INFORMATION PACK

Program Manager, Curatorial – APS6

National Library of Australia Closes: 2021

ABOUT US

The National Library of Australia is the custodian of a rich collection reflecting the people and culture that shape Australia and Australians.

The Library collects a wide range of physical and digital materials and includes more than 10 million items ranging from books and journals to more than 40,000 paintings, drawings and prints, more than 9,000 metres of manuscripts, 550,000 photographs, hundreds of thousands of maps, more than 50,000 oral history recordings and millions of archived websites.

The Library has four strategic priorities:1. We collect today what will be important tomorrow2. We connect with communities, and connect communities with their national collections3. We collaborate with others to maximise the national impact of cultural collections4. We build capability to maximise return on the nation’s investment in the Library.

The role of the National Library of Australia, as defined by the National Library Act 1960, is to ensure that documentary resources of national significance relating to Australia and the Australian people, as well as significant non-Australian library materials, are collected, preserved and made accessible either through the Library itself or through collaborative arrangements with other libraries and information providers.

The Library’s key challenge over the next decade is to harness the benefits of new technologies to provide the Australian community with greater access to our own extraordinary collection and the information resources of the world. Through its award-winning digital platforms, and the sheer scale of content it offers online, the Library is well placed to unlock its collection, and the opportunity for new knowledge it brings, into the next 50 years.

EXCITING FUTUREThe Library has recently undertaken a significant internal review to build a modern, sustainable and high functioning organisation, enabling efficient and integrated workflows, and the capacity to respond flexibly to short-term initiatives. Optimising the structure and embedding continuous improvement processes ensures our staff can continue to respond to future changes in the workplace and the broader cultural sector and community.

This has created a diverse range of unique and exciting opportunities to join the Library to lead, deliver and take strategic and tactical responsibility of a range of business areas and bring innovative and future focused solutions to our operating context.

Under the Office of The Director-General there are five core streams within the Library’s structure.

The Collection Branch collects today what will be important tomorrow. The Branch builds the collection in an efficient and automated way to enable the community to discover, learn, enjoy and create new knowledge.

The Engagement Branch enables the NLA to engage and connect with communities and their national collections. It supports NLA to extend its national reach and engagement with Australian stories through onsite and digital experiences.

The Collaboration Branch oversees the Trove platform, the NLA’s digitisation programs and the development and delivery of collaborative digital services under cost recovery business models to the Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums community.

The Corporate Branch provides corporate strategy and support services to underpin the ongoing viability of NLA. The Branch provides high quality planning, forecasting, analysis and operational services to the Director-General, the executive group, and managers and staff of the Library.

The Digital Branch is responsible for aligning technology and Library strategy and all aspects of technology planning, operations and service delivery. This includes designing, developing and operating online services, innovation, cybersecurity and enterprise architecture; and building digital capability to ensure the workplace and infrastructure can meet future challenges.

The Library is looking for people who bring fresh ideas, diverse experience, and better practice perspectives, and are willing to explore innovative ways of working. They will display leadership at all levels, apply information effectively in order to solve problems, and work collaboratively with internal and external partners to achieve our strategic priorities and outcomes. It is an opportunity to make a difference.

Office of the Director-General

Collection Engagement Collaboration Corporate Digital

OUR OPPORTUNITYThe Library is seeking to fill the role of Program Manager, Curatorial (APS6) in the Exhibitions Section of Engagement Branch.

The Exhibitions Section is responsible for the Exhibitions program and recognises it as both a central part of the Library’s visitor and outreach program and an important tool in the Library’s philanthropy strategy.

The section delivers a sustainable program of exhibitions to showcase the Library’s collections using domestic and international loans.

The section works with the Library’s stakeholders to develop and maintain the Exhibition Gallery, Treasures Gallery and the Exhibition loan program.

Through the delivery and management of exhibitions, the team connects Australians, wherever they are, with the Library’s collections, so they can discover, learn and engage with Australia’s rich cultural stories.

Key activities include: Development and curation of exhibitions, including changeover of exhibit activities Maintenance of gallery spaces; and Management of the Exhibition Loans program.

You will undertake exhibition proposal research and analysis and develop exhibitions / displays as outlined in the Exhibitions Program.

You liaise directly with external curatorial consultants and contractors and manage employees to support exhibitions and displays.

We are seeking an innovative person who has a passion for the Library’s collections to interpret and display them. You will help curate, design and develop exhibitions through your knowledge of the Library’s collections and Australia’s history and culture. You will manage provide project management skills and manage timeframes and budget appropriately and effectively.

You will propose and facilitate innovative initiatives and contribute to business improvement strategies and changes in APS and workplace practice.

To be the right contender for this role, you need to be able provide excellent customer service and the ability to manage complex activities.

Your intellectual rigour, client focused approach and ability to manage competing demands will be complemented by excellent communication skills and a personal style that engenders trust and respect.

You will manage and maintain a range of internal and external stakeholder relationships.

It is desirable you hold qualifications or equivalent experience in Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences or a related field. It is also desirable that you have experience in developing curating exhibitions in the Library or Museum environment.

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATETo be a contender for this critical leadership role, you will:

Be an experienced exhibition curator with a strong track record of achievement in a library or museum setting.

