Senior Project Manager (Museums/Cultural Institutions

Role overview

Exhibition design management

• Manage exhibition design development from concept through detailed design and execution.
• Review design and construction documentation and ensure alignment with curatorial narratives, visitor strategies, and operational requirements.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary designers and facilitate design workshops and stakeholder reviews.
• Monitor design deliverables, milestones, buildability, maintainability, and operational sustainability.

Construction and fabrication

• Supervise exhibition fit-out and installation works on site and monitor contractor performance against approved drawings and specifications.
• Review method statements, shop drawings, material submittals, construction risks, and installation sequencing.
• Manage factory inspections, mock-ups, prototypes, fabrication quality, production schedules, logistics, transportation, and installation planning.

Displays and multimedia

• Oversee museum showcases, display systems, object mounting, artifact supports, and conservation controls for temperature, humidity, lighting, security, and environmental monitoring.
• Coordinate multimedia and AV integration, including interactive exhibits, projection, LED displays, immersive environments, audio systems, and digital interpretation.
• Manage testing and commissioning and verify that interactive experiences meet approved user experience objectives.

Quality and project controls

• Develop quality control procedures, conduct inspections and audits, and verify design, technical, museum, accessibility, and safety compliance.
• Track defects, snagging, close-out, schedules, milestones, KPIs, risks, recovery plans, procurement, variations, claims, and contractual compliance.
• Prepare progress reports and executive updates for senior management and government representatives.

Stakeholders and handover

• Act as the primary liaison among clients, consultants, contractors, fabricators, curators, registrars, conservators, and museum operating teams.
• Coordinate operational readiness reviews, museum operations staff training, punch-list completion, defect rectification, as-built documents, warranties, and maintenance manuals.
• Support final handover and opening preparations.

Qualifications and experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in architecture, interior design, construction management, engineering, museum studies, exhibition design, or a related field.
• At least 15 years of experience in exhibition design, museum projects, cultural developments, or visitor attractions.
• Proven experience delivering high-profile museum projects in the Middle East.
• Experience supervising exhibition fit-out and specialist installation contractors.
• Strong understanding of museum conservation and collection care requirements.
• Experience with government, cultural, and heritage-sector clients.

Technical competencies

• Exhibition design development, museum planning, construction supervision, fit-out management, and exhibit fabrication.
• Showcase design and installation, multimedia integration, visitor experience design, and QA/QC.
• Procurement and tender management, risk management, contract administration, stakeholder engagement, and BIM/design coordination.

Rewards and benefits

• Benefits include tax-free salary, life and medical insurance, annual leave, gratuity, discretionary bonus, annual flight contribution, and transportation and housing allowances.
• The Employee Wellbeing Program provides access to specialists in finance, legal matters, family care, personal health, fitness, and nutrition.

About AtkinsRéalis