Director, Museums and Cultural Engagement

• Exciting opportunity to lead the museums and cultural engagement portfolio
• Utilise your knowledge of world trends and practices in museum management and outreach
• Located in Camperdown Campus, Sydney
• Full-time continuing position with an attractive remuneration package including 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The Director, Museums and Cultural Engagement provides strategic leadership and management of the University Museums and Cultural venues including the Chau Chak Wing Museum (comprising more than 450,000 items of visual arts, ancient history, science and cultural material), the Seymour Centre (performing arts) and a host of cultural outreach activities undertaken by the External Engagement portfolio.

The Director will join at an important juncture for our institution, following the reconfiguration of our collections with the establishment of the award-winning Chau Chak Wing Museum and as the University enters a new ten-year strategy cycle to 2032. As Director, you will build on an already strong platform to oversee and guide the University’s Museum and Cultural Engagement teams through the next stage of their evolution. Engaging with industry and the community, you will work to promote a contemporary approach to cultural engagement and museum management. Importantly, you will ensure the ongoing sustainability and innovation of our University Museums and Cultural venues.

The Director will lead a team of professional staff who work in collections management, curatorial practice, education and public programs, theatre management and performing arts. This requires an extensive knowledge of current trends and practices in museum management and a successful track record of managing a large cultural outreach program.

This is a senior strategic position within the portfolio and part of the portfolio's executive. The position reports directly to the Vice President (External Engagement) and is responsible for developing, managing and coordinating the University's cultural engagement strategy, policies and operations.

About you

We are looking for a Director, Museums and Cultural Engagement who possesses:

• substantial relevant experience in public museums or galleries at a senior leadership level
• demonstrated staff management experience and experience in working as a member of a high-performing team
•  strategic capability with the capacity to develop and implement long term management plans for results
• well-developed financial and business management skills
• ability to liaise at a high level with University staff, benefactors, relevant government and non-government officials and the community
• proven fundraising and philanthropic experience and expertise
• outstanding interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, including the ability to speak effectively in front of diverse audiences
• proven knowledge and understanding of the museum and gallery environment of a world city
• high ethical standards and integrity.

Term and remuneration

The Director, Museums and Cultural Engagement will be a full-time, continuing appointment. The successful candidate will be offered a competitive remuneration package commensurate with the responsibilities of the position and the candidate’s relevant experience and qualifications.

How to apply

Applications (including a CV and cover letter outlining how your skills, capabilities and experience meet the requirements for the role) must be submitted via the link above. Please refer to the candidate information brochure for further details.

Candidate Information Pack

If you are a current employee of the University or a contingent worker with access to Workday, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard. Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.

The University of Sydney will be supported in its search for this appointment by the executive search firm Odgers Berndtson. To obtain full details and for a confidential discussion, prospective candidates should contact Phillipa Whitehouse on (61) 2 8905 3798 and email address: phillipa.whitehouse@odgersberndtson.com or Caroline Dever via email caroline.dever@odgersberndtson.com.

To submit your application please visit the Odgers Berndtson website at odgers.com/87093

Other

To keep our community safe, please be aware of our COVID safety precautions which form our conditions of entry for all staff, students and visitors coming to campus.

Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

Visa sponsorship is available for this position.

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values include diversity and inclusion and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community which reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this commitment through our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTIQ. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

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The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.

Applications Close

Wednesday 26 October 2022 11:59 PM