It is desirable you hold qualifications and / or equivalent experience in Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences or a related field.

In line with the Library’s Exhibitions Program, develop exhibitions and displays.

Also, in line with the Library’s Exhibitions Program, research and analyse exhibition proposals.

Be passionate about the Library’s collections and have an innovative approach when displaying them.

Have intellectual rigour with a client focused approach, and able to manage competing demands.

Be able to demonstrate how they meet the Library’s Business and Leadership functions for an APS6 through their specialty or professional lenses.

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?Applicants should be Australian citizens to be eligible for employment.

It is desirable that applicants hold qualifications and/or have experience in Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences or a related field.

It is also desirable that you are experience in developing exhibitions in a library or museum environment.

The preferred applicants will be required to successfully undergo a police record check. The preferred applicant must be willing to disclose all relevant and required information.

Applicants engaged into the APS may be subject to a probation period.

NLA APS6 Business & Leadership FunctionsBusiness Leadership

1. Develop and maintain complex internal and external relationships with key Library stakeholders, providing appropriate advice and managing the resolution of issues or complaints.

2. Apply a range of standard and Library specific digital-based applications to analyse, integrate and evaluate a range of information and assess the likelihood of impacts and outcomes.

3. Manage complex customer and stakeholder enquiries including specific program, service or policy information.

4. Conduct research and analysis on complex matters, analysing, integrating and evaluating a range information to deliver outcomes.

5. Provide expert advice and interpretation within technical or professional area where appropriate.

6. Manage the delivery of a program, project or initiative.

1. Lead or manage staff, mentor, guide, train, support and provide regular feedback to individuals and teams.

2. Manage scheduling, prioritisation, coordination and allocation of work to self and to allocated staff as appropriate, setting tasks and priorities, managing workflow and allocating resources.

3. Collaborate, participate and contribute to the Section and Branch work plans and broader organisational and APS objectives.

4. Model and promote a healthy and safe working environment, modelling and promoting ethical behaviour and practise consistent with APS code of conduct and APS values.

Successful candidates will also be able to demonstrate skills and work related qualities that align with and support the Library’s Values. The Library is:

respectful and inclusive, responsive to individual and community needs, ambitious, and internationally recognised for our digital innovation, tenacious, pursuing priorities over the very long term, and accountable for the community’s investment in our work.

HOW WILL YOU BE ASSESSED?The Library’s selection processes are designed to uphold the Merit Principle and to select the best available person for the job.

1. SubmitComplete the application form and provide your statement of claims (600 words), your resume, and referees.

2. ShortlistA panel will assess your written application including your statement of claims against the Library’s APS6 Business and Leadership Functions (above) and your specialist/technical experience.

3. AssessIf selected for further assessment, you may be invited for an interview or to participate in some other form of assessment such as a work based test or written activity.

4. RefereesAt least one of your referees may be contacted to help us determine if you are suitable for the work undertaken by an APS6 and to validate your skills and experience.

5. Process complete

You will be notified by email when the process has concluded. A merit pool may be created and used where possible to fill similar vacancies during the subsequent 12 months from date of advertising.

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR WRITTEN APPLICATIONYour statement should be succinct and demonstrate your skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications. We want examples that align with our Business and Leadership Functions and that demonstrate how your personal attributes can add value to a role within the Library.

Your 600 word pitch should demonstrate: How you will contribute as an APS6 Program Manager at the National Library, focusing on the Business and

Leadership functions; How you will apply your specialist and technical skills and qualification at both strategic and operational

levels.

When you include an example, you should clearly explain: the situation or problem your personal role in the task the methods you used any barriers you were able to overcome, and the outcome.

Other tips include: ensure your examples relate to the Library’s Business and Leadership functions use active language such as ‘I lead…’ or ‘I developed…’ rather than ‘my team…’ back up your claims; for example, instead of writing ‘ I have excellent negotiation skills’, write ‘I

demonstrated excellent negotiation skills when I …’.

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR RESUME

You will need to attach a résumé to your application prior to submitting. Your résumé should not be more than two pages Be accurate and complete Includes your name at the top and on all subsequent pages Should focus on relevant experience and highlights from your work history, volunteer work and specific skills

and attributes Include any qualifications and education DOES NOT include personal information such as marital status, age, height, your photo etc.

Applications must be received via the Library's online recruitment system by 11.30pm (AEST) <date>.

Further information about the National Library of Australia can be obtained at www.nla.gov.au or by emailing the contact officer with specific questions. If you have any other questions, please email recruitment@nla.gov.au noting the APS6 Program Manager, Curatorial recruitment process. Queries may take up to three (3) business days for a reply but will be answered earlier where possible.

RECRUITABILITY SCHEME

The RecruitAbility scheme applies to this vacancy. The National Library of Australia is committed to supporting the employment and career development of people with disability.

Our participation in the APS RecruitAbility scheme means we will progress an applicant with disability to a further stage in the recruitment process, where they opt into the scheme and meet the minimum requirements.

For more information on the RecruitAbility scheme please follow this link: APSC Recruitability scheme guide applicants

CONTACT OFFICER

If you have any specific queries about either role, please contact Guy Hansen, Director Exhibitions who can be contacted by email ghansen@nla.gov.au or 02 6262 1093.