Gallery Director

Mornington Peninsula Shire; Mornington; On-site; AUD 116,000 - 142,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

13-month fixed-term contract

Job summary

The Gallery Director at Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery provides dynamic, creative and strategic leadership across all aspects of the major cultural facility. You will manage an annual operating budget and lead growth for the collection, exhibitions, and public programs.

You will report to the Team Leader, Arts and Culture, overseeing a committed team and ensuring high-quality programming while engaging stakeholders and delivering on strategic objectives.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification in Art History, Museum or Curatorial Studies with significant demonstrable experience in senior management of a public art gallery and/or a senior curatorial position
• Extensive experience in the research, development and delivery of exhibition programs, and procuring and managing grants, sponsorship and diversified revenue streams in a gallery/museum environment; local government experience is desirable
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including confidence in public speaking and preparing reports and strategic planning documents
• Significant knowledge of current professional gallery practice, including curatorship, research and public program development, with specialist knowledge of Australian art and artists, including First Nations creative practice
• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate and develop a team of arts professionals, with sound supervisory experience managing staff, contractors and volunteers

Responsibilities

• Manage outstanding exhibition and collection programming, including large-scale curatorial projects and new commissions
• Provide sound financial and strategic management, including budgets, grant applications and diversifying income streams
• Lead and support a high-performing, engaged Gallery team
• Provide strategic advice and stakeholder engagement, including on Capital Works and MPRG's state and national reputation

Skills

Senior management

Public speaking

Budget management

Grant sponsorship revenue

Stakeholder engagement

Curatorial practice knowledge

Team leadership

Education

Postgraduate qualification in Art History, Museum or Curatorial Studies

Job description

Mornington Peninsula Shire is Victoria's destination municipality, characterised by unique townships, highly productive agriculture, world renowned landscapes, tourist regions, and areas of national and international conservation significance within a vital Green Wedge.

The Shire is responsible for a broad range of infrastructure and community services that support the wellbeing and prosperity of our diverse community. With approximately 1,000 employees, it is a busy and vibrant workplace.

What’s on Offer

• Work Life Balance –We offer a hybrid working model, flexible working arrangements and generous leave provision.
• Culture –Positive, fun and inclusive work environment that is underpinned by our core values which are integral to everything we do. These are Integrity, Openness, Courage, Respect and Excellence.
• Opportunity–13-month fixed-term contract (parental leave cover), full-time role, based at Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery. Band 8 - $128,722.30 per annum (plus super)
• Leadership – Contribute to the strategic outcomes delivered by Mornington Peninsula Shire with an organisation who focuses on our people and the community.

About the Role

The Gallery Director provides dynamic, creative and strategic leadership across all aspects of MPRG — the largest public gallery in Melbourne's southeast and the Shire's major cultural facility. You will manage an annual operating budget of approximately $1.2 million, oversee four seasonal exhibition blocks each year (an average of 15 exhibitions) attracting more than 20,000 visitors annually, and lead the strategic growth and care of MPRG's permanent collection of 2,500+ works. This is a 13-month fixed-term contract, covering parental leave.

Reporting to the Team Leader, Arts and Culture, the core responsibilities include:

• Manage outstanding exhibition and collection programming, including large-scale curatorial projects and new commissions
• Provide sound financial and strategic management, including budgets, grant applications and diversifying income streams
• Lead and support a high-performing, engaged Gallery team
• Provide strategic advice and stakeholder engagement, including on Capital Works and MPRG's state and national reputation
• Manage operational aspects of the customer-facing business and key corporate initiatives

About You

• Postgraduate tertiary qualification in Art History, Museum or Curatorial Studies, with significant demonstrable experience in senior management of a public art gallery and/or a senior curatorial position
• Extensive experience in the research, development and delivery of exhibition programs, and procuring and managing grants, sponsorship and diversified revenue streams in a gallery/museum environment; local government experience is desirable
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including confidence in public speaking and preparing reports and strategic planning documents
• Significant knowledge of current professional gallery practice, including curatorship, research and public program development, with specialist knowledge of Australian art and artists, including First Nations creative practice
• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate and develop a team of arts professionals, with sound supervisory experience managing staff, contractors and volunteers

The Mornington Peninsula Shire is committed to creating a diverse and safe environment. We are proud to be an equal opportunity and Child Safe employer. We encourage applications from First Nations people, culturally and linguistically diverse people, people with disabilities, neurodiverse people, and people of all genders, sexualities and age groups.

Mornington Peninsula Shire undertakes a variety of employment screening checks. This includes employment references, Working with Children Checks and Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC).

Applicants must have valid Australian work rights.

Applications Close

11:59pm, Sunday 30 August 2026