Director of Conservation and Research

Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) is Seeking a Director of Conversation and Research

Job Type: Permanent position (public employment – fixed contract)
Working Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week (on-site)
Start Date: Immediate incorporation upon resolution of the public competition
Application Deadline: November 20, 2025, at 13:00h
Language Requirements: Catalan (C1) and English (B2)
Salary: €67,946.78 gross annual (12 payments); will reach €71,522.91 in 2026

Position Overview

The Director of Conservation and Research reports directly to the Museum’s General Director and is responsible for implementing the conceptual and strategic guidelines defined by the Museum’s leadership. This role involves planning and coordinating the departments within the area—Collection, Exhibitions, Education, Public Programs, Publications, Archive and Library, Study and Documentation Center, Independent Studies Program (PEI), and RWMACBA—to ensure coherence, research quality, and relevance of MACBA’s programming and content at local, national, and international levels.

Main Responsibilities

Strategic Implementation

• Translate the Museum’s conceptual and research lines into concrete action plans within the Conservation and Research area.
• Ensure conceptual and methodological alignment across all activities.

 

Leadership

• Coordinate and supervise teams to achieve the strategic objectives of the organization.
• Foster collaboration and transversality among departments.
• Set and evaluate annual and mid-term objectives and performance indicators.
• Ensure coordination with Production, Communication, Publics, and Institutional Relations areas for effective project delivery.

 

Project and Resource Management

• Plan and monitor exhibition, educational, research, and editorial projects.
• Manage the area’s budget efficiently.
• Ensure adherence to best practices in sustainability, inclusion, accessibility, and audience engagement.

 

Specific Areas of Responsibility

• Collection: Oversee research, conservation, acquisition, and dissemination of MACBA’s collection.
• Exhibitions: Supervise the Museum’s exhibition programming and its strategic alignment.
• Education: Lead educational programs promoting innovation, inclusion, and quality learning experiences in contemporary art.
• Public Programs: Foster meaningful public engagement linked to the Museum’s research lines.
• Publications: Coordinate editorial production, ensuring MACBA’s publications serve as resources for researchers and the public.
• Study and Documentation Center (Archive and Library): Supervise the preservation and accessibility of documentary and bibliographic collections, supporting both research and public use.
• Independent Studies Program (PEI): Consolidate the PEI as an internationally recognized space for critical and interdisciplinary learning.
• Radio Web MACBA: Strengthen RWMACBA as a platform for research, dissemination, and critical thought.
• Sustainability: Integrate environmental, social, and economic sustainability principles into all projects.
• Evaluation and Indicators: Develop and track metrics to assess the impact and quality of activities.
• Innovation and Digitalization: Promote innovative management and hybrid/digital formats for dissemination.
• Transversal Perspective: Ensure gender, cultural diversity, and accessibility are embedded across all activities.

 

Candidate Requirements

• Be a tenured public employee (civil servant or permanent staff) from the Barcelona City Council, Generalitat de Catalunya, or the Spanish State Administration (Law 40/2015, Article 121).
• Hold a university degree (Bachelor’s or Licentiate). Foreign degrees must be officially recognized in Spain.
• Possess a postgraduate or master’s degree relevant to the position (officially recognized if obtained abroad).
• Be available for immediate incorporation upon selection.
• Have at least five years of proven professional experience in a comparable leadership role.
• Hold Catalan language certification at level C1 or higher (or pass the test if shortlisted).
• Hold English language certification at level B2 (First Certificate) or higher (or pass the test if shortlisted).
• Be a citizen of Spain, the EU, or a state with free movement of workers agreements; family members of EU citizens may also apply under specific conditions.
• For non-Spanish applicants: demonstrate sufficient knowledge of Catalan and Spanish (tests required).
• Be at least 16 years old and below retirement age.
• Not have been dismissed or disqualified from public service.
• Possess full functional capacity for the role.
• Not be affected by incompatibility regulations or have convictions related to sexual offenses.

 

Application Process

Applications must be submitted electronically via MACBA’s online portal. Applicants must complete the online form, accept the data protection and eligibility declarations, and provide the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Motivation letter (maximum two pages)
• Certification of employment status (permanent or tenured public employee)
• Language certificates (Catalan C1, Spanish C1 if applicable, English B2 or higher)
• Professional experience certificates describing relevant responsibilities and duration, signed and stamped by the employer

 

Contract Conditions

• Type of Contract: Permanent employment (public sector)
• Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week, on-site
• Annual Gross Salary: €67,946.78 (2025), increasing to €71,522.91 in 2026