The National Portrait Gallery’s purpose is to increase the understanding and appreciation of Australian people and culture through the art of portraiture. The Gallery operates 364 days a year, offering visitors the opportunity to view the collection and special exhibitions, and participate in a variety of cutting edge public and educational programs. The Gallery also offers venue hire for private and corporate events and houses a popular cafe and bookstore.
It occupies an award-winning, purpose built facility on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, in the company of other prestigious and iconic national cultural and collecting institutions.
The National Portrait Gallery is proud to have been recognised an Aon Best Employer in 2019 as part of Aon Best Employers global certification.
The position
Reporting to the Gallery Director, the Director, Collection and Exhibitions will lead and manage the team responsible for the permanent collection, its care, conservation, research and interpretation alongside inward and outward exhibitions, their design and elucidation.
As part of the Gallery’s Executive Management Team consisting of the four executive sections: Collection & Exhibitions, Corporate, Communications and External Relations, Access and Learning, you will oversee a curatorial team that develops the collection and its display and a temporary exhibition program that nurtures partnership opportunities with cultural institutions nationally and internationally.
The role necessitates a strategic level specialist. In addition, it requires highly developed leadership, communication and negotiation skills combined with initiative, sound judgment and the ability to anticipate and set the agenda. A sound knowledge of Australian art and understanding of Australian history, alongside in depth experience working within a museum environment, is preferred.
Tertiary qualifications in Australian Art and Australian history, curatorial or museum studies is desirable.
Specific tasks
As leader of the Curatorial, Exhibitions and Collection Management teams and a member of the National Portrait Gallery Executive team:
1. Work closely with the Gallery Director and Executive Management Team in developing and delivering the innovative and artistic program, ensuring there is a balance between artistic and commercial considerations and that exhibitions evenly cater for popular and niche audiences.
2. Work collaboratively on innovative ways for visitors to interact and experience the collection.
3. Build upon established sector partnerships and develop new and ongoing relationships with artists, gallerists and industry professionals and grow new networks that foster good will, expertise and support.
4. Oversee all portrait commissions and collection development including researching and identifying potential acquisitions and commissions.
5. Provide leadership, guidance and direction to the curatorial and exhibitions team, ensuring budget deliverables and fostering strong relationships with key stakeholders.
6. Provide strategic direction to the curatorial and exhibitions area, including developing business plans, strategies and priorities and monitoring work flow and performance.
7. Accountable for developing, coaching and mentoring employees, performance management, conflict resolution and identification of training needs.
8. Provide leadership in implementing and promoting a climate of continuous improvement.
9. Develop and manage key strategic relationships with owners of works of art, artists and their agents as well as with other galleries and institutions regarding loans for exhibitions, commissions and potential acquisitions.
10. Communicate the strategic direction and vision of the Gallery by overseeing art interpretation and biography that manifests in exhibition texts, catalogues and other published material associated with the National Portrait Gallery.
11. Represent the National Portrait Gallery within Government and to the wider community through executive forums, public programs and lectures to promote discussion in the fields of Australian art, portraiture, biography and history.
Selection criteria
1. Shapes strategic thinking Demonstrated experience of contributing to the strategic planning of agency wide objectives and linking them to the business unit whilst considering the ramifications of a wide range of issues, anticipating priorities and developing longterm plans for own work area.
2. Achieves results Demonstrated evaluation of project performance and critical success factors and ability to deliver simultaneous projects with competing priorities within deadlines and available resources. Demonstration of building teams with complementary skills and allocation of resources in a manner that delivers results.
3. Cultivates productive working relationships Proven capacity to provide sound and effective leadership to staff within a multidisciplinary team; and to build productive relationships with stakeholders including gallery staff, donors, commercial art gallery dealers and artists, Gallery Board and the Gallery Foundation.
4. Exemplifies personal drive and integrity Demonstrated experience of providing impartial and forthright advice as well as taking personal responsibility for meeting objectives and proactively driving towards goals despite criticism or setbacks.
5. Communicates with influence Demonstrated experience of engaging and managing stakeholders through change, resolving conflict and managing sensitivities.
6. Demonstrates skills and expertise Demonstrated in-depth and specialist knowledge of Australian art, history and visual culture and the Australian art market as well as developing and delivering innovative exhibition experiences.
Applicant Information
If you require further information please contact Sara Miles, Executive Coordinator on 02 6102 7003 or by email at sara.miles@npg.gov.au
Responses to the selection criteria are limited to 250 words per criterion. Applications are to be submitted to npghrservices@npg.gov.au along with current CV and application cover sheet which can be found on the website www.portrait.gov.au
APPLICATIONS CLOSE Sunday 11 November 2019
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