Exhibitions and Displays Manager

Exhibitions and Displays Manager

Job description

Full Time, Fixed Term from 1st January 2027 – 31st March 2028.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced exhibitions manager to join the team at Bristol Museums.

We are seeking a culture / museums professional who is ready for a challenge. You will be responsible for developing and delivering our busy programme of temporary exhibitions and displays across Bristol Museums’ sites, mainly Bristol Museum & Art Gallery and M Shed, and occasionally our other venues.

Working with colleagues including Collections, Operations, Digital and Comms teams, you will ensure that exhibitions are delivered to the highest standard, on time and budget, and meet targets for audience development and income. You will part of the Engagement Team and will manage our skilled exhibition technicians.

We’re looking for someone highly organised, with excellent skills in coordinating project teams and communicating with a wide variety of stakeholders. You will have extensive experience of leading exhibition development and delivery, preferably within a museum or gallery setting. You will have sound budget management experience and a good understanding of collections care, health and safety, and exhibition installation logistics. You’ll also be a creative thinker, able to ideate visitor journey, understand how to engage different audiences, and work with designers to produce compelling exhibitions. Skills in co-production and interpretation development are an advantage.

The exhibitions you will be working on include Release the Kraken! The work of Ray Harryhausen; British Art Show 10, in partnership with Hayward Gallery Touring, Arnolfini, RWA and Spike Island; Wildlife Photographer of the Year; developing a touring exhibition with partners from MAGNET; and smaller exhibitions, some community-led in collaboration with the Public Programmes team.

As part of Bristol City Council, Bristol Museums offers a competitive salary and pension package, generous annual leave and flexible working. You will need to work on site part of each week and daily during exhibition installs and de-installs. Occasional evening or weekend working may be required, compensated by time in lieu.

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation.

Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

How do I apply?

If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.

To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.
For permanent Bristol City Council employees, this post will be a secondment.

For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to.

If you are currently a casual worker or a member of an employment agency (currently working with Bristol City Council) this post will be a fixed term contract.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

For further information, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification or alternatively, please contact karen.macdonald@bristol.gov.uk

Bristol City Council are not offering sponsorship for this role.

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit.

The personal information section (including your name) you’ll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.