The Natural History Museum is one of the world’s leading museums, internationally recognised for its dual role as a centre of excellence in scientific research and as a leader in the presentation of natural history through exhibitions, public programmes, publications and the web.
They are now looking to appoint a Head of Exhibitions and Interpretation situated in the Exhibitions, Learning & Outreach team who will have the responsibility for the delivery of the exhibitions, galleries and spaces that deliver the Museum’s strategic narratives and enhance the visitors’ experience and engagement with the collection.
As a key role within the Public Engagement Directorate the post-holder will lead the definition, development and delivery of a vibrant programme of high profile, temporary exhibitions for a range of audiences together with plans for the longer-term transformation of the Museum’s permanent spaces and shorter-term plans to maintain and upgrade key galleries. This role has responsibility for the content, interpretation and production of exhibitions, new galleries and gallery upgrades.
With oversight of multiple projects, this role will require a pragmatic mind set, a commitment to delivering quality and an ability to prioritise and problem solve. Responsibilities will also include aligning resources and deploying people optimally in order to achieve the ambitious plans that the Museum has set out through its strategic priorities.
Role competences:
To be successful in this role the candidate will be degree educated (or equivalent) with in-depth understanding of interpretive planning, exhibition & exhibit design and production. They will have substantial experience of delivering galleries or temporary exhibitions, with a focus on engaging the public with science through collections. It is essential that candidates have experience of leading a large team of diverse practitioners working on multiple projects with competing timelines.
Candidates will come with a deep understanding of learning and content within a Museum environment and have a strong understanding of audiences needs in relation to science and museums. Experience of managing a broad range of internal stakeholders, collaborating across teams and influencing others in order to achieve successful outputs for audiences that meet the Museum’s strategic ambitions and values is highly important. An ability deliver multiple projects on time, to budget and to a high standard is key.
For a full job description please download this document. 0b8b8aff8d454581a18bd870aebcc8e4_Doc_JD - Head of Exhibitions and Interpretation
Salary: £43,500 - £53,000 per annum plus benefits
Contract: Permanent appointment
Closing date: 9am on Monday 8 August 2016
Interview date: 1st round interviews: w/c 15 August, 2nd round interviews: w/c 22 August
Online application process:
You do not need to complete your application online, but candidates should email their application to Chris Wrigley, Recruitment Manager on c.wrigley@nhm.ac.uk
Applications should include:
- A comprehensive curriculum vitae giving details of relevant achievements in recent posts as well as your education and professional qualifications.
- A covering letter that summarises your interest in this post, providing evidence of your ability to match the criteria outlined in the Person Specification.
- Details of your latest salary and notice period
Please note that applications from candidates without a covering letter identifying how they match the roles knowledge, skills and experience will be rejected.
