Manager - Production and Operations

State Library Victoria is Australia’s oldest public library, and one of the first free public libraries in the world.  

At State Library Victoria, we believe that access to information and stories builds knowledge, strengthens community and inspires our future. Our recent redevelopment transformed our services and spaces, enhancing our role as a driver of Victoria’s education, innovation, tourism and creative industries. 

• Permanent, full-time role in the Audience Engagement team
• Work in a historical landmark in the heart of Melbourne CBD
• VPS 5.1; salary between $106,534 – 117,716 + superannuation

About the Library

State Library Victoria is Australia’s oldest public library, and one of the first free public libraries in the world.

We believe in the power of knowledge to change lives. Free to access and open to all, the Library enriches the cultural, educational, social and economic lives of all Victorians.

State Library Victoria preserves and shares the stories of Victoria and the world, and is a major destination for stimulating cultural experiences, contemporary debates, and community-driven collecting. We encourage learning, exploration, imagination, and creativity, opening up possibilities for all Victorians.

About the Opportunity

The Production and Operations Team, part of the broader Audience Engagement branch at State Library Victoria, is responsible for producing and delivering a range of experiences for diverse Library audiences. These include events, public and education programs, lectures, workshops, tours, as well as online and site-wide experiences.

The Manager, Production and Operations leads a team of Senior Producers, Producers, and Program Assistants, leveraging their expertise in production management, operations and team leadership to ensure that all audience experiences are developed and delivered effectively to excellent standards. This role is key in planning, delivering and evaluating experiences efficiently, as well as in providing valuable insights that inform the design of current and future programs.

This role oversees the establishment of production standards, operational processes, and workflows, covering aspects including bookings, venues, infrastructure, equipment, logistics, data collection, contractor management, and scheduling. The role also collaborates closely with colleagues across the organisation to integrate operational considerations, including budget allocation, into the planning and design of events and programs.

A central aspect of this role is working collaboratively with other Library teams and both internal and external stakeholders to deliver high-quality experiences on time and within budget.

Reporting to the Head of Audience Engagement, and working closely with the Public Programs Manager, your measurable outcomes will include:

• Lead the production and operations team, growing their skills to deliver outstanding audience events and programs and ensuring a high standard of customer service.
• Refine production and operation manuals and tools to strengthen program delivery and processes, including contributing to an organisation wide event management system.
• Access and inclusion: Ensure events and programs align with SLV and Audience Engagement’s commitments to access and inclusion, meeting all relevant policies.
• Define and scope operational requirements for events and programs streams, contributing to both production and programming budgets, and managing production costs to support financially sustainable models.
• Collaborate on defining roles and responsibilities for operational and customer-facing support of events managed by other branches, including philanthropic and commercial events.
• Build relationships with key internal stakeholders to ensure any operational issues can be resolved efficiently, minimising any impact on audiences or operations.
• Foster a positive, inclusive and approachable team culture, promoting open collaboration across Audience Engagement, Commercial, and Philanthropic teams.
• Champion a process of continuous improvement by implementing audience surveys and review processes, capturing audience and operational insights, to enhance and improve the delivery of Library experiences.

About You

You will come to us as an experienced people and operations leader, with production delivery expertise and a passion for delivering quality experiences to diverse audiences. You will be motivated and organised with deep understanding of the requirements of the delivery of events, programs and exhibitions and thrive in fast-paced events environments.

In addition, you will bring the following:

• Graduate qualifications in production or event management or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Significant experience in leading and managing an events and operations team, including fostering a supporting environment conducive to delivery of successful outcomes.
• Significant experience in planning, producing, and delivering public events and programs at a cultural institution or similar environment.
• A strong track record of successfully building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including program and operations staff, partners, contractors, and other teams.
• Demonstrated experience in budget planning and management, ensuring cost-effective operations while maintaining quality.
• Demonstrated experience in leading and driving continuous improvement/ program enhancement as a result of data evaluation and analysis, including audience feedback, event evaluations and operational insights.

State Library Victoria is a child-safe organisation. A valid Working with Children Check will be required before commencing. 

State Library Victoria promotes a workplace that actively seeks to welcome and value the unique contributions of all people. We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people from cultural and linguistical diverse backgrounds, LGBTIQ+, D/deaf, disabled, neurodivergent people and people of all ages and abilities to apply.

How to apply

Please click the Apply button to submit your application via Careers.Vic.

The following documents should be attached to your application:

• Resume
• Cover letter (maximum 3 pages) summarising how you meet the key selection criteria in the Position Description and the About You section of the advertisement. 

(for more information on format and content of your application, please see Preparing Your Application on the Careers.vic page).

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Reasonable Adjustments

We want all applicants to have an equal opportunity to demonstrate that they are the best person for the job. If you require an adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, or the provision of a particular access service, please make us aware on what adjustments you may require during the course of the process.

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