Project Manager – Exhibitions & Visitor Experience

Opportunity ID

618

Location

Career Level

Salary

Hours

Department

Position type

Length of employment

Job Summary

The Project Manager - Exhibitions & Visitor Experience sits within the Exhibitions, Interpretation & Design Department and works closely with the Visitor Experience Department. The role has responsibility for the coordination and delivery of priority projects to raise the quality of visitor experience across IWM branches in order to ensure that all visitors receive the quality experience they expect during every aspect of their visit. These include supporting the Visitor Experience Team in improving visitor welcome, wayfinding and accessibility whilst leading the delivery of upgrades to existing galleries including exhibition AV.

This role will ensure these ambitious changes are managed as a programme of activity and will coordinate the multiple connections and impacts across departments. The Project Manager will oversee fee paid staff, external contractors and consultants as well as close liaison with internal teams.

The Project Manager will provide holistic and high-quality project management and be responsible the project programme, budget and risk register to ensure that work is completed on time, within budget and to the highest possible standard.

This post will be a critical member of the team in ensuring that project progress is reviewed regularly with the senior team, and in flagging risks through the Gallery Improvement Group and the Visitor Experience Board.

Your duties will include:

Programme and Project Management:

• Responsible for producing the initial project programme, budget and risk register. You will review progress on these throughout the project lifetime, flagging risks to the senior team as required.
• Schedule all project meetings, key sign off presentations, chair meetings and produce minutes. Ensure that project progress is reported effectively to the wider delivery team and other stakeholders across IWM.
• Work with the Exhibition Production Manager and Exhibitions & Interpretation Managers to develop construction and installation programmes, in line with the master programme.
• Coordinate internal input to projects, both within the Exhibitions and Visitor Experience teams and from other IWM departments, e.g. Collections Management, Facilities Management, AV, IT teams.
• Ensure that the correct project management documents are produced for each project and that these are kept up to date.
• Work closely with the Head of Visitor Experience and their team to ensure that all work fits within the Visitor Experience strategy.

Financial and Resource Management:

• Maintain an overview of all project budgets, ensuring budget spreadsheets are up to date and contributing to quarterly budget forecasting.
• Allocate and manage or delegate individual project budgets and resources, flagging any budgetary deviations or resourcing issues within the risk register.
• Ensure projects are appropriately staffed by internal teams or external support including contractors, consultants and fee paid staff.

Procurement and Contract Management:

• Prepare and analyse tenders in line with IWM procurement procedures for the appointment of contractors, consultants and advisors. You will be responsible for managing these contracts, or for delegating or supporting others to do so.
• Manage fit-out or specialist contractors on site, schedule their work and chair site meetings. You will act as the interface between the Exhibitions department and Visitor Experience team and internal and external designers, and contractors.

Health & Safety:

• Obtain and submit necessary risk assessments and method statements for projects and submit Permit to Work requests.
• Produce and review risk assessments on the Museum’s on-line risk assessment register
• Oversee health and safety matters relating to projects and CDM (Construction, Design & Management regulations) where required. This will require liaison with Facilities Management and the local authority’s building control and conservation officers.

Records:

• Ensure that a complete record of each project is maintained, including Operations & Maintenance manuals issued by contractors and reports from consultants. You will also ensure that all records relating to objects have been updated on the Museum’s collection management system, Axiell.

General:

• Perform any other general departmental duties including dealing with correspondence, telephone calls and enquiries and assisting with exhibition launches.

Travel within the UK will be required, including to other IWM branches. Out of hours and weekend work may be necessary during busy periods, in particular in the run up to project launches. Time off in lieu will be offered to cover this.

This job description is not all encompassing. Over time the emphasis of the job may change without changing the general character of the job. Your duties may be reviewed from time to time and revised and updated in consultation with you to reflect appropriate changes.

For a full list of duties and the person specification (which your application will be marked against) please view the Job Description.

Job Summary (File)

Application closing date

October 6th 2025, 9:00 AM

Interview Details

Interviews for this post are planned for the week commencing 27th October

The benefits listed below are discretionary and IWM reserves the right, with due notice, to vary or withdraw them at any time. All such benefits apply during the course of your employment only.

• Annual Leave:You'll have 25 days of annual leave, with public holidays on top. After 3 years, this increases to 27 days and after 5 years, you’ll get 30 days

• Company Group Pension Plan:Our commitment to your financial well-being includes competitive employer contributions to your pension starting at 7% to a maximum of 12%.

• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Benefits:Celebrate life’s milestones with confidence, knowing that our policies support growing families.

• IWM4me:Tailor your benefits to your unique needs through IWM4me. Access health, protection, and lifestyle benefits at corporate rates, ensuring your holistic well-being.

• Free Sanitary Products:We prioritise your comfort by providing free sanitary products across all our sites.

• Retail Discounts:25% off IWM Cafes, 20% discount in on-site shops, Benefits hub offering retail discounts to several high street shops (via our EAP provider) and MyActive discounts for health and wellbeing based retail discounts (via IWM4me)

• Free Entry to IWM Air Shows:Witness the thrill of vintage aircraft at our air shows.

• Free Entry to Partner Museums & Galleries:Immerse yourself in art, history, and culture through our reciprocal arrangements with other institutions.

• In-House Training Programmes:Fuel your intellectual curiosity and professional growth through our comprehensive training initiatives.

• Season Ticket Loan Scheme:Simplify your daily commute with our interest-free loan program.

• Cycle 2 Work & Cycle Hire:Promote well-being and environmental consciousness by cycling to work.

• Eye Tests:Money back up to £80 for an eye test and a new pair of glasses.

• Employee Assistance Programme:Access confidential support for personal or work-related challenges.

• Benenden Healthcare & Dental Insurance:Prioritise your health with access to quality healthcare services (subject to terms and conditions).

• Civil Service Sports Club Membership:Opportunity to join and enjoy additional discounts and perks as part of a vibrant community.

• Staff Events and Networks:Join fellow colleagues in social gatherings and events, fostering camaraderie and shared experiences.

…and more!

Ready to embark on this exciting journey with us? Apply now and become part of IWM!

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. This role is subject to:

A basic check, which shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions.

IWM is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunities.
We miss out when people feel IWM isn't for them, and are committed to removing and reducing barriers to make IWM open to everyone.
Our Access and Inclusion strategy has been developed to promote openness, equal opportunities to access, inclusivity and encourage diversity in everything that we do, from employment practices, the services we provide to our visitors to the facilities we make available to public.
At IWM we seek to address the need for greater diversity within our workforce as well as the wider museum and heritage sector. In all our practices we embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity and we welcome applications from suitable candidates of all backgrounds.
We value and respect difference and are committed to building an inclusive culture by creating an environment where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work. We believe that you will do your best at work if you have a work / life balance. Some roles lend themselves to flexible options more than others, so if this is important to you please raise this with your recruitment contact, as we are open to discussing agile working opportunities during the hiring process.