[9] In 1984, he was appointed as curator of the Colour Museum in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Between 1987 and 1998, he was Director of Catalyst, a museum in Widnes, Cheshire on the chemical industry.

In 1998, he became Chief Executive of the Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust.

In 2001, he led the opening of the Millennium Galleries, an art gallery in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, with funding from the Millennium Commission and in partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum.

[10] Rintoul was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2012 Birthday Honours for services to the museum sector.