Art Commissions Unit Head JOB

Job Title: Art Commission unit Head

Department: Culture Programming Department

Section: Abu Dhabi Public Art Section 

Unit: Art Comminission Unit 

Direct Manager: Abu Dhabi Public Art Section Head

Role Purpose:

To manage and maintain the collections, loans, and commissions, including new art productions of the AD Public Art function. In addition, to serving as a technical expert for advising and implementing best practices in the Public Art collections management, conservation, and preservation.

Art Collection Management

• Conducting detailed condition reports for all art shipments, installations, and de-installations.
• Conducting detailed condition reports for loans, commissions, and permanent collections of Public Art.
• Manage and update the Public Art database and document all public art works with installation manuals, handling recommendations, and condition reports according to the collections management standards.
• Create all loans and new records of public artworks in the Public Art database.
• Review all strategical documents of Public Art for the collections.
• Write policy and procedures in relation to Public Art collections, loans, and art productions.
• Budget yearly all collections management needs.

Public Art Installation and Maintenance

• Conducting site assessment for potential Public Art locations.
• Create installation and de-installation schedules.
• Conduct regular visits on site for all permanent public art commissions for inspections.
• Flag any conservation issue and create incident reports.
• Coordinate with security staff and external stakeholders and make recommendations for preventive conservation.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Coordinate with all stakeholders involved in the management of Public Art collections including but not limited to, Artists, their studios, or their representatives.
• Coordinate with logistical fine art companies, and fine art insurance companies.
• Coordinate with artists and their studios for materials testing, prototypes for all public art permanent commissions.
• Assist curatorial team and art production team prior and during the art production/commission phase.

Shared Activity  

Strategic Contribution  

• Ensure effective cascading of the functional strategy into section business plans to ensure vertical alignment and horizontal integration with other interfacing sectional strategies.  

• People Management  

• Manage the effective achievement of assigned objectives through the leadership of the Section by setting individual objectives, managing performance, developing and motivating staff to maximize performance.  
• Act as a role model and drive adherence to organizational values and ethics by employees of the assigned section to foster a value driven culture within the organization.  

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  Budgeting and Financial Planning  

• Manage the preparation and recommend the section budget and monitor financial performance versus the budget while ensuring all sectional activities are conducted in line with the approved guidelines.  

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  Policies, Systems, Processes & Procedures  

• Manage and ensure effective implementation of functional policies, procedures and controls covering all areas of assigned section activity so that all relevant procedural/legislative requirements are fulfilled while delivering a quality, cost-effective service.  

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   Continuous Improvement 

• Lead the identification of opportunities for continuous improvement and sustainability of systems, processes and practices considering global standards, productivity improvement and cost reduction.  

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  Reporting  

• Ensure that all section reports are prepared timely and accurately and meet DCT requirements, policies and quality standards. 

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  EHS (Environment, Health and Safety)

• Comply with all relevant EHS guidelines, policies and procedures, by reporting incidents and hazards on a timely manner, and reduce consumption of natural resources to support in protecting the environment and ensure a healthy and safe work environment.

Experience:

• At least 5 – 7  years of experience in years of experience in collections management or collections conservations field, 4 years of which in a managerial position.
• Public Art management or conservation experience preferred.
• Conservation knowledge on contemporary materials, metals and AV preferred.
• Experience with logistics, shipments, artwork installations preferred.
• Existing experience with Collections Management System Emu preferred.
• Experience with outdoor art conservation preferred.