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The Project Manager / Exhibition Coordinator is the operational backbone of MOWAA’s exhibition and programming schedule. While the Curatorial team develops the narrative and artistic vision, this role works with the Head of Curatorial to ensure the strategic planning, logistical execution, and financial tracking of all exhibitions and major commissions.

Operating in a fast-paced, dual-location environment (Lagos and Benin City), the PM/Coordinator will manage the entire lifecycle of complex projects, from early-stage budgeting and contract negotiation to multi-city development workshops, fine art shipping, complex spatial builds, and final de-installation. The ideal candidate is a rigorous planner, an adept problem-solver, and a clear communicator capable of bridging the gap between artistic vision and operational reality.

KeyResponsibilities

1. Project Management & Strategic Planning

• Timeline Creation: Develop, manage, and enforce comprehensive master schedules for all exhibitions, public installations, and off-site projects (e.g., biennales, touring shows).
• Milestone Tracking: Lead weekly or bi-weekly exhibition production meetings. Identify critical path items, anticipate logistical bottlenecks, and pivot strategies to keep projects on track.
• Risk Management: Proactively identify project risks (e.g., shipping delays, fabrication errors, budgetary overruns) and develop robust contingency plans.
• Software Utilization: Maintain project management platforms ensuring all internal stakeholders have real-time visibility on project statuses.

2. Exhibition Production & On-Site Installation

• Build Coordination: Work directly with external fabricators, exhibition designers, and internal facilities teams to manage the physical build-out of gallery spaces 
• Installation Management: Oversee the master installation and de-installation schedules. Coordinate the sequencing of painting, AV installation, lighting, and art handling.
• Technical Integration: Manage the procurement and installation of specialized exhibition requirements, including complex audiovisual (AV) setups, climate-controlled vitrines, and bespoke lighting.
• Collateral Production: Work with the Curatorial Assistant to coordinate the design, printing, and installation of all exhibition graphics, wall texts, vinyls, and physical catalogues.
• Health & Safety: Ensure all installation activities adhere to strict health, safety, and museum-standard protocols.

3. Logistics Support

• Customs & Clearances: Support the registrar on Nigerian and international customs regulations, import/export licenses, and temporary admission procedures for artworks.
• Condition Reporting: Work with internal registrars or conservators to ensure comprehensive condition reports are executed upon arrival and departure of works and delivered to appropriate stakeholders on time. 

4. Financial & Administrative Management

• Budget Ownership: Draft, monitor, and reconcile dedicated exhibition budgets. Provide regular financial reports and variance analyses to the Head of Curatorial and Finance Department.
• Contract Negotiation: Support the Registrar with vendor agreements, artist commission contracts, guest curator agreements, and external fabrication contracts (working alongside legal counsel when necessary).
• Procurement: Run Request for Proposal (RFP) processes for major exhibition services. Manage vendor onboarding, invoice processing, and expense tracking.

5. Stakeholder & Artist Liaison

• Artist Management: Serve as the logistical point of contact for exhibiting and commissioned artists. Coordinate their travel, accommodation, visas, and per diems for site visits and openings.
• Cross-Departmental Synergy: Liaise continuously with the Collections team (regarding the management of incoming/outgoing loans and exhibition reporting), Communications team (delivering assets and timelines for marketing), Education team (coordinating space for public programming), Development Teams (regarding budget and donor forecasting)
• Partner Institution Coordination: Manage the logistical relationships with co-commissioning institutions or lending museums across the globe.

Education & Experience:

• Experience: Minimum 4–6 years of experience in project management, exhibition coordination, or registrar roles. Experience within a cultural institution, foundation, or museum is desirable.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Arts Administration, Museum Studies, Art History, Business Management, or a related field advantageous but not strictly required.
• Certifications: Formal project management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, Agile) is highly desirable but not strictly required if experiential equivalent is demonstrated.

Desirable Qualifications

• Formal project management certification (e.g., CAPM, PMP, Agile).
• Previous experience coordinating grant-funded research projects or managing deliverables for international philanthropic foundations.
• A strong, demonstrated interest in African art history, archives, or postcolonial studies.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Financial Acumen: Strong proficiency in budget creation, financial forecasting, and contract administration.
• Technical Literacy: Proficient in MS Office Suite/Google Workspace and project management tools. 
• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex logistical details to non-technical stakeholders (e.g., artists, curators).
• Local Nuance: A strong understanding of the logistical and operational landscape within Nigeria, specifically navigating vendor relationships and supply chains in Lagos and Edo state. The role is not directly responsible for shipping and supply chains, but will support the Registrar and Operations team.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands:

• Travel: This role is heavily split. The candidate must be willing and able to travel frequently between Lagos and Benin City often spending extended periods in either during critical installation phases.
• Hours: While generally standard office hours, the candidate must have the flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and public holidays during exhibition openings, major events, or when accommodating international time zones for shipping logistics.

