Victoria & Albert Museum
https://www.vam.ac.uk/ Thank you for your interest in joining the V&A at what is an extraordinary moment in our history; I am delighted to share details of our newly-designed Commercial Director position, a pivotal and hugely influential role as the V&A expands into a family of museums.
The museum has, as with other arts and cultural venues, been developing its commercial proposition over many years, alongside a free entry model for visitors to our permanent collections. The V&A has established a position as a leader in the sector within the UK and overseas, with a very strong record of success behind our ticketed exhibitions programme, on-site retail experience, publishing, brand licensing, and of course membership which has developed into our most valuable commercial asset over the last 10 years. Together with other income-generating activities, such as on-line shopping, the V&A Academy and corporate hire, our commercial operations generate some £35M each year, giving us a robust platform on which to build as we expand the family of V&A museums over the next 2 years.
Of course, as with many organisations and businesses, we have had to negotiate the unprecedented disruption to our operations visited by the pandemic – and the economic aftershocks continue – but with our audiences returning to close to pre-pandemic levels, an ambitious and diverse public programme, a transformed experience just launched at Young V&A in Bethnal Green, and the opening of two new sites in the Olympic Park as part of the Mayor of London’s East Bank development, there is huge cause for optimism and considerable opportunity to build our commercial contributions to support the V&A’s work.
The role, and the new division we have created around it, is tasked with developing and delivering an ambitious strategy for sustainable commercial growth, as a fundamental part of the overall V&A experience and brand position, and to underpin the museum group’s future financial sustainability. For the first time it brings together the V&A’s key income-generating areas of retail, exhibition ticket sales, publishing sales, omnichannel/e-commerce, catering contracts, membership, V&A Academy – and a completely integrated front of house operation – into a single division entirely focussed on the V&A’s business to consumer experience across our family of museums.
In addition, as a member of the V&A’s Executive Board, the new Commercial Director will be an essential member of the leadership team, acting collaboratively with peers to drive forward the wider V&A organisational strategy, delivering our mission to champion design and creativity, in all its forms, for everyone.
With this in mind we are very keen to hear from a diverse range of candidates. If you can see yourself in the above description, please do contact our search partners (details below) for a confidential conversation and we look forward to receiving your application.
The V&A is a family of museums dedicated to the power of creativity— its power to entertain and move, to enrich our lives, open our minds and change the world. We celebrate and share that power through a programme of exhibitions, events, educational and digital experiences, a collection of 2.8 million objects, and through our support for new works and commitment to conservation, research and sustainable design. Together our work tells a 5,000-year-old story of creativity, helping to advance cultural knowledge everywhere, and inspiring the makers, creators and innovators of today and tomorrow. We are always working to broaden our audiences so that everyone can be part of the V&A – because the V&A and the power of creativity belongs to us all.
Our values
Learn more about us and our strategy here.
Please note:
This role is at the same seniority as those that report directly into the museum’s Director. The fact that the Commercial Director reports to the COO/Deputy Director and not the Museum’s Director is not indicative of any lower standing in the hierarchy – this role sits on the Executive Board.
Job Title: Commercial Director
Salary: £115,000
Duration: Permanent
Division: Commercial
Reports to: Deputy Director & Chief Operating Officer
Direct Reports: Heads of: Front of House Operations, Membership, V&A Academy, Retail, Omnichannel, Publishing Sales
JOB DESCRIPTION
The V&A – the world’s leading museum of art, design and performance – is at one of the most exciting times in its history. Housing 2.3m objects that span 5000 years of human ingenuity, alongside a world-leading exhibition programme and flagship shops, the V&A’s ambitious strategy will see it expand to multiple sites in London over the next three years, alongside V&A Dundee in Scotland, the V&A Wedgwood Collection in Stoke-on-Trent and the V&A gallery at Design Society, Shenzhen.
To lead the V&A’s commercial income generation and underpin the museum group’s financial growth and sustainability, the newly configured role of Commercial Director brings together the V&A’s key income-generating areas, working across the V&A’s family of museums. It is a pivotal role that will help to grow and sustain the V&A over this period of expansion, build the V&A’s digital income potential and international customer base, and oversee the development of exciting new commercial partnerships and opportunities.
A key early priority for the new commercial director will be the development of an ambitious group-wide strategy for sustainable growth in income and commercial contribution, for our business to consumer commercial activities as the new division establishes itself.
Purpose of the Job
The Commercial Director champions, leads and delivers the V&A’s overall commercial strategy and approach across the V&A’s family of museums. This role connects all of the primarily business to consumer self-generated income channels, overseeing Retail, eCommerce, Membership, the V&A’s cafes and restaurants, the V&A Academy, publishing sales and ticket sales for the V&A’s world-renowned exhibition programme. These areas have been brought together for the first time in one Division creating the potential for a seamless commercial experience that underpins the V&A brand. They will also, for the first time, ensure that the V&A’s physical front of house operations are positioned to provide a unified, distinctive and high-quality visitor experience to the public, in support of our brand and to maximise our commercial opportunities.
Main areas of responsibility
Major areas of responsibility include developing a new, multisite B2C commercial strategy for the V&A; driving digital capabilities, together with the ADE division, and developing our commercial propositions to build a global audience and maximise online income; leading the V&A’s eCommerce strategy and roadmap; and shaping the V&A’s Membership scheme across a multisite V&A. Driving value and developing innovative experiences for V&A visitors and customers lies at the heart of this role, underpinned by the V&A’s brand, audience and digital strategies to align all commercial activity centrally.
Reporting to the Deputy Director & COO, and working closely with the Director of ADE, this role joins the V&A Executive Board to shape and lead an entrepreneurial approach to Commercial activity, as well as playing an important part in helping to shape and support all areas of the V&A’s future plans.
The Commercial Director will set the commercial strategy across the V&A’s expanding family of museums, including the V&A in South Kensington and close collaboration with V&A Dundee and the V&A Wedgwood Collection in Stoke-on-Trent, as will play an integral role in the establishment of Young V&A (opening July 2023), and the development of V&A East, two new sites currently under construction on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London and due to open in 2025.
Key Responsibilities
The above job description is intended to be an outline of the duties and responsibilities for this role. This is not exhaustive, and it is likely to change over time. You may be expected to undertake other duties that are commensurate with this role.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Job Specific
Behaviours
Position in the team
Equal opportunities at the V&A
At the V&A we strive to ensure that opportunities to work and develop at are open to all. We treat all job applications equally, regardless of age, disability, gender identity or gender expression, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other equality characteristic. We particularly encourage applications from disabled people and people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, as these groups are currently under-represented in the cultural sector. At the V&A we have a good gender balance however in certain departments, such as IT, we welcome female applicants and, in our exhibitions, or development teams, we welcome male applicants.
Salary
Competitive
Annual leave
29 days plus 8 days public holidays (pro rata for anyone working less than 36 hours per week)
Pension benefits
You will be auto enrolled into the museum’s Group Personal Pension Scheme and have the opportunity, upon completion of probation, to benefit from an enhanced pension provision, with the V&A contributing 10%.
Other benefits include:
Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to The V&A. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.
Applications should consist of:
For a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Anderson Quigley: Alberto Lidji on +44 (0)7743 927 988, or alberto.lidji@andersonquigley.com or Elyse Turner Pearce on +44 (0)7808 648 559 or elyse.turner-pearce@andersonquigley.com.
