Role purpose
The Manager, Exhibitions is a key leadership role within the Exhibitions Business Unit, responsible for the integrated planning, development and delivery of the Museum's on-site, temporary, gallery and touring exhibitions. This role brings together the responsibilities previously held across multiple functions, providing strategic oversight and hands-on management across domestic and international engagements, exhibition planning and gallery development.
Reporting to the Head of Exhibitions, the Manager leads a multidisciplinary team to produce compelling, audience-focused exhibitions that support the Museum's vision and narrative. The role oversees the end-to-end project lifecycle, from conceptualisation and design to installation and evaluation, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities, timelines, budgets and cultural protocols. It champions innovation and collaboration, working closely with internal and external stakeholders to realise engaging exhibitions that enhance the Museum's national and international presence.
This role requires a high level of initiative, project management expertise, financial acumen and cultural sensitivity. The successful candidate will be a confident communicator, adept at managing diverse teams, negotiating with partners and ensuring operational excellence across all facets of exhibition development and delivery.
Key accountabilities
• Lead the integrated planning, development and delivery of the Museum's exhibition program - including temporary, touring and gallery exhibitions - ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, audience needs and the Museum's core narrative.
• Oversee and manage complex exhibition projects, ensuring effective coordination of schedules, budgets, procurement, risk management and contractual obligations, in line with public sector governance standards.
• Build and maintain collaborative internal and external relationships, including with national and international partners, designers, contractors and cultural institutions, to deliver high-quality, audience-focused exhibition outcomes.
• Provide expert advice, leadership, and mentoring to a multidisciplinary team, fostering a high-performance culture and supporting capability development in project delivery, audience engagement and exhibition production.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of a cohesive exhibition and gallery masterplan, supporting long-term planning, innovation and the strategic use of Museum assets and resources.
• Promote inclusive and culturally safe practices in exhibition development, including the integration of First Nations voices and stories, accessibility standards and child-safe principles across all projects.
• Evaluate program performance and contribute to strategic decision-making, using data, sector knowledge and visitor insights to inform continuous improvement, innovation and alignment with the Museum's vision.
The key duties of the position include
Skills, experience and qualifications
Essential:
• Demonstrated experience in leading the development and delivery of complex exhibition programs, including temporary, touring and gallery-based exhibitions, ideally within a museum or cultural institution.
• Proven ability to manage large-scale, multi-stakeholder projects, including strong skills in budget management, procurement, contract administration and risk mitigation.
• High-level leadership, communication and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to lead and motivate multidisciplinary teams, manage performance, and foster a collaborative and inclusive workplace culture.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills, with experience building productive partnerships with national and international cultural institutions, contractors, designers and community stakeholders.
• Sound knowledge of exhibition design and production processes, audience engagement methodologies and content development practices, including participatory and co-designed approaches.
• Proven ability to deliver projects that meet diverse audience needs, with a demonstrated commitment to cultural safety, accessibility and the respectful representation of First Nations perspectives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports, briefing materials, procurement documents and project plans for internal and external audiences.
Desirable:
• Tertiary qualifications in museum studies, cultural heritage, project management, visual arts, or a related discipline.
• Experience working with or within government agencies, including knowledge of public sector project management, procurement and accountability requirements.
• An existing national or international network within the cultural or exhibitions sector.
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