How to Apply

To apply for the role, please send your CV and a short cover letter to careers@wearemowaa.org, using the subject line “Project Manager / Exhibition Coordinator”. Your cover letter should tell us why this role interests you and how your skills and experience align with MOWAA’s mission.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of the recruitment process. candidates will be contacted for further discussions.

The Project Associate, Curatorial Research is the operational and logistical anchor for this major curatorial initiative. Reporting directly to the Head of Curatorial, you will ensure that complex, multi-layered research objectives are translated into actionable, tracked, and meticulously managed project plans.

While deeply embedded within the intellectual and curatorial life of the project, your primary responsibility will be to drive execution: managing timelines, coordinating fieldwork and archival research activities, overseeing project administration, and leading the planning and delivery of workshops, symposia, and community engagement sessions. The ideal candidate is a highly organised individual who thrives at the intersection of research, culture, and project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Curatorial Collaboration & Intellectual Engagement: While this role demands rigorous project management capabilities, it is fundamentally embedded within the intellectual framework of the museum. The Project Associate will serve as a core contributor to the curatorial process, from early-stage conceptualization through to the exhibition's realization.
  
• Strategic Institutional Liaison: Actively participate in high-level curatorial planning sessions, serving as a vital connective link between the internal curatorial department, MOWAA's international Curatorial Council, and the Technical Advisory Committee.
  
• Scholarly & Artistic Exchange: Engage in sustained, collaborative dialogue with a distinguished network of global scholars, exhibiting artists, critical historians, and community stakeholders, contributing to the development of the project's conceptual direction.
  
• Applied Research & Authorship: Beyond facilitating the fieldwork of others, you will be tasked with conducting targeted archival scoping, synthesizing primary source materials, and authoring original contributions for MOWAA’s internal reports and the public-facing Research Dossier.
  
• Exhibition & Programmatic Impact: Ensure that the logistical structuring, oral histories, and foundational research generated during this R&D phase directly inform the narrative development, digital architecture, and spatial design of the final international exhibition.

Detailed Responsibilities

1. Project Management & Operational Support

• Timeline & Milestone Tracking: Develop, maintain, and enforce comprehensive project schedules. Ensure the curatorial team, research fellows, and external partners meet critical R&D deadlines.
• Budget Administration: Assist the Head of Curatorial in drafting, tracking, and reconciling the R&D project budget. 
• Cross-Departmental Coordination: Act as the central communication node between the Curatorial department and internal teams (such as Digital Heritage, Conservation, and Communications) to ensure research findings and digital assets are properly integrated and preserved.
• Reporting: Synthesize weekly operational updates and compile comprehensive monthly project reports for internal leadership and grant stakeholders.

2. Workshop, Symposia & Event Development

• Event Design & Execution: Lead the logistical planning and operational delivery of thematic workshops, international academic symposia, and local community engagement sessions related to the project.
• Speaker & Stakeholder Liaison: Manage all coordination for guest speakers, visiting academics, and community elders, including contracting, travel itineraries, accommodations, and honoraria processing.
• Programming Support: Collaborate with the curatorial team to structure workshop agendas, prepare presentation materials, and ensure all audiovisual and technical requirements are seamlessly executed.
• Documentation: Ensure all workshops and convenings are properly recorded, transcribed, and documented for future integration into the project's digital platform or publication dossier.

3. Research Coordination & Fieldwork Logistics

• Travel Management: Design and coordinate complex, multi-leg travel itineraries for the curatorial team and research fellows conducting fieldwork across Nigeria and international archival sites (e.g., Europe, the US, the Caribbean).
• Archival Access Coordination: Manage the administrative processes required to access institutional and private archives globally, including securing permissions, handling rights and reproduction paperwork, and scheduling site visits.
• Data Management: Work alongside the archivist to ensure that all digital files, oral history recordings, and field notes are properly uploaded, categorized, and secured within MOWAA’s internal databases.

4. Team & Administrative Support

• Schedule and facilitate regular project meetings, distributing agendas and tracking actionable next steps.
• Draft, review, and organize formal correspondence, institutional partnership agreements, and letters of inquiry to global museums and cultural bodies.

Education & Experience:

• Experience: 3–5 years of professional experience in project management, arts administration, or the production of research-driven programming (such as academic symposia, transnational field research, or large-scale cultural convenings). Experience within a museum, university, research institute, or major cultural organization is highly preferred.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Arts Administration, Museum Studies, Art History, African/Africana Studies, Cultural Studies, or a related humanities field.

