Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery is the artistic and cultural heart of our city. This Council-owned and operated destination celebrates our rich and diverse cultural heritage, particularly with respect to our relationship with iwi. It also showcases the region’s artistic vibrancy and scientific innovation.
Our Visitor Principles are to welcome all visitors to engage and participate, to discover the unexpected and unknown, to connect to your identity and sense of place, and to inspire a desire to think, learn and create.
Hamilton City Council is seeking a visionary and dynamic leader to take on the role of Director – Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery. This is a rare opportunity to shape the cultural heartbeat of our city and elevate the Waikato Museum to new heights regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Job Description
He angituutanga: The opportunity
As Director, you will lead the strategic delivery of integrated museum and creative arts exhibitions and services. Your leadership will foster collaboration across the wider creative sector, helping to create a dynamic and exciting cultural hub in the heart of Hamilton
As Director, you will lead with integrity and uphold the museum’s core values: creating a welcoming space for discovery, connection, and inspiration. You will ensure that both staff and visitors feel respected, engaged, and enriched by their experiences.
Your leadership will reflect the highest standards of ethics and professional practice expected in the museum sector.
You will be responsible for delivering the following key outcomes:
Position Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery as a premier visitor destination and a nationally recognised cultural institution.
Drive a strategic approach to the Museum’s collections, exhibitions, and community engagement.
Build strong partnerships with other visitor destinations to enhance visitor experiences and increase engagement.
Inspire and lead a high-performing team, modelling Council’s values and fostering a positive, inclusive workplace culture.
Champion a ‘just culture’ approach to safety and wellbeing, embedding Te Ao Māori into the Museum’s identity and operations.
Align operations with strategic goals and empower staff to deliver exceptional outcomes.
Ensure the Museum operates in line with industry best practices and local government frameworks.
Develop meaningful partnerships with iwi and tangata whenua to enrich storytelling and cultural representation.
Cultivate and maintain key stakeholder relationships across regional, national, and international networks.
Demonstrate political acumen and professionalism in all internal and external engagements.
Identify and manage risks to the Museum’s reputation, operations, and team.
Provide expert advice on sector trends, policy, and strategic direction.
Apply sound commercial and financial principles to ensure sustainable operations and that are appropriate to a local government context.
Qualifications
Oo puumanawa me oo wheako | Your skills and experience
A visionary and dynamic leadership style and significant successful experience developing and
leading high performing teams.
A relevant degree, preferably at a postgraduate level.
At least five years as an executive leader as well as significant successful experience in the GLAM sector.
Demonstrated effective relationship building skills, particularly with iwi/tangata whenua and other stakeholders and funders including local government and Friends/Membership orgs.
A strong understanding of museum practice and principles.
Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to tikanga, biculturalism and the contemporary application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Excellent people skills and a customer and delivery focused approach with the ability to successfully convey information to diverse audiences.
An understanding of the Local Government Act.
Additional Information
He aha te wariu o te utu kaimahi? | What’s the salary?
Circa $131,000 dependent on skills and experience.
Ngaa waahi whakarato painga kei a maatou: What we offer
- Flexible by choice; an award-winning flexible working policy.
- Opportunities for professional development.
- Two Wellbeing days per year.
- Free health insurance through Unimed including hospital/surgery grade cover and discounted. membership rates for family members.
- Free annual health checks and flu vaccination.
- Ability to purchase additional annual leave.
- Eye testing/glasses cost reimbursement.
- Discounted purchases from local businesses; gym memberships, cafes, dentists, hairdressers and many more.
Me Tono Inaaianei!: Apply Now!
- View the Position Description
- Click apply
- Complete your application.
If you wish to include a cover letter with your application, please combine this in the same file as your resume and upload as a PDF file. Alternatively, you can use the 'Write a message to the Hiring Team' text box.
Applications close on the: 03/08/2025
Note: We will be shortlisting as we receive applications.
Council is committed to honouring the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi through its relationship with Kiingitanga, Waikato Tainui, mana whenua and maataa waka within Hamilton Kirikiriroa.
All candidates will be notified of the outcome on their application via email. Short-listed candidates will be required to complete an interview process, reference checks and a criminal check. Further background checking will be required when relevant to the role. View more information about these checks, our commitment to the Privacy act and details for international applicants by clicking here
It is important to us that we support you throughout our selection process (interview and assessments). If you have any access needs during this process, let us know in advance so we can make sure these are met.
As a council, we believe in creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and belongs. We value inclusiveness (Kotahitanga) – we respect and value the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents that everyone brings.
This role is being sourced directly. If/where Hamilton City Council requires the support of a recruitment agency, we will seek this support from our panel of selected agencies. Hamilton City Council will not be responsible for, and will not pay, any commissions, fees or other payments related to unsolicited contact.
