Manager Exhibition Business Development

About Te Papa

Te Papa is the national museum of Aotearoa New Zealand, renowned globally as a bicultural and multi-disciplinary institution. Its mission is to connect people, taonga, and stories to create meaningful experiences that reflect the nation's identity, history, and future aspirations. The museum's exhibitions, which include both in-house and touring shows, form the core of audience engagement. These activities are underpinned by a dedication to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the philosophy of Mana Taonga, guaranteeing that communities are actively engaged in preserving and interpreting their cultural heritage.

Role Overview

We seek a strategic, commercially savvy leader who will steer exhibition business development and scheduling at Te Papa. This role involves collaborating with internal teams and external partners both domestically and internationally to shape the exhibition program and broaden the impact and reach of our experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Enterprise Portfolio Manager to manage exhibition scheduling ensuring a coherent and achievable museum and touring programme.
• Lead business development efforts for touring exhibitions and experiences, covering both incoming and outgoing initiatives locally and overseas.
• Prepare and drive exhibition business cases, feasibility analyses, and proposals to facilitate sound decision-making and attract investment.
• Oversee the planning, sales, and execution of touring exhibitions while coordinating closely with internal departments and external collaborators.
• Provide leadership in the creation of content and experiences for major exhibitions, ensuring they are audience-focused and of high quality.
• Manage and nurture the Exhibitions Development team to maintain a positive, high-achieving, and forward-thinking work environment.
• Maintain robust relationships with internal stakeholders, cultural institutions, and commercial partners.
• Support governance, planning, and project delivery processes, including liaising with the Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO) post-approval.

Candidate Profile

• Proven track record as an inspiring people leader capable of motivating and growing high-performing teams.
• Strong strategic thinker with excellent commercial insight and a history of identifying and securing new opportunities.
• Effective collaborator, experienced in navigating complex organizational structures and building reliable partnerships.
• Skilled communicator capable of composing detailed business cases, proposals, and clear recommendations.
• Experienced in exhibition or experience development within museums, cultural spaces, or creative sectors.
• Competent in project and operations management including budgeting, resource allocation, and logistics coordination.
• Adept at working with external partners, including negotiating and collaborating across diverse cultural contexts.
• Committed to honoring Te Tiriti o Waitangi and integrating te ao Māori perspectives and practices into work.

Preferred Background

Candidates may come from museums, cultural organizations, creative industries, events management, touring production, or related commercial fields with experience in large-scale experiences, partnerships, or program development. International touring and commercial partnership experience or knowledge of te reo and tikanga Māori are advantageous.

Additional Information

• This permanent full-time role is based in Wellington, with a 40-hour workweek.
• The salary range offered is between $131156 and $155747 per annum, commensurate with skills and experience.
• Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand.
• Pre-employment screenings including criminal history and reference checks will be conducted before confirming any employment offer.
• Selection may involve assessments such as psychometric or skills-based tests before a formal offer is extended.

Contact

For confidential inquiries, contact Briar Barry at Briar.Barry@tepapa.govt.nz.