Desirable Qualifications

• Formal project management certification (e.g., CAPM, PMP, Agile).
• Previous experience coordinating grant-funded research projects or managing deliverables for international philanthropic foundations.
• A strong, demonstrated interest in African art history, archives, or postcolonial studies.
• Formal training or a strongly demonstrated background in project management methodologies is highly valued

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Project Management Expertise: Deep proficiency in timeline management, budget administration, and utilizing project management platforms to drive complex, multi-phase research and exhibition deliverables.
• Discursive Programming & Convenings: Demonstrableexperience conceptualizing, organizing, and operationalizing multi-day academic symposia, transnational research workshops, or high-level cultural convenings.
• Operational & Fieldwork Rigour: Exceptional organizational acumen with a proven ability to coordinate complex transnational travel, decentralized team logistics, and international archival access protocols.
• Institutional & Diplomatic Communication: Impeccable written and verbal communication skills, possessing the tact and cultural fluency required to draft formal institutional correspondence and engage seamlessly with global scholars, visionary artists, and grassroots community stakeholders.
• Strategic Agility: Capacity to thrive in dynamic, fast-paced environments, adeptly pivoting operational strategies when complex fieldwork or cross-border logistical challenges arise, all while maintaining rigorous attention to detail.

How to Apply

To apply for the role, please send your CV and a short cover letter to careers@wearemowaa.org, using the subject line “Project Associate, Curatorial Research”. Your cover letter should tell us why this role interests you and how your skills and experience align with MOWAA’s mission.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of the recruitment process.

MOWAA seeks an experienced International Development Associate to play a central role in driving the growth of MOWAA’s membership and retail programmes, with a particular focus on international and diaspora audiences. You will support strategy, engagement, and operational delivery across membership acquisition, retention, and retail initiatives.

In addition, you will contribute to development and communications activities to strengthen donor and member engagement, expand MOWAA’s global reach, and support fundraising and revenue growth.

This role is ideal for a development professional passionate about fundraising, membership, and international audience engagement in a vibrant arts and culture environment.

Key Responsibilities

Retail Development & Membership Assistance:

• Assist in designing, launching, and growing MOWAA’s retail membership programme.
• Develop and implement strategies to attract, retain, and engage international and diaspora members.
• Monitor membership engagement, track key metrics, and provide insights for programme improvement.
• Support retail initiatives, including online campaigns, merchandise planning, and sales growth.

International Engagement:

• Support outreach to international and diaspora audiences to grow membership and revenue.
• Collaborate with internal teams to create donor/member-facing communications and marketing materials.
• Track international member activity and contribute to reporting on growth and retention.

Development & Communications Support:

• Assist with donor and membership database management and reporting.
• Support digital communications and social media campaigns related to membership and fundraising initiatives.
• Contribute to storytelling, promotional campaigns, and visibility of MOWAA’s international programmes.

General Support & Continuity:

• Support events, meetings, and other initiatives as needed to enhance member engagement.
• Provide flexible support on additional development-related tasks to ensure continuity and delivery of priorities.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Communications, Business, or related discipline).
• 5+ years of experience in fundraising, membership development, retail, or donor engagement.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office/Google Workspace; experience with donor/membership databases or CRM is an advantage.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams.
• Passion for arts, culture, heritage, and international audience engagement.

Deliverables and Output: 

• Membership programme launched and actively growing, with measurable engagement and retention.
• Retail initiatives implemented and operational, contributing to revenue growth.
• Accurate and up-to-date membership and donor records, reports, and dashboards maintained.
• Regular updates and insights provided to line manager on programme performance.

Terms and Conditions

• Reporting Line: Executive Chairman & Director (or designate)
• Duty Station: Remote (London or New York)
• Contract Type: Full-time

How to Apply: 

If you are inspired by the power of art, culture, and storytelling to create impact and want to grow your career in fundraising and development, we’d love to hear from you.

Please submit your CV and a brief cover letter to careers@wearemowaa.org, using the subject line: “Development Associate”. Your cover letter should explain why this role excites you and how your experience aligns with MOWAA’s mission.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further discussions.

MOWAA seeks an experienced Development Associate to support the institution’s fundraising and development activities with a particular focus on individual giving, donor stewardship, and local partnerships. Based in Lagos, the role will work closely with the Development team to strengthen donor engagement, support campaigns, and contribute to the growth of sustainable funding streams in Nigeria. 

Key Responsibilities

Individual Giving & Donor Support:

• Support the planning and delivery of individual giving initiatives, including donor outreach, follow-ups, and acknowledgement processes.
• Assist with donor research, profiling, and pipeline tracking to support cultivation and stewardship efforts.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records across relevant systems and support the preparation of donor reports and updates. 

Development Operations:

• Provide administrative, coordination, and logistical support to the Development team to ensure smooth day-to-day operations.
• Support grant management processes, including documentation, timelines, reporting requirements, and internal tracking.
• Assist with the planning and delivery of fundraising events and donor cultivation activities as required.

