Exhibitions Manager

The Wama Foundation is seeking a hands-on, resourceful, and collaborative Exhibitions Manager to deliver a robust program of environmental art.

Home to the National Centre for Environmental Art and the Gariwerd/Grampians Endemic Botanic Garden, the Wama Foundation explores the deep interconnection between art, science and nature. 

The Exhibitions Manager is responsible for the end-to-end management of Wama’s exhibition program. This includes coordinating artwork loans, drafting and managing commissioning agreements, supervising artwork production, and managing freight, installation, and deinstallation, under the general direction of the CEO. The role also takes the lead in caring for the Wama Foundation Collection; and curates and coordinates the visual arts and crafts components of the Wama store.  

Operating within a small, collaborative team, this is a dynamic and hands-on role requiring strong project management skills, technical art handling expertise, artist liaison acumen, and experience with contractor management. 

This is a permanent part-time (30.4 hour/week) role based in Budja Budja/Halls Gap, Victoria.

Key Accountabilities:

• Project manage exhibitions from initial concept through to successful delivery in consultation with the CEO 
• Manage Exhibitions & Collections budget, allocating resources strategically and responsibly
• Prepare and manage exhibition project schedules, contracts and relevant documentation
• Manage artwork checklists, artwork condition reporting and artwork insurances
• Support the production of artworks, effectively resourcing materials and technical components 
• Identify emerging issues and track and report on progress against established milestones and deliverables 
• Ensure that the gallery spaces and artworks are presented professionally to best practice at all times
• Manage the recruitment and induction of contractor staff, ensuring their compliance with OH&S legislation and regulations and insurance requirements 
• Maintain exhibitions for their duration, including cleaning of artworks, display furniture and gallery walls, organising contractors as required
• Develop exhibition startup and shut down procedures in consultation with the Experience & Engagement Manager
• Monitor the environmental conditions of the gallery, storage space and exhibitions workshop, ensuring compliance with AA rating 
• Liaise with Site & Operations Manager to effectively plan, monitor and maintain security of the gallery, loading dock, storage space and exhibitions workshop 
• Manage the care, storage, maintenance and cataloguing of the Wama collection, exhibitions equipment and furniture   
• Maintain digital records of exhibition materials and project files 
• Oversee the organisation and maintenance of Wama’s loading dock and exhibitions workshop
• Follow the OH&S requirements of Wama, managing all risks pertaining to the installation of exhibitions, including the preparation of Disaster Management plans for exhibitions and compliance with insurance requirements
• Support grant writing and acquittals 
• Develop and maintain regular contacts with counterparts in other galleries and museums
• Staff the reception desk as required
• Any other duties that may be reasonably determined from time to time by the CEO  

Essential Selection Criteria:  

• Tertiary qualification/s in visual arts, museum studies, arts administration, curatorial studies, project management or a related discipline
• 2+ years in a similar role 
• Experience working with artists 
• Demonstrated exhibition project management skills, including but not limited to staff and contractor liaison, and the documentation, conservation, movement and tracking of works and the coordination of incoming loans 
• Experience in the care, packing, handling, installing and display of art, craft and design to museum standards 
• Experience managing exhibition budgets
• Excellent time management skills and demonstrated ability to meet deadlines
• Excellent computer literacy across a range of systems
• Ability to build strong and collaborative working relationships both internally and externally
• Excellent administration and written communication skills 
• Current Australian Driver’s licence  

To Apply: 

For a detailed position description, general enquiries, and application instructions, please contact careers@wamafoundation.com.au 

Applications close Monday 14 July.