Gallery Operations Manager

Careers; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Museums Victoria is seeking a Gallery Operations Manager to oversee ongoing care, maintenance and refreshment of exhibitions and galleries across its venues. You will lead a dedicated Gallery Operations team, coordinate contractors, budgets and resources, and ensure safe, high‑quality presentation with minimal visitor disruption.

With extensive experience in public facilities like museums, you will drive planned and responsive works, manage timelines and compliance, and build strong stakeholder

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in ongoing maintenance, repair, refreshment and refurbishment of exhibitions and galleries in public facilities such as a museum or gallery.
• Ability to assess maintenance issues, prioritise works, coordinate technical solutions and maintain high gallery presentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planned and responsive maintenance of exhibitions and galleries across Museums Victoria’s venues.
• Plan and deliver exhibition repairs, refreshment and refurbishment, allocating resources and minimising visitor disruption.
• Lead and manage Gallery Operations staff, foster collaboration and development.
• Manage gallery maintenance projects and contractors, budgets, timelines and stakeholder communications.

Skills

Exhibitions maintenance

Project management

Staff management

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Australia's largest public museum organisation is seeking a Gallery Operations Manager to lead the ongoing maintenance, presentation, refreshment and refurbishment of exhibitions and galleries across Museums Victoria.ABOUT MUSEUMS VICTORIA:Ever dreamed of working in a place where dinosaurs roam, stars explode, and the world's most intriguing stories come to life? Welcome to Museums Victoria (MV)-where every day is a new opportunity to create unforgettable experiences. As one of the southern hemisphere's largest and most iconic museum organisations, we're not just about exhibits; we're about engaging, immersive moments that spark curiosity, creativity, and connection.Home to the awe-inspiring Melbourne Museum, the culturally rich Immigration Museum, the mind-expanding Scienceworks, and the World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building, MV is a place where exhibitions transform spaces and stories into something truly unmissable. Join a passionate team that brings ideas to life and makes discovery part of everyday experience.ABOUT THE POSITION:The Gallery Operations Manager leads the ongoing care and maintenance of exhibitions, galleries and public displays across Museums Victoria. This role is specifically focused on keeping gallery experiences safe, functional and presented to a high standard through planned and responsive maintenance, repairs, refreshment and refurbishment. Leading the Gallery Operations team, the manager coordinates people, contractors, budgets and resources, resolves exhibition issues and works closely with stakeholders to minimise disruption and deliver an excellent visitor experience across Museums Victoria's venues.Some of the key duties include:Lead the planned and responsive maintenance of Museums Victoria's exhibitions, galleries and public displays across its venues, ensuring they remain safe, functional and presented to a high standard.Plan and deliver exhibition repairs, refreshment and refurbishment works, including assessing issues, setting priorities, allocating resources and minimising disruption to visitors.Lead and manage the performance of Gallery Operations team members, fostering a collaborative, inclusive and development-focused work environment.Manage gallery maintenance projects and contractors, including allocating tasks, monitoring budgets and deliverables, liaising with stakeholders, and achieving project milestones.Provide gallery maintenance and operational expertise to long-term exhibition development teams and contribute to project briefs, specifications, planning, reporting, occupational health and safety, and risk management requirements.The successful applicant will have:Extensive experience and a record of achievement in the ongoing maintenance, repair, refreshment and refurbishment of exhibitions and galleries in a public facility such as a museum or gallery.Demonstrated ability to assess exhibition maintenance issues, prioritise planned and responsive works, coordinate technical solutions and maintain safe, high-quality gallery presentation.Extensive planning and project management experience, including the ability to manage timelines, budgets, contractors, resources and compliance requirements.Demonstrated staff management experience and the ability to provide leadership that supports staff development and fosters a collaborative and inclusive work environment.Demonstrated ability to build effective stakeholder relationships and to influence, communicate, negotiate and advocate.OTHER INFORMATIONThis is a full-time, ongoing position. The salary on offer is VPS Grade 5, Value Range 1 - base of grade $116,413 per annum + 12% superannuation.OUR COMMITMENTMuseums Victoria is strongly committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. We create and maintain a child safe environment and have zero tolerance for child abuse. The successful applicant will be required to undergo a National Police Records Check and a Working with Children Check, and be assessed as suitable.Museums Victoria is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and celebrate all communities. Museums Victoria is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels they belong. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability, and people of all ages, gender identities and sexual orientations.We are committed to an accessible and inclusive recruitment process. If you require adjustments or support to participate, please contact the person listed in this advertisement.HOW TO APPLY?To view the position description, visit Careers - Museums Victoria. From our Current Vacancies page, select \"All Jobs\" and click on the link for this job's listing.To apply, please click \"Apply for this Job\" at the bottom of the job listing page.For more information about this position, please contact Tim Rolfe at [e-mail] submit the following two documents with your application:Your ResumeA cover letter addressing the following Key Selection Criteria:1.Extensive experience and record of achievement in managing and maintaining exhibitions in a public facility such as a museum or gallery2. Extensive experience in planning and project management including proven ability to set priorities, forward plan, manage timelines, budgets, resources and compliance requirements3. Demonstrated staff management experience and the capacity to work flexibly in a multifunction team and provide leadership that focuses on mentorship and development of staff and fosters a collaborative and inclusive work environmentAPPLICATIONS CLOSE: 15 October 2026 (11:59pm)