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Head of Collections and Exhibitions
History Trust of South Australia
Job reference: 851872
Location: 5000 - ADELAIDE
Job status: Short Term Contract
Eligibility: Open to Everyone

Do you pride yourself on integrity, professionalism and have a passion to support others? The History Trust of South Australia is looking for an organised and detail-oriented Finance Manager to provide finance support across the teams.

About the History Trust

The History Trust of South Australia operates three museums - the Migration Museum, the National Motor Museum and the South Australian Maritime Museum. Complementing those established museums is The Centre of Democracy - an exciting collaboration with the State Library of South Australia. We also partner with other Australian museums to present exhibitions.

Why Join the History Trust of South Australia?

The History Trust connects people with the stories that shape our state. We put history to work, helping South Australians understand the past and make better decisions about the future. Through our collections, museums, events and education programs, we use history as a training ground for thinking about the impacts of the choices we make. Joining the History Trust means contributing to work that strengthens learning, civic life and community understanding across South Australia.


The Opportunity:

The Head of Collections and Exhibitions is a newly created senior leadership role at the History Trust of South Australia, established to shape the future of the State History Collection and the way it is experienced by the public.

This role brings together collections, curatorial practice, exhibitions, interpretation, and research to ensure the Trust’s collections are not only cared for, but actively used to create meaning, spark curiosity, and strengthen public understanding of South Australia’s histories.

As custodian of the State History Collection and operator of the Migration Museum, South Australian Maritime Museum, National Motor Museum, Centre of Democracy, South Australia’s History Festival and Bay to Birdwood, the History Trust has a distinctive role in civic and cultural life. The Head of Collections and Exhibitions will lead the work that connects the objects we hold with the stories, questions and communities they serve.

The role will provide strategic and practical leadership across collection development, exhibitions planning, interpretation, documentation, research, digital access and public engagement. It will lead a whole-of-Trust approach to how history is collected, preserved, interpreted and activated across our museums, programs and public platforms.

The role will be central to the Trust’s ambition to put history to work: using collections and exhibitions to provoke curiosity, support learning, illuminate complexity and help South Australians better understand the past and its relevance to the future.


Key Accountabilities

  • Lead the development, delivery and evaluation of a contemporary participatory vision and plan for HTSA’s exhibitions and collections programs, ensuring they reflect the complexity, diversity and lived experience of South Australians.
  • Lead custodianship of the State History Collection, ensuring it is not merely preserved but continuously enriched, refined, interpreted, and made accessible in ways that reflect the full diversity of the South Australian experience.
  • Lead the development and implementation and review of a compelling Collection Development Plan that aligns with the History Trust’s strategic objectives and strengthens the Collection’s relevance, reach and long-term value.
  • Initiate and lead a whole-of-Trust exhibitions and interpretation program that connects collections, stories, audiences and public purpose across the Trust’s museums, programs and platforms.
  • Lead the strategic development of the State History Network as a statewide platform for connection, capability-building and shared visibility, including providing authoritative advice and specialist services to elevate the work of community museums, collections and local history groups as part of South Australia’s broader state story.
  • Work closely with the Head of Commercial and Partnerships to cultivate and steward philanthropic opportunities, relationships, donors, sponsors and partners that strengthen the State History Collection, support exhibitions, and grow the Trust’s financial capacity.
  • Provide expert specialist consultancy to the Head of Tourism and Marketing to strengthen audience growth, deliver compelling visitor experiences and identify opportunities for earned revenue through exhibitions, collections and public programming.
  • Develop, manage and oversee significant programs and major projects, including developing, monitoring and reviewing budgets, resources and financial strategies relating to collections, exhibitions and associated programs.
  • Lead, supervise and develop the Collections and Exhibitions team, building professional capability, organisational agility, accountability and resilience.
  • Establish and lead evaluation and continuous improvement strategies, priorities and processes across exhibitions, collections, interpretation and visitor experience, using evidence and audience insight to improve impact.
  • Lead improvements in collection documentation, digital access and collections data, ensuring the State History Collection is increasingly discoverable, usable and connected to public, education and research outcomes.
  • Provide authoritative advice to the CEO, Board and colleagues on all matters relating to South Australian history, material culture, collections, exhibitions and public interpretation, offering foresight, candour and strategic judgement.


Special Conditions:

  • Engagement in this role is subject to a satisfactory Department of Human Services Working with Children Check, with renewal required every five years.
  • The role may require out-of-hours work, as well as intrastate and interstate travel.
  • This role is based in the Adelaide CBD, however travel between our sites located in Birdwood and Port Adelaide is required regularly. Depending on operational needs, the incumbent may be required to transfer to other History Trust locations, either permanently or temporarily, to perform work appropriate to their classification, skills, and capabilities, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Public Sector Act 2009. 


Qualifications:
Essential 

  • Qualification in Museum Studies, Collections Management or related field.
  • Postgraduate qualifications in History or Museum Studies. 

Desirable 

  • Qualifications or formal training in leadership, supervision, or people management.  
  • Financial or business administration training, including budgeting, procurement, or contract management.  


Classification:

PO4 - Professional Officers Stream


Salary Range:

PO4 $122,752 - $133,635 per annum, + superannuation (12%)


Duration:

This position is offered on an initial 12-month contract, with potential for extension as the role and program continue to develop, in line with organisational priorities.


Enquiries to:

Justyna Jochym
JJochym@history.sa.gov.au


To apply for this position, applicants are required to submit the following:

  • CV
  • Cover Letter (maximum of 2 pages)
  • Pre-Employment Declaration

Applicants should include the name, address and contact number of three (3) current referees.

Applications must be submitted via iworkforsa. Please see the attachments for more information about the role and how to apply.


Applications close: 09/08/2026 11:00 PM

Attachments:
- Application Guidelines - History Trust of South Australia.pdf
- Pre-Employment-Declaration_240522.pdf
- Role Statement - Head of Collections and Exhibitions.pdf


Flexibility Statement
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.