Head Of Indigenous Collections

Description:

The University of Melbourne would like to acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the lands upon which our campuses are situated, the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung Peoples, the Yorta Yorta Nation, the Dja Dja Wurrung People. We acknowledge that the land on which we meet and learn was the place of age-old ceremonies, of celebration, initiation and renewal, and that the local Aboriginal Peoples have had and continue to have a unique role in the life of these lands.
Sitting within the Strategy and Culture Division, the Museums and Collections Department aims to build a collaborative and flexible network around the University’s cultural assets to enable students, staff members local and global communities to gain knowledge and understanding of contemporary and traditional cultures, scientific discovery and creative practice.
As Head of Indigenous Collections, you will occupy a leadership role in the Strategic Collections team and will work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure best practice in the stewardship and management of Indigenous cultural heritage held in the care and custody of the University.

Leading a team, you will be responsible for delivering and maintaining high standards for the management, care, research, and access of Indigenous collections at the University of Melbourne.

Amongst other activities your responsibilities will include:

• Leadership for the development and implementation of strategic projects for the stewardship, custodianship, and management of Indigenous Collections in consultation with the Associate Director of Collections
• Contributing to the planning, scoping and development of the UoM Place for Indigenous Collections project ensuring Indigenous knowledges and perspectives are central to the project
• Working with University of Melbourne Indigenous leadership to ensure appropriate protocols and governance of Indigenous Collections and associated strategic projects
• Develop and deliver Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Protocols to support the implementation of and compliance with the University’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Policy (MPF1289), informed by and exemplifying outstanding practice in this area
• Develop and implement a strategic and sustainable approach to the relocation, storage and housing, research, documentation and access of the Donald Thomson Collection, including overseeing engagement and collaboration with Communities of Origin and Traditional Owners, as well as other key stakeholders

You will be an engaging person with passion and imagination for how both preserving and sharing the university’s indigenous collection can enhance our communities!

You will be capable of demonstrating:

• Your specialist knowledge and experience with Indigenous cultural heritage collections, stewardship, management and research.
• Extensive experience in protocols and professional standards, methodologies and practice in the management of Indigenous cultural heritage, including legislative, regulatory and ethical codes
• Your strong leadership, communication and interpersonal skills, including experience in managing and motivating staff and contractors, team and internal relationship building, negotiation, and influencing
• Solid experience in complex project and resource management
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare high quality documentation, reports and analysis for a range of audiences. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Other desirable experience may include:

• Strong experience working within the galleries, libraries, archive and museums (GLAM) or Higher Education sector and/or a large complex organisation.
• Experience working with communities in remote areas, with Traditional Owners, Elders and Ritual Leaders.