A member of the V&A’s Executive Board
Reporting to: Deputy Director & Chief Operating Officer
Background
The V&A is a family of museums dedicated to the power of creativity – its power to entertain and move, to enrich our lives, open our minds and change the world. We celebrate and share that power through a programme of exhibitions, events, educational and digital experiences, a collection of 2.8 million objects, and through our support for new works and commitment to conservation, research and sustainable design. Together, our work tells a 5,000-year-old story of creativity, helping to advance cultural knowledge everywhere, and inspiring the makers, creators and innovators of today and tomorrow. We are always working to broaden our audiences so that everyone can be part of the V&A – because the V&A and the power of creativity belong to us all.
The V&A Estate
Up to 4 million people a year visit one of the V&A’s sites and engage with its extensive galleries and programme of exhibitions, displays and events. This is set to increase substantially following the opening of two new buildings in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford – V&A East Museum and Storehouse – which will offer unprecedented and radical access to the collection and archives.
This family of unique and significant sites, spanning Grade 1 listed buildings to new developments by the best contemporary design teams, requires expert management and conservation. Simultaneously, it is critical that our spaces remain relevant and meaningful for the audiences they serve, with visitors of all backgrounds made to feel welcome and given agency. The V&A’s FuturePlan programme is committed to restoring and celebrating the extraordinary heritage architecture at South Kensington and developing galleries and public spaces that enable visitors to enjoy, explore and understand the unparalleled collections on their own terms, and to connect with each other. The rich and ambitious public programme shares these values, and the V&A’s world-renowned exhibitions, displays and contemporary events set a standard for the quality and creativity of the visitor experience.
At the heart of this lays excellence of design, and the ability to weave together the needs of the visitor with the innovation of the expert. Moving forward, an organisational commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2035 unpins all our work, and our buildings and programme must lead the way in decarbonising our operations.
Purpose of the role
The Director of Design, Estate and Capital Programme (DECP) leads a large multi-disciplinary team, largely comprising the Estate, Projects and Design departments, as well as the Head of Sustainability, to deliver an outstanding and unique visitor experience across all our physical sites, connecting audiences with a world of creativity. Working with the best established and emerging architects, designers, engineers and expert consultants, the division ensures that all spaces at the V&A are of the highest quality.
This role provides strategic leadership in the planning, development and delivery of all design and building-led initiatives, setting the standard for design across 3D and 2D, spanning heritage architecture to marketing collateral, new galleries to staff uniforms. It acts as guardian of the listed assets, ensuring their preservation for the next generation through a balance of conservation, restoration and development, while providing visionary direction on new initiatives and interventions. It is responsible for appointing the right teams to develop galleries and exhibitions on an extraordinary range of topics covering all aspect of creative practice, engaging with new and emerging practices and studios to ensure thinking is fresh and current. It also takes a lead in ensuring we are working with a diverse range of practitioners, providing opportunities for new talent to work within the museum and cultural sector. Working closely with the Director of Exhibitions and Director of Audiences, and colleagues across the museum, it also acts as an ambassador for the brand and marketing of the organization, and acts as the strategic lead for all sustainability-led activity and initiatives.
Key responsibilities:
- Provide inspiration and clear leadership to the DECP Division, ensuring the full depth and breadth of the V&A’s design, projects, estate and programme expertise is utilised through excellent leadership, management and development of people.
- To drive the forward a clear and ambitious vision for development of the V&A, within the framework of FuturePlan (our rolling capital programme), as part of the V&A strategy.
- Lead the planning of any heritage or restoration projects, working with key contacts at DCMS and RBKC among others, to ensure ongoing care of the estate.
- Ensure the V&A Estate is effectively managed and maintained, for the long-term, but at the same time allowing it to flourish as a major and high-volume cultural attraction.
- Working closely with the Director of Exhibitions in coordinating the Public Programme, to avoid clashes and ensure internal and external resource is properly planned.
- Drive forward initiatives to achieve Net Zero by 2035, working with the Head of Sustainability to secure funding.
- Act as key liaison for relevant professional bodies, including DCMS, RBKC, LLDC and LBTH, as well as acting as senior representative on relevant local committees (Exhibition Road Cultural Group, South Kensington ZEN+ etc) to work collectively towards shared goals.
- Lead the planning, governance and delivery of all FuturePlan projects, working collaboratively with the Executive Board (EB) and across departments.
- Work with and support the Development team, contributing to fundraising proposals to secure and retain donors and sponsors for FuturePlan projects.
- Act as “client” for the V&A in the commissioning and procurement of the highest quality architecture, design, project management and construction for all projects.
- Act as Project Director for major FuturePlan Projects and being responsible and accountable for FuturePlan budgets and resources overall.
- Promote the V&A as an exemplar in museum development and design acting as an advocate for the V&A internally, nationally and internationally.
- To set the standard of design for the V&A both 3D and 2D, across all media including brand and marketing.
- To act as the V&A’s design authority, taking swift informed decisions on all relevant work produced in house or by external consultants.
- Develop, implement, and monitor a design philosophy and principles with collaborative practice at its heart, ensuring value for money.
- As a key member of the EB, to play an equal part in the wider management of the V&A, and the development and implementation of the V&A strategy.
- To hold and manage key Trustee relationships, reporting upwards and ensuring correct governance is in place and implemented.
Person Specification
Essential requirements
- Proven track record in providing inspirational leadership and effective management to build and develop a high performing multi-disciplinary team.
- Extensive experience at a senior level in the management, development, and refurbishment of major cultural buildings, and in delivering complex capital programmes, to challenging quality, time and budget criteria.
- Experience of commissioning and managing a variety of designers and consultants to a high professional standard.
- Excellent communication influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to express complex ideas with clarity, to interact effectively across the museum, and with the museum’s external stakeholders.
- Collaborative approach to team working, with the ability to work cross departmentally and develop effective working relationships throughout the organisation.
- Financial and performance management skills, including the ability to manage complex budgets and resources.
Desirable requirements
- Experience of working in a museum or major cultural attraction.
- Experience of public sector financial controls and constraints.
- Experience of working with listed buildings and conservation professionals.