Design and Buying Executive

• Full time
• £30k-£40k
• Apply now

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 "> published - Fri, 30 Oct 2026

Job Summary

The Museum is looking for a Design and Buying Executive.

Job Description

Design and Buying Executive
Fixed term (6 months), Full-time - London
£31,114 per annum

We Are Looking For

The Royal Air Force Museum is looking for a passionate, creative and organised Buying & Design Executive to join our Retail & Admissions team on a maternity cover contract.

This is an exciting opportunity for an aspiring retail professional to develop their skills across buying, product development, design, merchandising and e-commerce within one of the UK's leading museums. Working closely with the Head of Retail & Admissions, you will play a key role in supporting the Museum's retail operation, helping to develop and deliver a commercially successful and engaging product range that reflects the RAF Museum's brand and visitor experience.

The successful candidate will combine a strong eye for design with excellent organisational and analytical skills. You will support the buying process from product concept through to delivery, create product packaging and labels, develop digital assets for our online shop, and work closely with suppliers and Museum retail teams to ensure our product offer remains fresh, relevant and commercially effective.

Previous experience within a retail buying, merchandising, e-commerce or product development environment would be advantageous, but we are equally interested in candidates with the enthusiasm and potential to develop their skills in these areas.

This role offers a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience across buying, design, e-commerce and retail operations within a unique cultural organisation. You'll work with a varied and distinctive product range, contribute to exciting new product launches, and help shape the retail experience enjoyed by visitors and customers both in our museums and online.

The role will be based at our London site.

Job Requirements

Experience using design software such as Adobe Photoshop,
Adobe Illustrator, Canva or similar creative applications.
Ability to utilise AI-powered design and image-generation
tools.
Ability to create and edit digital images, artwork, labels,
packaging and promotional materials.
Experience using Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office
applications.
Good numerical and analytical skills, with attention to detail
when working with sales, stock and product data.
Experience working within a design, retail, buying,
merchandising, e-commerce or product development
environment.

Job Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities
Support the buying and product development process across the Museum's retail ranges.
Create product packaging, labels and point-of-sale materials using design software.
Develop, edit and enhance product imagery using design tools and AI-powered software for use across e-commerce and marketing channels.
Manage and upload product content, images and information to the Museum's online shop.
Liaise with suppliers regarding product development, artwork, orders and deliveries.
Work closely with Museum shop teams to support stock management and product performance.
Assist with merchandising, stock control and retail analysis.
Raise and process purchase orders for retail products, shop equipment and consumables.
Monitor sales and stock performance, helping to identify opportunities to increase sales and improve availability.
Provide administrative support to ensure the smooth running of the retail function.

Useful Links

• https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/about-us/default/

Job Overview

• Job Title: Design and Buying Executive
• Salary: £30k-£40k
• Hours: Full time
• Artform: Museums
• Role: Creative
• Contract: Temporary
• Closing date: Thu, 12 Nov 2026
• Location:

  London

  | view on Google Maps

Job: Design and Buying Executive

Job: Design and Buying Executive

Organisation: Royal Air Force Museum

Postcode: NW9 5LL

How to Apply

Please click on the following link to apply for this role. You will be taken to our applicant tracking system: https://royalairforcemuseum.peoplehr.net/Pages/JobBoard/Opening.aspx?v=221fb958-a5cb-4b38-981d-ed9820da8f50

You can find more information about the application process, as well as the benefits of working for the museum at https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/about-us/job-vacancies.

The closing date for applications is: 11.59pm on 12 November 2026
Interviews will take place on: 23 November 2026

• Contact name: Michelle Grant
• Contact email: recruitment@rafmuseum.org

• Apply now

About Royal Air Force Museum

The Royal Air Force Museum is a national museum, a Government non-departmental public body (NDPB) and a registered charity, with two sister sites at London and Midlands. Our purpose is to share the RAF story, past, present and future - using the stories of its people and our collections in order to engage, inform and inspire. Our Vision is to inspire everyone with the RAF story – the people who shape it and its place in our lives.

Find out more