Exhibitions Project Manager

THE WALLACE COLLECTION

The Wallace Collection is an internationally outstanding collection which contains unsurpassed masterpieces of paintings, sculpture, furniture, arms and armour and porcelain. Built over the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, it is one of the finest and most celebrated collections in the world. So that it could be kept together and enjoyed by generations of visitors, the collection was given to the British Nation in 1897 and opened to the public in June 1900. It was an astonishing bequest and one of the greatest gifts of art works ever to be transferred into public ownership. The museum is internationally famous for its collection of French eighteenth-century art, Arms and Armour and for its Old Master paintings.

The museum is managed by the Director Dr Xavier Bray, who reports to a board of Trustees appointed by the Prime Minister, and is financed by a combination of grant-in-aid from central government and self-generated income.

We aim to engage with and diversify our audience and, before the pandemic, we attracted over 450,000 visitors a year to the museum.

SALARY

The salary for this role is between £35,500 to £38,000 per annum dependent on skills and experience.

OUR PRIORITIES

The Collection is committed to providing access to as wide a public as possible and to helping visitors engage with this diversity. Our goal is to create a place of understanding, cultural pluralism, curiosity and learning. To do this, we plan to create a world-class visitor experience for all ages which stimulates engagement with our collection through a new programme of exhibitions, major gallery refurbishments and an enhanced and expanded digital presence.

Our strategic priorities are to:

1. Maintain, research and preserve the Collection for future generations;
2. Broaden and deepen visitor engagement, connecting with audiences onsite and digitally;
3. Build and support a strong exhibition programme;
4. Lay a strong financial foundation for the future; and
5. Embark upon a Masterplan programme to transform the museum.

ROLE SUMMARY

The Exhibitions Project Manager will ensure the successful delivery of exhibitions from initiating project plans through to de-installation and any onward tour. They will be responsible for delivering exhibitions to museum standards, on time and within budget.

The postholder will be the key point of contact for their specific projects, liaising with a wide range of stakeholders including curators, external designers, external publishers, transport agents, ACE, lenders, venue partners, and contractors.

This role reports to the Head of Exhibitions and Collection Care and line manages an Exhibition Assistant.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

Exhibition Management and Registration:

1. Responsible for the project management of simultaneous major loan exhibitions and small displays at the Wallace Collection and with partner venues, to schedule, budget and museum standards.
2. Establish key milestones and deadlines, that are achievable, and delivery focused.
3. Set, manage and drive forward project schedules, liaising with stakeholders as required.
4. Identify and regularly review risk throughout each project.
5. Initiate and chair exhibition meetings including debriefs.
6. Work closely with the curator(s) of each allocated exhibition, to develop the object list and confirm loans. Manage loan lists; reviewing according to budgetary and display requirements.
7. Oversee meticulous records on the Gallery’s exhibitions management database, or electronic records.
8. Oversee Government Indemnity and/or commercial insurance applications.
9. Generate transport and packing tenders for national/international fine art transport.
10. Manage the coordination of installation/de-installation teams and schedules (Conservators, Art Handlers, Contractors, Designers, Lighting, in house and freelance).

Finance and Procurement:

1. Accurate management of exhibition project budgets, tracking expenditure, generating accurate forecasts and regularly reporting.
2. Procure and appoint transport tenders, external conservators’ services, mount makers, commercial insurance, build contractors and other required services.
3. Maintain the management of shared costs for partnership exhibitions, reconcile costs and generate final agreed invoice.

Loan Management:

1. Diplomatically negotiate loan agreements with lenders to mutually acceptable terms and conditions.
2. Independently arrange all loan logistics and procedures including transport, couriers, insurance and British Government Indemnity, Immunity from Seizure applications; to be in line with Wallace Collection policies and practices, DCMS and ACE requirements, Health & Safety and other statutory requirements.
3. Always maintain positive working relationship with stakeholders with diplomacy and discretion.

Design and Interpretation:

1. Manage and oversee the 2D and 3D exhibition design process for allocated projects and chair design meetings.
2. Oversee the interpretation process, coordinating the assembly of content.
3. Coordinate the production of exhibition build, graphics and printed interpretation liaising with external designers and producers.
4. Work to the Wallace Collections H&S and CDM regulations.

Publications:

1. Support the Head of Exhibitions and Collection Care with the tendering and appointment of external publishers.
2. Liaise with Curatorial to ensure the catalogue production schedule falls within the agreed deadlines and budgets.
3. Oversee image purchasing for catalogue entries and comparative illustrations, or arranging new photography, ensuring all reproduction and copyrights are compiled with.

People Management:

1. Line manage and oversee the work of an Exhibitions Assistant, promoting their development.

Other:

1. Proactively stay informed with current policy across the sector via Continued Professional Development and networks (UKRG, IAL, The Exhibitions Group etc).
2. On occasion may be required to support colleagues to oversee the safety of the Collection during events.
3. Carry out courier duties for loans from the Wallace Collection to borrowers.
4. This job description cannot be considered to be exhaustive and other duties will be determined by circumstances as and when required.

Person Specification

Essential:

1. Degree level qualification in a relevant subject, or equivalent vocational experience.
2. At least 3 years’ experience of exhibition project management and/or exhibition registration in a museum or gallery environment.
3. Proven project management skills with the ability to manage and drive life cycles of numerous loan exhibitions concurrently.
4. Demonstrable experience of Museum Standards and sector policy, related to the management of objects, loans in, display and transport arrangements.
5. Experience of the exhibition design process and working with 2D and 3D designers and an understanding of audiences and visitor experience/experience design.
6. Experience or understanding of exhibitions publication production process and copyright.
7. Experience of accurately monitoring expenditure, providing forecasts and value engineering.
8. Experience of tendering for major exhibitions and contract negotiation with external contractors.
9. Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to negotiate, be sensitive and diplomatic.
10. Highly-developed interpersonal skills with the ability to build positive working relations with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
11. Demonstrable computer skills; including collections database systems, ability to manage information systematically and accurately.
12. Practical organisational management skills; meticulousness, a keen attention to detail in all aspects of work, particularly record keeping.
13. Exceptional time management skills, to successfully manage simultaneous project deadlines effectively.
14. Work flexibly and calmly under pressure with a solution focussed approach.

Desirable:

1. Line management experience and management of external contractors/ freelancers.
2. Experience of exhibitions touring nationally and/or internationally.
3. An interest in the Wallace Collection.

HOW TO APPLY

Please complete the Application Form, and the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form, following the links provided on our website. Please note the equal opportunities form is used for monitoring purposes only and does not form part of the selection process. Both forms should be emailed to recruitment@wallacecollection.org by midnight 27/04/2025. Please note late applications or applications via a CV will not be considered.

Interviews for the role will take place on week commencing 28/04/2025. Candidates who have been shortlisted for interview will be contacted after the closing date. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it will not be possible to contact or give feedback to candidates who have not been shortlisted for interview.

Start date: As soon as possible

Appointment to the role is subject to a satisfactory Basic Disclosure check. The Wallace Collection is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.