PROJECT DIRECTOR – MAJOR CULTURAL PROJECT, AFRICA

Museum Studio; Paris; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Museum Studio seeks a senior Project Director to lead a major cultural project in Africa. You will helm the integrated project team, coordinate architecture, engineering, construction, and museum design, and act as the principal interface with the client and stakeholders.

This is a high-profile leadership role requiring experience in fast-track delivery, multi-stakeholder governance, and overseas project management. Fluent English and French are essential; significant time in Africa is expected.

Qualifications

• We are seeking a senior leader with experience delivering major international projects.
• Experience in Africa or other complex international delivery environments is essential.
• Strong design management and contractual interfaces are required.
• Experience coordinating multiple consultants, contractors and specialist workstreams.
• Experience in museums, cultural projects or major public buildings is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the overall project delivery strategy and Museum Studio project team.
• Act as the principal senior interface with the client and key stakeholders.
• Lead the PMO / project integration function coordinating architects, engineers, contractors and specialists.
• Oversee programme, risk, cost, procurement, change control and reporting.
• Manage interfaces between base building, museum design and fit-out.
• Drive delivery from design and procurement through construction and opening.
• Lead international and Africa-based project resources.
• Resolve critical programme, commercial, technical and delivery issues.
• Maintain accountability and alignment across organisations and workstreams.

Skills

Stakeholder mgmt

Project leadership

International delivery

Design management

Procurement

Risk management

Client interface

Africa experience

English & French

Tools

PMO tools

Job description

PROJECT DIRECTOR – MAJOR CULTURAL PROJECT, AFRICA

Museum Studio is seeking an experienced Project Director to lead the delivery of a major cultural project in Africa.

This is a senior leadership role at the heart of a complex international programme, bringing together architecture, engineering, construction, museum design, specialist fit-out and operational delivery.

The Project Director will lead Museum Studio’s integrated project team and act as the principal senior interface with the client and key project stakeholders, providing overall direction, governance and integration throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the overall project delivery strategy and Museum Studio project team.
• Act as the principal senior interface with the client and key stakeholders.
• Lead the PMO / project integration function, coordinating architects, engineers, contractors and specialist teams.
• Oversee programme, risk, cost, procurement, change control and reporting.
• Manage critical interfaces between base building, museum design and specialist fit-out.
• Drive delivery from design and procurement through construction, fit-out, commissioning and opening.
• Lead international and Africa-based project resources.
• Resolve critical programme, commercial, technical and delivery issues.
• Maintain clear accountability and alignment across multiple organisations and workstreams.

Required Experience

We are looking for a senior Project Director, Programme Director or Delivery Director with substantial experience delivering major international projects.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• A strong track record leading large-scale, complex and multi-stakeholder projects.
• Significant experience in Africa and/or other complex international delivery environments.
• Strong expertise across design management, construction, programme, commercial and contractual interfaces.
• Experience coordinating multiple consultants, contractors and specialist workstreams.
• Experience in museums, cultural projects, major public buildings, institutional projects, visitor attractions or complex destination projects would be a strong advantage.
• Strong procurement, contractor management, risk and change-control experience.
• Proven ability to operate with senior clients and institutional stakeholders.
• Experience of fast-track delivery involving overlapping design, procurement, construction and specialist fit-out.
• Fluent English and French
• Ability and willingness to spend significant periods of time in Africa.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for a senior, credible and hands-on project leader: someone capable of representing Museum Studio at executive level while remaining close enough to the project to intervene directly when delivery, programme, design or commercial issues require leadership.

This is not primarily a design position or a conventional construction-site role. It is a project leadership and integration role, requiring the ability to bring together multiple disciplines, organisations and senior stakeholders to successfully deliver a major cultural project.

Candidates may come from an international PMC/project management consultancy, major contractor, engineering group, client-side organisation or major cultural/institutional programme.

Substantial presence in Africa will be required.