Appointment of Commercial Director

Victoria & Albert Museum

Welcome

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.

Tim Reeve
Deputy Director & Chief Operating Officer

About us

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

  • Equity
  • Creativity
  • Collaboration
  • Sustainability
  • Generosity

Learn more about us and our strategy here.

Operations structure

 

 

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.

 

The role

Commercial Director (AQ2073)

Apply now

Terms of appointment

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:

  • Free entry to several museums, galleries, and exhibitions across the UK.
  • Complimentary tickets to V&A exhibitions for your friends or family.
  • Subsidised staff canteen.
  • 25% discount on purchases in V&A shops.
  • Non-contributory life assurance policy (to value of 4 x annual salary).
  • An interest free season ticket or bicycle loan (available upon completion of probation).
  • Employee Assistance line for all V&A employees, 24 hours a day 7 days per week.

How to apply

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:

  • A full CV.
  • A covering letter (maximum of two pages) outlining your relevant experience and how you meet the criteria of the person specification.
  • Please include details of two referees on your CV, though please note that we will not approach your referees without your prior consent and only should you be shortlisted.

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.

Credits for images
  • Installation images of DIVA at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London (12)
  • V&A Exhibition Road Quarter, designed by AL_A ©Hufton+Crow
  • Friday Late Diva Disrupted Courtesy Victoria and Albert Museum
  • British Galleries
©Victoria and Albert Museum, London
  • David, 1501-4
Artist: Michelangelo
Courtesy Victoria and Albert Museum, London
  • The Becket Casket, About 1180
Courtesy Victoria and Albert Museum, London
  • image of Grace Jones wearing Issey Miyake molded corset, Drury
Lane, 1981. Photograph © David Corio
  • External render view of V&A East Museum at Stratford Waterfront,
designed by O’Donnell + Tuomey © O’Donnell + Tuomey / Ninety90, 2018
  • installation view of the completed Photography Centre at the V&A. Image (c) Victoria and Albert Museum,
  • Installation view: Thomas J Price at the V&A featuring Tasman Road,
Figure 2 (2008), Victoria & Albert Museum, London,  © Thomas J Price. Courtesy of the artist and Victoria and Albert Museum, London
  • Photograph: Mishko Papic view across the Collections Hall at V&A East Storehouse © Diller Scofidio + Renfro
  • installation view: Thomas J Price at the V&A featuring Lay It Down (On
T            the Edge Of Beauty) (2018), Victoria & Albert Museum, London, © Thomas J Price. Courtesy of the artist and Victoria and Albert Museum, London           Photograph: Mishko Papic
  • Textiles prepared in the V&A’s Clothworkers Centre for the Study of
Textiles and Fashion, ready to move to V&A East Storehouse
© Jamie Stoker. Image courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum,
  • Suit of Armour, 1859
Courtesy Victoria and Albert Museum, London
  • Selection of sculpture busts including a bust of an unknown woman by
an unknown maker, ca 1840-1850, and a bust of Napoleon Bonaparte,
made after Jean Antoine Houdon, France, ca. 1806. © Jamie Stoker. Image courtesy Victoria and Albert Museum
  • Thebe Magugu presents first international runway as part of V&A’s Fashion in Motion series © Lia Toby Getty Images for the V&A
  • Ramadan Pavilion 2023 (c) Matt Rowe
  • Young V&A Shop © Luke Hayes courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum, London
  • The Renaissance City 1350-1600 alanwilliamsphotography.com
  • Daylit Gallery, alanwilliamsphotography.com
  • V&A East visiting Big Creative Education College (c) primrose.films_courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum
  • Young V&A, Adventure Display, Imagine Gallery © David Parry courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum
  • Watteau evening dress, 1996 (Les Femmes collection) Vivienne Westwood
  • V&A Flower Shop interior courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum