Assistant Director Exhibitions

Assistant Director Exhibitions
Executive level 1

This is an Affirmative Measures opportunity
This position will be filled using the Affirmative Measure provision, which allows for the
targeted recruitment of Indigenous Australians into the Australian Public Service. The vacancy
is only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. The filling of this employment
opportunity is intended to constitute an Affirmative Measure under section 8(1) of the Racial
Discrimination Act 1975.

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Our Journey
AIATSIS has a proud identity as Australia’s only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led
national cultural institution that celebrates, educates, and inspires people from all walks of life
to connect with the rights, knowledge, cultures and stories of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples. We play a vital role in developing deeper and shared understandings of
our Nation’s history and future on Australia’s truth-telling journey, working towards collective
healing.

In 2024, AIATSIS celebrates our 60th anniversary and reflects on our evolution as an
organisation during that time. Over the next five years, our operating environment will continue
to change, and we must position ourselves to respond to this change.

Our Vision
To create a world in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights, knowledge,
cultures and stories are recognised, respected, celebrated and valued.

Our Purpose
We are the only national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural institution solely
dedicated to telling the story of Australia’s First Nations peoples.

We collect, steward and appropriately share Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’
knowledge through our collection, our leadership in research and our network of collaborations
and partnerships by:

• Creating opportunities for everyone to encounter, engage with and be transformed by

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights, knowledge, cultures and stories.

• Enhancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural vitality; and
• Shaping our national narrative.

Our functions are established under the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Studies Act 1989.

AIATSIS is a statutory authority under the Public Service Act 1999 (Cth) and a Corporate
Commonwealth entity under the PGPA Act.

AIATSIS employees are employed under the Public Service Act 1999, with terms and conditions
of employment as set out in the AIATSIS Enterprise Agreement.

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ASSISTANT DIRECTOR EXHIBITIONS

Vacancy Information

Job Reference 249_11/24

Classification Executive level 1

No. of vacancies 1

Salary $110,115 - $120,025

Group Collection Services

Area Collection Development and Care

Employment Status Ongoing

Hours Full time

Close Date 11.30pm, Sunday 15 December 2024

Contact Person Ophelia Rubinich
02 6129 3903
Ophelia.rubinich@aiatsis.gov.au

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About the Group
The Collection Services Group is responsible for the development, management, and
preservation of the AIATSIS Collection. The Group manages, describes, preserves, and digitises
the AIATSIS Collection.

About the Program Area
The Collection Development and Care Program sits within the Collection Services Group.
Collection Development and Care (CDC) consists of the Rights and Policy Unit, the Acquisition,
Registration and Cultural Gifts Unit and the Curatorial, Exhibition, Conservation and Loans Unit.
Key operational activities of the program include developing, conserving and preserving
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage material in the AIATSIS collection in a
culturally safe way. CDC is responsible for engaging with donors and depositors to expand the
collection, curating domestic and international display and exhibitions (online and physical),
implementing collection care practices, facilitating loans and managing the rights and policy
environment of the AIATSIS collection. CDC works closely with the Collection Management,
Collection Preservation and Digitisation and Collection Access teams to support the
discoverability and accessibility of the AIATSIS collection for all Australians.

Role Summary
The Assistant Director, Exhibitions is an exciting new key leadership position within the
Collection Development and Care program. This creative and strategic role focusses on the
production and delivery of permanent and temporary physical and on-line exhibitions. By
working collaboratively with others, the Assistant Director Exhibitions will create opportunities
for everyone to encounter, engage with and be transformed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples’ rights, knowledge, cultures and stories.

Key Responsibilities
Key responsibilities of the role include:

• managing and leading a team, including undertaking detailed administration and

reporting, resource management, staff management and development

• taking responsibility for the performance and outputs of the team
• working collaboratively with colleagues, be innovative and lead projects to successful

administrative matters in relation to the AIATSIS collection in accordance with corporate,
program and project goals, as well as providing written reports, statistics, submissions
and complex correspondence.

• working effectively at the executive level of the Australian Public Service.
  

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Cultural capability - essential
Roles at AIATSIS require candidates to have an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples and proven culturally appropriate engagement and
communications skills. The nature of this role requires the candidate to consistently
demonstrate the following specific cultural capabilities:

• a proven ability to communicate respectfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

stakeholders, clients, and colleagues

• an understanding of the current issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

peoples and how this is framed by history

• an understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business within the agency

and the outcomes the agency is responsible for delivering

• an informed, authentic and respectful understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander cultures

AIATSIS embodies Yindyamarra1 in everything we do



Skills, knowledge and personal attributes

To be successful in this role, you will have well developed stakeholder engagement skills with a
strong understanding and experience in collection development and management principles
within a cultural institution or community organisation. You will come with the following skills,
experience and attributes:

• demonstrated and extensive knowledge and understanding of collection exhibition

development, curation, creation and delivery within a cultural institution

• demonstrated experience in the appropriate content, concepts, display and interpretation

of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and cultural heritage materials

• an understanding of copyright legislation, Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property

Rights, Indigenous cultural protocols and related cultural safety issues as they relate to
exhibitions

• proven ability to manage change, competing priorities and strategic directions, with the

ability to deliver high quality projects and outcomes, as well as the ability to deal with
uncertainty positively and flexibly.

