Director of Photo Institute

Reference: OCT20199054
Expiry date: 12:00, 04 November 2019
Location: South Kensington
Salary: £70,000.00 – £75,000.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Group Personal Pension, Life Assurance Scheme, and other great benefits

Background

Now acknowledged as one of the world’s most significant centres of photography, the V&A plans to establish a Photo Institute dedicated to displaying, investigating and interpreting the history, evolution and future of photography in all its manifestations. The Photo Institute will act as a hub for national activity and policy in what can be understood as the ‘distributed national collection’. It will contribute to the strategy of a multi-site V&A and situate the V&A’s peerless photography collections at the heart of photography programming and research in the UK.

Purpose of Job

This role will establish and lead the Photo Institute in a pivotal moment for photography at the V&A. They will apply impeccable curatorial and research experience in addition to innovative photography programming for broad and specialist audiences.

Working with an experienced curatorial team and colleagues across a multi-site V&A, this role has the responsibility to deliver the Photo Institute project along with new commissions and collaborations. A key focus will be working in partnership to develop existing opportunities and pursue future potential partnerships with national and international photography. Working closely with the V&A Research Institute (VARI) the Head of Photo Institute would nurture university and other academic partnerships and contribute to teaching. Additionally, the post holder will be active in pursuing funding from public and private grant-giving bodies and through academic research grants and utilise their thriving network of private supporters, foundations and corporate partners supporting Photography.

Main Duties

1. Lead and deliver an ambitious vision and strategy for the Photo Institute, creating a compelling identity and public programme.
2. Provide strong, creative and inspirational leadership for the Photo Institute team, encouraging an agile approach, with the ability to respond quickly and effectively to new opportunities.
3. Promote scholarship by developing and implementing a compelling research programme, in close collaboration with the V&A Research Institute and other centres for photography nationally and internationally.
4. Work in partnership with colleagues across a multi-site V&A to ensure the delivery of programmes including VARI photography pathway, the Learning Academy’s photography courses, and Design Lab Nation and Innovate projects.
5. Work with photographers and other creatives to commission new works.
6. Contribute to scholarship on the history of photography through publication and lectures.
7. Cultivate and develop funding relationships, public and private, and other income-generating activity, to support the mission and purpose of the Photo Institute with colleagues from Development and VARI.
8. Serve as one of the primary expert advisors on photography to the Arts Council Export Licensing Unit.

Essential Requirements

1. Extensive experience in the Arts and Culture sector, with the passion and ability to establish the Photo Institute as a major centre for photography nationally and internationally.
2. An established expertise and research profile in photography, with a substantial record of academic publishing.
3. Experience of teaching and engagement in academic partnerships.
4. Proven experience as a senior leader with a track record in creative public programming and exhibitions.
5. Proven leadership and strong management skills, with evidence of an ability to develop, motivate and energise teams, including through change.
6. Substantial experience of collections management (including digitization and storage).
7. Proven experience of strategy development and implementation, with evidence of entrepreneurial thinking and strong fund-raising and patron cultivation experience.
8. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, able to articulate a vision and strategy and to advocate and influence a complex network of partners and stakeholders both nationally and internationally.
9. Experience of dealing with the press and media, and able to act confidently as the primary spokesperson and ambassador for the V&A Photo Institute.
10. Experience of managing complex budgets and resources

Experience of working internationally would be advantageous.