Exhibitions Project Manager

About Asaan and the Role

Asaan is seeking an Exhibitions Project Manager to join their team in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This full-time role is responsible for the comprehensive planning, financial oversight, procurement management, and delivery coordination of Asaan’s permanent galleries, temporary exhibitions, and offsite activations. The Project Manager reports to the Director of Exhibitions and ensures projects are delivered on time, within budget and scope, and in compliance with institutional governance, PMO standards, museum best practices, and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, risk registers, and milestone tracking for multiple concurrent exhibitions and gallery initiatives.
• Coordinate cross-departmental workflows to align curatorial intent, design development, collections requirements, operations, and visitor experience objectives.
• Monitor project performance against approved scope, timelines, and quality standards, providing structured reporting to the Director of Exhibitions and contributing to CEO’s PMO updates.
• Lead the preparation of tender documents, scopes of work, evaluation criteria, and procurement documentation for exhibition-related services.
• Manage financial planning, forecasting, and budget monitoring for exhibition projects, ensuring expenditure remains within approved allocations.
• Participate in vendor evaluation processes and oversee contract implementation in coordination with Procurement and Legal.
• Oversee exhibition installation and deinstallation planning, coordinating with Collections Care, Security, Facilities, and external contractors.
• Monitor handling, packing, transportation, and display requirements in alignment with conservation and safety standards.
• Lead quality control processes during installation, including snagging, issue resolution, and operational readiness checks.
• Maintain project-level risk assessments and mitigation plans, particularly relating to object safety, security, insurance, and contractual obligations.
• Act as primary coordination lead between the Exhibitions Department and the CEO’s PMO for assigned projects.
• Facilitate structured project meetings and ensure clear documentation of decisions and actions.

Qualifications and Experience

• 5-10 years of experience in project management, preferably within a museum or cultural institution environment.
• Demonstrated experience in planning, financial oversight, procurement, and delivery coordination of exhibitions or similar projects.
• Familiarity with institutional governance, PMO standards, and museum best practices.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong project management methodologies and ability to embed them effectively.
• Proficiency in financial planning, forecasting, and budget monitoring.
• Excellent coordination and communication skills for cross-departmental and external stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to manage risk assessments and ensure compliance with safety, security, and contractual obligations.
• A collaborative, solutions-focused approach that balances creative ambition with operational discipline.

Work Environment and Expectations

The Exhibitions Project Manager will work collaboratively across Curatorial, Research, Collections Care, Security, Operations, and the CEO’s Project Management Office. As Asaan is a developing institution, the scope of this role may evolve in line with institutional priorities. The Project Manager is expected to demonstrate adaptability and contribute to the broader growth of the Exhibitions Department.