Freelance Artist jobs

Location: Split between the Whitworth (0.6 FTE) and Manchester Museum (0.4 FTE)

Are you a technical expert with a passion for the intersection of art, culture, and digital innovation? It’s a dream opportunity to join the teams at the Whitworth and Manchester Museum as our new AV and Digital Systems Technician. In this dual-site role, you will be the primary contact for AV infrastructure, ensuring our equipment is expertly maintained and its creative potential is fully realised across galleries, exhibitions, and events.

The Role

You will lead the design and delivery of innovative AV installations for permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions, collaborating closely with curators, artists, and external partners. Beyond daily operations, you will play a vital role in the documentation and management of Time-Based Media (TBM) works within the Whitworth collections.

Key responsibilities include:

Exhibition Delivery: Transforming complex artistic briefs into viable technical solutions for permanent and touring shows.
System Management: Maintaining detailed inventories and performing expert repairs on all hardware.
Project Oversight: Coordinating freelance technicians and contractors to meet museum standards and project deadlines.
Sustainability: Minimising environmental impacts to align with the University’s wider sustainability strategy.
About You

We are seeking a proactive professional with advanced knowledge of AV equipment and its application in a creative or museum context.

You should have:
Technical Expertise: Extensive experience with high-quality professional audio and video installations, alongside proficiency in Windows, Mac OSX, and MS Office.
Event Delivery: A proven track record in planning and delivering professional events and exhibition launches.
Project Management: Strong problem-solving and project management skills, with the ability to remain calm under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
Communication: Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to a diverse range of users.
Flexibility: A proactive, dependable, and flexible approach to the working week to support evening or weekend events.

Why Join Us?

As part of The University of Manchester, you will join a global institution that fuels ambition with opportunities and support. We offer:
Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here.

We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions. Find out more from our Freedom of Speech Policy.

Enquiries about the role, shortlisting and interviews

Name: Sarah Potter

Email Address: sarah.potter@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries and administrative support

recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk

Technical and job portal support

https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

Applications close at midnight on the closing date.

Further particulars (with person specification) linked below.