Head of Commercial and Visitor Operations

Salary: £51,842 per annum including London Allowance

(increasing to £52,216 pa inc. London Allowance with effect from 01 March 2025).

The Courtauld Institute of Art is the UK’s leading institution for teaching and research into the History of Art and the conservation of paintings and is also home to one of the finest small art museums in the world. The Courtauld is currently undergoing a capital transformation project that will make The Courtauld’s world-class artworks, research and teaching accessible to more people – in the UK and internationally.

We are seeking a Head of Commercial and Visitor Services to play a pivotal role in our transformation, which includes a brand-new ticketing and welcome hall, as well as the new shop in a dedicated and atmospheric space. We are looking for someone to bring a unique brand of personality and creativity to The Courtauld and help to make our visitors’ experience unforgettable. This new leadership role will be committed to generating income and operational excellence by developing a strategy that helps to sustain the gallery’s mission and positions visitors at the heart of The Courtauld Gallery.

The successful candidate will work with the Director of Commercial and Visitor Experience to create a partnership of expertise that together delivers a world class, commercially viable and exceptional experience for everyone who interacts with The Courtauld Gallery. The Head of Commercial and Visitor Operations will be responsible for delivery a seamless experience for our visitors across all front facing touchpoints through outstanding, coherent front of house operations. They will work collaboratively with colleagues to champion visitor centric thinking across the organisation and ensure the visitor’s experience is representative of an institution such as The Courtauld.

This role will be responsible for managing the FOH team in a positive and supportive environment through inspirational and ambitious leadership, heading up a team of Managers, Supervisors and Assistants, who work across retail, ticketing, exhibitions and welcome as well as our third-party catering.

You will be able to demonstrate proficient leadership and excel in a team setting with the ability to be an innovative thinker. Experienced in sales analysis and have an understanding of heritage sector operations and key audience segmentation. Attention to detail, excellent organisational skills, and the ability to work creatively and collaboratively are essential. The role requires someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, is a team player, and has excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook is also required.

For further information, please see the Job Description and Person Specification.

To apply, please complete the online application, which will require you to supply a CV and a supporting statement of up to 1500 words. The supporting statement should set out how you meet the criteria of this position. Please explicitly address the criteria set out in the job description and person specification when preparing your statement.

Closing Date: 12/01/2025

Interview Date: 28/01/2025 + 20/01/2025

The Courtauld is working towards improving and embedding equality, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism.

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