Assistant Vice President of Exhibition Design
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is an agency of the Government of Ontario. ROM acknowledges that its museum is situated on what has been the ancestral lands of the Wendat, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Anishinabek Nation, including the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation since time immemorial to today.
About the Opportunities
Founded in 1914, the Royal Ontario Museum showcases art, culture, and nature from around the world and across the ages. Ranked among the top 10 cultural institutions in North America, ROM is Canada’s largest and most comprehensive museum, housing a world-class collection of 13 million artworks, cultural objects, and natural history specimens featured in 40 gallery and exhibition spaces. The museum aims to transform lives by helping people understand the past, make sense of the present, and come together to shape a shared future in which people flourish in concert with the natural world.
Long recognized for its multidisciplinary collections, ground-breaking research, exceptional exhibitions, and iconic architecture, ROM is evolving with the changing landscape to become an ever more outward-facing institution. Situated in a truly 21st century context—in one of the most diverse major cities in the world, and within a country known for pluralism, openness, and embracing global perspectives—ROM is poised to take a dramatic leap forward as it focuses on building greater engagement through visitor-centric and community-engaged practices, inclusion, transdisciplinary thinking, digital practices, and innovation.
It is within this context that ROM invites nominations and applications for the role of Assistant Vice President of Exhibition Design— a position that will give a dynamic leader the opportunity to have an indelible impact on the next chapter of the organization’s evolution.
The Role of Assistant Vice President of Exhibition Design
Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Exhibition & Gallery Development, the AVP of Exhibition Design leads a team of creative design professionals who oversee a portfolio of 8 exhibitions a year, along with a robust travelling program and gallery installations. In addition to supervising and mentoring a design staff, the AVP of Exhibition Design works collaboratively with other ROM departments, leaders, and teams including interpretive planners, curators, evaluators, senior management, and external collaborators such as vendors and community organizations. With a deep and abiding commitment to the aspirations captured in ROM’s new strategic direction, the AVP Exhibition Design and their design team delivers inspiring, relevant, thought-provoking, and visitor-centered exhibitions that feature innovation in interpretive and design practice.
The individual most likely to realize success in the role brings direct experience in, or a strong appreciation for, developing and delivering compelling exhibition-experiences highlighting subject matter related to art, culture, and natural history/science. To that end, the incoming AVP of Exhibition Design has amassed a portfolio demonstrating experience leading collaborative design processes, preferably gained in a comparable environment, or relevant transferrable experiences that may—if employed—breathe new possibilities and direction within an environment that’s on the vanguard of palpable transformation. Fundamental to the exhibitions program is a commitment to forging new ground around diverse narratives and social issues, including ethnocultural diversity, topics around access, equity, and inclusion, and matters around sustainability, climate change, and so forth. The incumbent possesses a degree in a field appropriate for the role (e.g., graphic design, industrial design, studio arts, environmental graphics, architecture, etc.) or a combination of other credentials and experience that has applicability to the position.
How to Apply
ROM considers equity, diversity, and inclusivity to be foundational to their institutional success. They seek to foster a workplace that reflects the full breadth of the communities they serve and welcomes applications from women, racialized persons, Indigenous/Aboriginal People of North America, LGBTQ2S+, and people with disabilities. To ensure plurality in its candidate pool, including attracting greater representation from Black, Indigenous, and communities of colour, the organization is partnering with BIPOC Executive Search. All interested applicants can send their resume to Urmilla Khan at ukhan@bipocsearch.com, or can apply through the BIPOC Executive Search mobile app.
ROM is committed to fair and accessible employment practices. Upon request, suitable accommodations are available under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA) to applicants invited to an interview.
ROM recognizes its heightened duty to protect employees from health and safety risks during the current pandemic. As such, an offer of employment shall be conditional on proof of full COVID-19 vaccination with a vaccine series approved by Health Canada or the World Health Organization.
The salary for the role of AVP of Exhibition Design is approximately $125K CAD.
We thank everyone for their expression of interest—and are truly appreciative of the time individuals put into applying—but with the limitations of time only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
