Ansøgningsfrist: 22-05-2023
Natural History Museum of Denmark (NHMD), Faculty of Science, the University of Copenhagen is
looking for a creative, project-oriented Exhibitions and Interpretation Manager. You will be part of
the team responsible for the delivery of the exhibitions, galleries and spaces that deliver the
museum’s strategic narratives and enhance the visitors’ experience and engagement with the
collection.
Working within the Exhibitions and Visitor Experience group, you will be a member of the Exhibitions
& Interpretation team, leading interpretation for and project managing a portfolio of projects for the
Natural History Museum’s new building, entirely new galleries project. This role will require a
pragmatic mindset, a commitment to delivering quality and an ability to prioritise and problem solve.
You will work closely with the curatorial, collections management, design and digital, communications
and fundraising, and commercial teams.
We offer a professionally challenging job in an exciting environment in a workplace that is constantly
evolving. We are committed colleagues who emphasize quality, professionalism, and dynamism in
the work,
About us
Natural history museums have never been more important. Our planet is shared by millions of living
species. But now a single one among them, humans, holds the power of changing life on Earth.
Solutions to grand challenges for humanity and the planet alike are only possible by way of local
action, global collaboration, and by sharing knowledge and resources.
The vision of the Natural History Museum of Denmark is to empower citizens to connect with nature.
We want to inspire, engage, and enable people to enjoy, understand, and care for the diversity of
the natural world. In the coming years, we will be building a new Danish national museum for the
natural world. One big museum complex in the Botanical Garden in the center of Copenhagen to
host state-of-the-art laboratories, outstanding research collections, new public galleries, and
combined facilities for teaching and science citizenship. Over the next few years, the museum will
change the way people think about and use natural history museums. We are working on multiple
intersecting capital projects to achieve this, as well as operating the existing museum venues that
are open to the public with an exciting program of exhibitions and events.
The Exhibitions and Interpretation team are responsible for developing key messages, initiating,
developing and testing interpretive content, ensuring audience advocacy, working with curators to
include consideration of informal learning design, interpretation strategy and implementation, that
the learning potential of the project is fully realised and that the appropriate consultation takes place
when establishing specific audience needs, including evaluation and accessibility.
You will report to the Head of Exhibitions and Interpretation. You will work with curators, scientific
researchers, educators, artists and designers, and our visitors to deliver clear high quality visitor
experience that is unique, engagement and reflects the core values of NHM Denmark.
Tasks
- Working on core exhibition project teams as the Exhibitions and Interpretation Manager for specific gallery projects in the new museum
- Focusing on innovative interpretive delivery for diverse audiences and a range of informal learning
- Ensuring suitability for different audiences through visitor advocacy and accessibility, auditing collection installations’ content and design
- Coordinating across all museum operations necessary for the delivery of the various aspects of a museum exhibition project
- Managing work and information flows for exhibition project team members
- Monitoring deadlines and budgets
- Ensuring overall production and installation of interpretive elements of the project on time and to budget; focus on delivery in a fast-paced dynamic environment.
This work will be a key contributor to ensuring a world-class NHM Denmark visitor experience that increases visitor engagement year on year.
As a person you have positive mindset, are open towards changes and understand that collaboration is a key to success. Your work capacity is high and you are able to balance strategic development with day-to-day business that requires hands-on action and delivery on time and to budget. Copenhagen University is an international institution and you will be expected to work and write in English.
You will be expected to share and develop the ambition to inspire citizens of all ages to understand and appreciate the past, present, and future of the natural world.
We expect
- A relevant academic background from the field of natural history, or equivalent experience
- Proven problem-solving and planning capabilities, along with experience in interpretation within a museum setting, or in a relevant field that uses museum exhibitions to engage with diverse audiences
- A passion for conveying academic knowledge, object engagement, scientific principles, and rich cultural history to diverse audiences
- Knowledge of interpretive best-practices, and an ability to bring to bear a broad range of interpretive tools and methods
- Experience developing exhibition content, an understanding of the access and diversity needs of a range of different audiences as they relate to galleries; knowledge of informal learning skills and techniques, communication and environmental design;
- Experience of managing and delivering exhibition-related projects, ideally from conception through to completion
- A mature level of judgment and decision-making in a changing, forward-thinking operating and visitor focused environment
- The ability to explain interpretation concepts and approaches to people who are not specialists and to engage their support; an ability to manage multiple activities and responsibilities;
- A high degree of patience, attention to detail, good humor and fortitude in managing relationships with various parties, including other departments, and external partners; demonstrated ability to forge mutually-respectful and effective relationships with a diverse group of personalities;
- Outstanding oral and written communication skills in English, knowledge of Danish will be considered an advantage
- Experience working with/at Natural History Museum of Denmark will be an advantage
Terms of salary and employment
The employment and salary is made in accordance with the Circular on the Collective Agreement concerning academics in the state sector concluded between the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations).
Employment will be as academic employee. The salary is based on seniority. Negotiation for salary supplement is possible. The working time is 37 hours per week on average. The working hours are flexible.
The role is for a fixed term period of 30 months.
Your application
If you find the job interesting, please send an electronic application with attachment via Jobportalen (click on the link “Søg stillingen / Apply” at the bottom of the post) no later than 22 May 2023, 23:59 GMT +2.
The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.
Further questions
Any questions about the position may be directed to Kerill Winters, Head of Exhibitions and Interpretation, kerill.winters@snm.ku.dk
The Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen – or SCIENCE – is Denmark’s largest science research and education institution with 4,000 employees and 9,700 Bachelor and Master’s students in 11 departments and one museum. The Faculty has an annual budget of DKK 3 billion.
Learn more about The Faculty of Science at www.science.ku.dk