Aga Khan Museum, Collections and Public Programs
Director of Collections and Public Programs
Institution Type: | Nonprofit |
Location: | Ontario, Canada |
Position: | Director |
Purpose of Position
Reporting to the Director and CEO, the Director of Collections and Public Programs will be responsible for strategically planning and managing the care, research, interpretation and growth of the Aga Khan Museum collections of Islamic art while also overseeing and contributing to the strategic conceptualisation and implementation of the Museum's temporary exhibitions, educational activities and public programs.
A recognized leader in the museology of Islamic art, cultures and civilizations, the Director of Collections and Public Programs will be a passionate advocate for the arts and culture of the Muslim world and their interaction with other world civilizations across time and space. S/he will combine experience and expertise in the field of Islamic art at large with those in the interpretation and display of objects and the conceptualisation and delivery of innovative temporary exhibitions, educational initiatives and public programs. Managing the Museum's curatorial, exhibition, education and performing arts departments, s/he will lead a team of subject-matter specialists and program managers to establish a strategically cohesive and sustainable set of programs and initiatives that furthers the Museum’s mandate and role locally, nationally and internationally within the framework of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), more generally.
At the same time, the Director of Collections and Public Programs will act as a strategic, collaborative and inclusive leader, creative thinker and passionate advocate within and across relevant departments, within the Museum's senior management, across the local, national and international museum and academic community and in terms of community outreach. S/he will contribute actively and creatively to articulating and communicating - across the Museum and externally as appropriate - a coherent, groundbreaking vision for the Museum with clear and strategically cohesive sets of priorities.
Key Responsibilities
Collections and Research
- Provide strategic guidance and have overall responsibility regarding acquisitions for the care of and research on the collection, including the establishment of best-practice standards and policies
- Establish a research strategy for the collection, identifying key areas of research that need to be conducted and matching them to internal resources and external partners
- Lead a team of curators, curatorial assistants, collection managers and conservators, educators in conceptualising and delivering research related to collection-based projects, temporary exhibitions, educational initiatives and performing arts programs in line with AKM/AKTC/AKDN objectives
- Develop a publication strategy for key areas of the collection and in support of the Museum’s educational and public programs
Public Programs (Temporary Exhibitions, Educational Initiatives, Performing Arts Programs):
- Have strategic responsibility for the development, implementation and evaluation of the Museum’s Collection’s Gallery and temporary exhibitions program utilizing the resources of the Museum’s experts or guest curators and partnering with peer institutions as appropriat
- Be responsible for the overall management, strategic conceptualisation, implementation and evaluation of exhibitions as well as educational and public services aimed at diverse audiences and communities in line with the Museum's and AKTC/AKDN's objectives, leading and closely collaborating with the Museum's teams of exhibition managers/technicians, educationalists and performing arts experts
- Have a strategic focus on activities and events that complement and enhance in-gallery experiences and anchor and enhance education and outreach initiatives
- Invigorate existing partnerships with peer and other appropriate museums, educational and academic institutions locally, nationally and internationally – particularly within the framework of AKTC/ AKDN - and forge new strategic links to reach new audiences.
- Foster cooperative relationships with curators in other art and academic institutions in Canada and globally. Play an active role in professional bodies such as the Historians of Islamic Art and Architecture (HIAA) and the College Art Association (CAA)
Management and Administration:
- Oversee the management of the curatorial, exhibition, educational and public programs department
- Provide strategic leadership regarding divisional priorities and resource requirements, maximising resources and experience within the Museum
- Foster and maintain a “service and team oriented” collaborative divisional culture within and among the respective departments, encouraging creative and innovative input and initiatives
- Promote the development of staff through career stages; provide performance assessments informally throughout the year and formally on an annual basis to direct reports
- Represent the division at senior management meetings and for presentations to the Board as required
- Communicate effectively divisional activities to all levels of the museum at all staff meetings and on a day-to-day basis
- Work with the Director and CEO and other members of the leadership team to implement and monitor strategic goals, policies and processes to ensure the Museum meets its stated mission
- Oversee the preparation of the annual divisional budget and manage divisional finances within the approved budget
- As required, prepare reports and make presentations to the Director & CEO and the Board of Directors
Qualifications & Experience
- A PhD or equivalent in Islamic Art
- Minimum of 7 years of established strategic management-level experience and expertise in museum curation, interpretation, collection management and innovative museological initiatives Demonstrated record of publishing and teaching in the field of Islamic art
- Demonstrated record of publishing, teaching and strategic networking in the international field of Islamic art, culture and civilisation
- Recognised intercultural competencies, exceptional communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively and appropriately to a wide range of diverse audiences, both orally and in written form
- Good working knowledge of languages, among them English, Arabic and French
- Flexible, collaborative and fully committed attitude, coupled with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and to work well under tight timelines or responding to changes in priorities
- A deep passion for art history and its role in art museums
- A strong network of academic colleagues in the field of Islamic art
- Exceptional communication skills, oral and written
- Strong work ethics, professional and personal integrity
- A creative and dynamic thinker
- A goal directed and results oriented team player
- An affinity with the underlining goals and philosophy of the Aga Khan Development Network
- Expressed interest in the mandate of the Museum
Contact: |
Please send your cover letter and resume to akm.hr@akdn.org. Shortlisting of applications will commence on March 1, 2017. The Museum thanks all those who apply, however only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Please note that the Museum is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fair and accessible employment practices. Upon request, suitable accommodations are available under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act for applicants invited to an interview. |
Website: | http://www.agakhanmuseum.org |
Primary Category: | Islamic History / Studies |
Secondary Categories: | None |
Posting Date: | 02/02/2017 |
Closing Date | 05/02/2017 |