new Head of Curatorial Services, we knew this was a role that deserved proper attention.

A newly created role with real strategic weight

This was not a like-for-like replacement. The Head of Curatorial Services was a brand new position, designed to sit at the heart of the Leadership Team and act as a bridge between the curatorial and commercial sides of the Museum. The postholder would be responsible for embedding the Curatorial Services Department into the Museum's day-to-day strategic thinking, ensuring that the incredible collection was not operating in isolation from the wider organisation.

The role also came with a seat on the trading company Board, meaning the successful candidate would carry genuine Board-level accountability, including attending and reporting to the Board of Trustees. This was leadership with real responsibility attached.

What we were looking for

Roles like this require a very particular kind of candidate. The brief called for someone with extensive experience in museum or heritage environments, proven team leadership, and either a formal qualification in Museums, Libraries or Archives, or substantial equivalent experience in a comparable setting.

Beyond the technical requirements, we were looking for someone who could operate confidently across two worlds: the scholarly, collection-focused world of curatorship and the commercially minded environment of a visitor attraction with serious ambitions. That combination does not come along often.

How Charisma approached the search

We launched an extensive national search, combining headhunting with a targeted advertising campaign and thorough database work. Our team reached out proactively to heritage professionals across the country, looking for individuals who had the right balance of curatorial expertise and strategic credibility.

From that initial outreach, we developed a longlist of 11 candidates. Each was assessed carefully against the Museum's requirements before we presented a shortlist of 6 to progress to interview.

A thorough and considered selection process

The interview process was designed to reflect the significance of the role. Candidates took part in a structured panel interview, a tour of the Museum, and informal meet and greet sessions with key members of the team. This gave the Museum the opportunity to assess not just professional capability, but cultural fit and genuine enthusiasm for the institution's mission.

Following that process, the successful candidate was selected. Charisma then managed the offer negotiation and, importantly, the relocation discussions, ensuring a smooth transition for both the candidate and the Museum.

Why this kind of appointment matters

Heritage organisations are under increasing pressure to think commercially without losing sight of their core purpose. A role that sits deliberately between those two functions is a thoughtful and forward-looking response to that challenge. Getting the appointment right was not just about filling a vacancy; it was about finding someone who could help shape the Museum's future direction.

The Tank Museum's collection tells stories that deserve to be heard, and the right Head of Curatorial Services will play a meaningful part in ensuring those stories reach as many people as possible, now and in the years ahead.

Working with Charisma

We work with museums, heritage organisations, charities and nonprofits of all shapes and sizes, from national institutions to specialist collections with passionate local followings. We understand the sector, we know the talent pool, and we take the time to understand what makes each organisation genuinely different before we begin any search.

If you are looking to make a leadership appointment that matters, we would love to hear from you.

Every great appointment starts with a conversation. If you have a leadership role that needs the right person behind it, I'd be delighted to hear from you. Get in touch and let's talk it through.