Senior Manager, Design and Production

Reporting to: Deputy Director and Head of Exhibitions and Programmes & Head of Collections

Line Managing: Design and Production Coordinator, Logistics and Administration Coordinator

Overseeing: Graphic Designer

 Job Description
Based at the Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai, and part of Art Jameel’s global team, the Senior Manager, Design and Production oversees all aspects of exhibition design and production, including exhibition layouts, build, exhibition furniture and user experience. This role also encompasses all spatial design across the Jameel Arts Centre, including inputting into the layout and design for the Art Jameel Shop, the Jameel Arts Centre Lobby, the Jaddaf Waterfront Sculpture Park and any offsite locations and commissions. Integral to this role is working closely with the collection team, leading on all design and production aspects related to collection works and commissions, including oversight of the installation of works, input into loans, liaising with collection artists and overseeing onsite and offsite storage facilities. This role also includes working closely with artists on the design and production of commissions and exhibition copies. The Senior Manager, Design and Production sits within the Exhibition and Collection Teams, and direclty manages the Logistics and Administration Coordinator for the shipping and movement of artworks as well as the Design and Production Assistant, who supports in specific project implementation. In addition, they oversee procesese for Graphic Design.

This is a pivotal role that interacts with team members across the organisation, working closely with colleagues from Operations, Visitor Experience, Exhibitions and Collections. This is a senior leadership role, with expectations of contributing to strategic thinking for Design and Production across the organisation, raising the profile of design within the organisation and publicly, and directly contributing to the shaping of organisational culture at Art Jameel.

While this role is based at the Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai, we operate as a global team and colleagues are expected to interact and work with colleagues at both Hayy Jameel and the Jameel Arts Centre as necessary. Occasional weekend and evening work will be required in this role.

The ideal candidate will have at  least five years’ experience designing and producing displays, commissions or exhibitions and at least two years’ experience of directly managing team members.

Fluency in English is essential, with a strong preference for fluency in Malayalam, Urdu or Hindi.

Responsibilities and Duties
General

• Oversee the design and production of exhibitions and comissions.
• Oversee the takedown and installation of exhibitions and comissions.
• Oversee the takedown and installation of commissions and artworks in the Jaddaf Waterfront Sculture Park, including collection works.
• Work with the Exhibitions Manager to plan takedown and install schedules with adeuqate attention to team capacity and internal calendars.
• Work with the Registrar and advise on install, production and design related to the display of collection works for internal and external loans.
• Ensure compliance with museum standards and best practices for the display, handling, and conservation of collection works, working closely with curators and registrars as needed.
• Provide input into the loan process for collection works, coordinating logistics and transportation arrangements with the logistics and administration coordinator to facilitate smooth movement of works.
• Oversee the design and production of replicas of collection works (ephemeral work), working with artists and fabricators to ensure accurate representation and quality craftsmanship.
• Oversee the organisation and access to back of house at Jameel Arts Centre, including collection storage areas onsite and offsite.
• Work with the Operations team to ensure health and safety procedures are in place and adhered to when planning and producing exhibitions in and around the centre.
• Work with artsits and oversee production of the commissions with selected fabricators.
• Maintain exhibitions during their run, including touch ups, mainting general good order.
• Liaise with Operations team to monitor and control climage readings for exhibitions, suggesting and taking action where necessary.
• Set planning timelines together with the Exhibitions Manager for commissions and exhibitions.
• Plan for and manage external art handlers and contractors as needed.
• Pan for and oversee the framing of artworks as needed,
• Liaise with artists to ensure smooth production and installation of their works.
• Support in identifying and sourcing desired materials for commissions and artwork production, in conversation with the artist and contractors.
• Develop and maintain a network of production related suppliers and specialists based in the UAE.
• Develop and maintain good relations with specialist suppliers and art handlers.
• Produce 3D models and architectural drawings with inputs from Art Jameel and external curators for design, planning and communication.
• Ensure clear communication of tasks and schedules with colleagues across the organisation.
• Acting as contact point, managing and working with external installation teams where necessary.
• On boarding and working closely with external fabricators and contractors.
• Assisting in preparing reports for insurance purposes or otherwise.
• Liaising with insurance providers to update insurance requirements on a yearly or as needed basis.
• Condition report artworks as needed.

 Administration and Management

• Plan and manage petty cash disbursements and expenses for exhibition production.
• Maintain and upkeep exhibition and collection tools and equipment belonging to Art Jameel.
• Keep an orderly and up to date filing system, including regularly updating budgets and planners.
• Work with the Operations team to keep an orderly and up to date database of exhibition and collection furniture and other furnitures belonging to Art Jameel.
• Line manage the Logistics and Administration Coordinator, conducting bi-annual performance reviews.
• Line manage the Design and Production Assistant, conducting bi-annual performance reviews.

 Qualifications and Experience

• At least five years’ experience designing and producing with displays, exhibitions, or commissions.
• Ability to fluently and quickly work with 3D planning software such as SketchUp or similar spatial and design planning tools.
• Good knowedge of artwork shipping and trasportation logistscs, including packing requiements.
• Written and spoken fluency English is essential with a strong preference for fluency in Malayalam, Urdu or Hindi.
• Excellent administrative and organisational skills, and the ability to use budget planning software such as Microsoft Excel.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills and at least two years’ experiene managing team members.

Benefits include

• Health insurance
• 25 days annual leave
• Revive days
• Biannual Training day