The Sovereign Hill Museums Association is a not-for profit community-based organisation that includes: Sovereign Hill Outdoor Museum, Sovereign Hill Hotel, AURA and Narmbool, the Australian Centre for Rare Trades and Arts and the Australian Centre for Gold Rush Collections. It cares for a nationally and internationally significant collection of over 150,000 objects and protects the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the Victorian gold rush.

We are an Australian tourism icon that attracts some 500,000 visitors annually. The Outdoor Museum is internationally renowned as a living museum featuring rare trades, and programs and experiences that interpret a pivotal point in Australia's history. In all, some 350 staff work to bring our gold-rush story to life. They are supported by over 250 volunteers.

About the Role 

We are looking for a dynamic and committed museum professional to join our team and support the work we do caring for and a providing access to our nationally significant collection of over 150,000 objects.  The Collections Manager is responsible for the management, care and provision of access to collections and heritage assets cared for by Sovereign Hill Museums Association. The primary purpose of this role is to develop and maintain collection management systems and frameworks to ensure the ongoing preservation and access to collections and Sovereign Hill’s obligations as an accredited museum. The role supports Sovereign Hill’s interpretive framework, overseeing public displays and exhibitions of collection and interpretive assets primarily within the living museum.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and implement Collection Policies and Practices across Sovereign Hill Museums Association, including contributing to ensuring that SHMA can maintain appropriate museum accreditation with Australian Museum and Galleries Association Victoria (AMAGA Vic). This includes; acquisitions, loans, storage design and rationalisation, legislative responsibilities, conservation, preservation, deaccession and disposal. 
• Provide day-to-day leadership and management of Exhibit Support and Collections teams, including rostering, performance management, and ongoing staff training and development.
• Oversee the documentation and management of the collection, including cataloguing, digitisation, loans, databases, audits and copyright.
• Manage collection care, conservation and storage, including risk-based preservation approaches, asset maintenance and major relocation or storage projects.
• Contribute to strategic planning and project delivery, including budgeting, stakeholder partnerships and the training and supervision of staff, volunteers and students.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of exhibitions, public programs and projects that enhance access to and engagement with the collection.
• Support curatorial research, exhibition development and visitor experience initiatives, including installation planning and exhibit maintenance.
• Manage collection access and engagement, including public enquiries, researcher requests, tours, digital content and support for internal program delivery.

Skills & Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Museum Studies, Cultural Heritage Studies, History, Public History, Archaeology, Material Culture or related areas is essential
• At least 5 years’ experience in museum practice, with a demonstrated emphasis on collection management in a museum, gallery, archive or library context, is essential
• Demonstrated knowledge of museum practice, as it relates to collection management, including storage, handling, preventative conservation, relevant legislation, administration of loans, exhibition planning and installation, and related policies and procedures
• Proven management and team leadership experience and skills 

Child Safety and Criminal History Checks – Sovereign Hill is committed to child safety. We want children to be safe, happy and empowered. We support and respect all children as well as our staff and volunteers. Our recruitment and selection processes ensure certain pre-employment screening and compliance clearances are undertaken before employment is offered.
If you apply for a role with Sovereign Hill you will be asked to make certain declarations regarding OHS, Child Safety and you will also be required to complete a National Police Check and attain a valid Working with Children’s Check.

Diversity and Inclusion – Sovereign Hill welcomes and encourages applications from diverse backgrounds and provides equal opportunities to all who wish to apply.