Director of the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Santiago, Chile

Organisation: Servicio Nacional del Patrimonio Cultural (National Cultural Heritage Service)
Location: Santiago, Chile
Salary: CLP $4,422,261 gross per month
Contract: Three-year appointment, renewable once for a further three years following performance evaluation
Position: Full-time, Grade 5 public-sector leadership role
Vacancies: 1
Application deadline: 10 working days from the official publication of the call, closing at 11:59pm Chilean time (confirm the exact date on the application portal)

This listing has been translated and adapted from Spanish. Proficiency in Spanish is likely required for this senior public-sector position.

The Servicio Nacional del Patrimonio Cultural is seeking a Director to lead the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Santiago, Chile.

The successful candidate will oversee the museum’s strategic direction, collections, research, conservation and public programmes, strengthening its position within Chile’s national and international cultural landscape.

About the Role

The Director will be responsible for the overall management of the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, implementing the policies and programmes of Chile’s Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage and the National Cultural Heritage Service.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and implementing the museum’s strategic and operational plans.
• Overseeing the conservation, research, management and public accessibility of the museum’s collections.
• Ensuring institutional performance, service quality and the protection of cultural heritage.
• Building partnerships with national and international cultural institutions and public and private organisations.
• Leading the museum’s staff and fostering a collaborative, inclusive working environment.
• Representing the museum in institutional, professional and public contexts.

Requirements and Eligibility

This competition is restricted to eligible employees of Chile’s public administration. Applicants must hold a permanent or qualifying fixed-term/substitute position in a ministry or public service governed by Chile’s Administrative Statute. Fixed-term and substitute employees must generally have served continuously for at least three years before the competition.

Applicants must also meet the applicable performance-rating and legal eligibility requirements.

Candidates must hold a recognised professional qualification or bachelor’s-level degree meeting one of the following conditions:

• A programme of at least 10 semesters, with a minimum of five years of professional experience; or
• A programme of at least eight semesters, with a minimum of six years of professional experience.

Foreign qualifications must be officially recognised or validated in Chile.

Desirable qualifications and experience include:

• Academic training in art history, aesthetics, visual arts, architecture, humanities or social sciences.
• Specialisation in cultural or heritage management, public administration or related fields.
• At least five years of professional experience in museums or cultural heritage institutions.
• At least three years of experience leading teams.
• Knowledge of Chilean cultural heritage legislation, art history, cultural management and research methodologies.

Selection

The selection process comprises an assessment of qualifications and professional experience, a technical knowledge examination, a psychological and professional suitability assessment, and an interview with the selection committee.

Candidates must meet the minimum requirements at each stage to progress.

The complete official competition regulations should be consulted for all eligibility conditions and selection criteria.

Image: Carlos Figueroa Rojas