Gallery Operations Manager

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for an exceptional people manager to join our team. You must have substantial proven expertise successfully managing teams within a Visitor Attraction, Retail or Hospitality environment.

As a Gallery Operations Manager you will to play a key part in allowing our visitors to explore, experience and enjoy our galleries in a safe and secure environment. You’ll support the delivery of an exceptional experience in our amazing buildings based in the heart of Edinburgh.

We are looking for someone who can step in with confidence and is energised by the opportunity to motivate and inspire a team. You will manage two or three Gallery Supervisors who, along with about 100 Gallery Attendants, aim to provide a consistently excellent visitor experience. It’s a busy and varied role and gives the opportunity to work with some fantastic people both internally and externally.

With excellent communication and organisational skills, you will also have knowledge of best practice in operational management and be confident to provide advice and guidance to colleagues as well as the wider management teams.

The difference you’ll make

- Working across all our sites you’ll be responsible for the operational delivery of the day-to-day running of the galleries, supporting all your colleagues as well as the wider Security and Visitor Engagement team in the delivery of an exceptional visitor experience, always looking for continuous improvement.

- You will be a visible and active leader able to anticipate visitor needs and meet them through ensuring the team are highly motivated and confident in their roles. You will work with colleagues across the National Galleries of Scotland assisting in the planning and successful delivery of exhibitions and displays, leaning and engagement programmes and events.

Reporting to the Director of Operations your responsibilities will include the following:

Leadership

- Leading, inspiring and developing Gallery Attendants in delivering exceptional standards of service.
- Ensuring the Gallery Supervisors are fully skilled and supported in their roles and in the wider performance management, individual coaching and skills development of their teams.
- Being a key point of contact for all departments involved in planning and delivering all displays and exhibitions, activities, and events. You will ensure that all necessary requirements are met, and the needs and expectations of visitors are fully considered and delivered.
- In the event of an incident, you will lead as necessary in resolving security and safety risks. This will include providing regular advice and updates to key stakeholders and post incident recommendation of any mitigation.
- Playing a key role in managing Health & Safety for our visitors and colleagues, art and buildings.

Resource Management

- Planning rotas in-line with relevant NGS activity, including the management of out of hours events.
- Managing visitor experience budget.
- Liaising with key internal and external stakeholders on all aspects of operational planning.
- Ensuring all payroll, recharge, annual leave and associated processes are completed accurately and on time.
- Managing staffing levels and the recruitment of Gallery Attendants.

Experience Management

- Setting and maintaining high standards of building presentation liaising closely with Estates colleagues and their contractors.
- Ensuring quality invigilation across the galleries to protect art.
- Building team knowledge and understanding enabling Gallery Attendants to communicate key information regards exhibitions and displays.
- Delivering engagement and training initiatives across the team to improve the quality of the Gallery Attendant service.
- Seeking to improve through the continual evaluation and review of processes and interaction with colleagues.
- Working with the Director of Operations to set standards across the Security and Visitor Engagement teams.
- Working closely and collaboratively with two other Gallery Operations Managers, Security Operations Manager and Visitor Operations Manager.
- Acting as Duty Manager when required.

Who we are looking for

To succeed in this role, you’ll need the following range of knowledge, skills, and experience:

- While an interest in art would be great it’s not essential. However, you must have previous experience of successfully managing teams within a Visitor Attraction, Retail or Hospitality organisation.
- With experience of managing performance, you’ll be interested in people and possess outstanding people leadership and management skills.
- A creative and pragmatic approach to problem solving, you will work well in a busy environment with strong organisational skills.
- Ability to prioritise, co-ordinate and delegate tasks to meet your own and the team’s workload and deadlines.
- Excellent communicator with outstanding interpersonal and written skills with the ability to stay calm under pressure.
- Experience of working with Security Systems and conflict resolution and understanding of relevant legislation.
- High degree of IT skills, proficient in MS Office.

Please apply directly via our careers portal. Applications via email will not be accepted.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday, 07 April 2025.

Museum Website: https://www.nationalgalleries.org/careers