• strong leadership and management skills, including the ability to supervise, inspire and

motivate staff, as well as building team capacity through coaching, performance
feedback and management, and creating career development opportunities

• excellent communication (written and oral) skills
• extensive experience engaging, collaborating, negotiating and maintaining positive

relationships with key stakeholders, both internal and external, including Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people to achieve the goals of the program and organisation

• experience undertaking research and providing analysis, guidance and briefing on

complex matters as well as the ability to develop policy and procedures.

Tertiary qualifications in Indigenous studies, fine arts, cultural heritage, museum, or
curatorial studies or a related field are highly desirable. Equivalent relevant skills and
experience will be recognised.

1 Yindyamarra is a shared Wiradjuri and Ngunnawal word meaning honour and respect. More broadly it implies

thoughtfulness, graciousness and kindness.

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The Collection Development and Care team undertake work related to the care and
management of culturally sensitive material. Sensitivities may include but are not limited to
gender, ceremonial, or initiation restrictions as well as exposure to historical and possibly
offensive terminology. Completion of these tasks is supported by cultural and Institutional
safety procedures and protocols.

A merit pool may be created for future vacancies of similar positions in the program.

What we offer

We understand that you will work best when you have a healthy work-life balance and can
attend to your family commitments. That is why we offer,

• Great salary conditions
• 15.4% Superannuation
• Competitive leave entitlements, including 20 days annual leave, 18 days personal leave,

Cultural, ceremonial and NAIDOC leave, up to 18 weeks parental leave, and the ability to
purchase extra leave.

• Health benefits including, reimbursements for health promotion activities, eye health and

flu vaccinations.

• For eligible employees, generous study leave, course fee and materials assistance, to

undertake relevant accredited study.

• Paid leave during end of year shutdown
• Flexible working conditions
  

Who to contact
For enquiries about this job please contact
Ophelia Rubinich
Director Collection Development and Care A/g
02 6129 3903
Ophelia.rubinich@aiatsis.gov.au

If you are experiencing any difficulties accessing or submitting your online application, please
contact the AIATSIS Recruitment Team recruitment@aiatsis.gov.au

How to apply
If this sounds like the opportunity you are looking for, we want to hear from you! Apply

through our online recruitment system (eRecruit)

Closing Date 11.30pm (AEDST) on Sunday 15 December 2024

You will need to address both the Cultural Capability (no more than 500 words) and skills,
knowledge and personal attributes (no more than 750 words) sections, in your response.
Provide a succinct summary outlining why you are interested in this position and why you

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believe that you have the cultural capability, skills, knowledge, and experience to be
considered for this role. Please provide examples which demonstrate your ability to perform
the duties of the position.

Your cultural competency will carry more weight than other factors in the assessment. These
requirements are based on the information provided to you as part of the job opportunity.

Do not simply state that you meet the requirements - it is essential that you provide
examples from your current or past role(s) which demonstrate how you meet each of the key
areas or points. You should focus on how your experience, achievements and capabilities
will enable you to successfully undertake the responsibilities of the role(s).

Applicants are also required to submit a current CV/resume.

If you need assistance developing your response, you may want to refer to the applying
for jobs on the Australian Public Service Commission website:
http://www.apsc.gov.au/working-in-the-aps/applying-for-jobs-in-the-aps

Affirmative Measures positions
Jobs in the APS are open to all Australian citizens. There are some jobs, though, that are open
only to specific members of the Australian population. This practice is known as an Affirmative
measure and is a targeted strategy to ensure the diversity of the APS workforce reflects the
diversity of the Australian population.

Any job can be restricted to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people only, and it doesn't
necessarily have to involve working on Indigenous issues. If a position has been advertised as
an Affirmative measure, it will be clearly marked as such.

The use of the Indigenous Affirmative Measures provision at AIATSIS allows for targeted
recruitment of Indigenous Australians into the organisation. If you are applying for an
Affirmative Measures position, you will need to indicate your Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait
Islander heritage on our application form and provide confirmation if required.

What is Cultural Capability?
As all positions at AIATSIS are ‘Identified’ each position will have various elements of
involvement with the delivery of Indigenous specific services, programs, and policies as part of
AIATSIS core functions. AIATSIS therefore needs to also identify the cultural knowledge; skills
and personal attributes needed to deliver the required outcomes.

Every part of how we work, who we work with and for, requires varying levels of knowledge of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, protocols and an understanding of issues that
enable effective communication and ultimately effective performance in the role. To assist you in
determining the required cultural capabilities of this role, you can refer to the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Cultural Capability – A Framework for Commonwealth Agencies

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