Coordination & Communications Support:

• Work closely with the Communications team to support the preparation of donor-facing materials, updates, and presentations.
• Liaise with internal teams to gather information, data, and updates required for development and fundraising activities.

General Support & Continuity:

• Provide flexible support on additional development-related tasks as required to ensure continuity, responsiveness, and timely delivery of priorities.
• Contribute to improving internal processes and documentation where needed.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Communications, or related discipline).
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in fundraising, development, administration, communications, or a related support role.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• High level of attention to detail, particularly in record-keeping and documentation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and engage professionally with external stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office / Google Workspace; experience with donor databases or CRM systems is an advantage.
• Interest in arts, culture, heritage, or nonprofit development work.

Deliverables and Output: 

• Effective support for the delivery of individual giving initiatives and fundraising campaigns.
• Accurate, complete, and up-to-date donor records, tracking tools, and related documentation.
• Timely and reliable administrative and coordination support to enable smooth delivery of Development team activities.

Terms and Conditions

• Reporting Line: Executive Chairman & Director (or designate)
• Duty Station: Lagos, Nigeria
• Contract Type: Full-time

How to Apply: 

If you’re excited by the power of art, culture, and storytelling to create impact and you’d like to grow your career in fundraising and development, we’d love to hear from you.

To apply for the Development Associate role, please send your CV and a short cover letter to careers@wearemowaa.org, using the subject line “Development Associate”. Your cover letter should tell us why this role interests you and how your skills and experience align with MOWAA’s mission.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further discussions.

MOWAA seeks an experienced and highly organised Archivist and Library Manager to lead the management, development, and preservation of MOWAA’s archives and institutional library. The role also combines strategic oversight with operational execution, ensuring that MOWAA’s archival holdings, research collections, and library resources are professionally managed, accessible, and aligned with international best practices.

This is a pivotal role within MOWAA’s institutional infrastructure. The Archivist & Library Manager will ensure that the organisation’s archival and research assets are preserved, professionally managed, and strategically developed to support scholarship, exhibitions, and long-term institutional growth.

Key Responsibilities

Archives and Collection Management

• Lead the cataloguing, documentation, and digitisation of archives owned and/or managed by MOWAA.
• Oversee archival standards, metadata systems, and database integrity.
• Ensure proper handling, storage, conservation coordination, and long-term preservation of archival and collection materials.
• Develop and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and policies relating to archives, records management, and library systems.
• Maintain accurate records of installation notes, accessions, deaccessions, condition reports, loan agreements, and insurance documentation.
• Monitor and track object movement within the collections database.

Library Development & Management

Lead the development and management of the MOWAA Library, including:

• Space planning and physical organisation
• Collection development strategy
• Acquisition and cataloguing systems
• Digital database and research access systems
• Establish access protocols for internal staff, researchers, and the public.
• Oversee both physical and digital library assets.

Research & Access

• Facilitate researchers and guests access to archives and library holdings.
• Respond to research inquiries and provide guidance on archival materials.
• Conduct research relating to collection provenance, copyright, and ownership matters.
• Support publication, exhibition, and curatorial research initiatives.

Institutional Collaboration

• Collaborate with curators, conservators, and exhibition teams to support scheduling, installations, and collection rotations.
• Support preparation of educational materials in partnership with the Learning & Outreach Department.
• Provide archival support for exhibitions and programming initiatives.

Team Supervision & Compliance

• Train and supervise interns, volunteers, and temporary staff supporting archival and library work.
• Ensure compliance with professional archival standards and health and safety requirements.
• Identify and escalate risks relating to collections care, storage, or documentation integrity.

Key Qualifications

• A bachelor’s or postgraduate degree in Library and Information Studies, Collections Management, Archival Studies, Museum Studies, Computer studies or related field.
• Minimum of 4–6 years’ relevant experience in archives, library management, collections management, or a museum/cultural institution setting.
• Demonstrated experience in: Setting up and managing digital databases or inventory systems; Collections management systems; Records management frameworks; Managing physical archive/library spaces
• Proficiency in database applications and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Strong knowledge of archival research methodologies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High level of organisation and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a growing cultural institution.

Career Growth, Training & Development: 

MOWAA has a strong culture of constant learning and invests in developing people. This post offers exposure and hands-on experience on ways of working global institutions across MOWAA’s wide network of partners and affiliates. By joining our team, you’ll have an opportunity to shape a growing organization, work on ground-breaking initiatives, and build a rewarding long-term career.

Terms and Conditions

• Reporting Line: Head of Collections
• Duty Station: Benin City, Nigeria
• Contract Duration: Indefinite, subject to performance
• Compensation & Benefits: Highly competitive, subject to credentials

How to Apply: 

To apply, submit your CV and cover letter to careers@wearemowaa.org. Kindly include “Archivist and Library Manager” in the subject line. Enquiries should also be sent to the same address.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further discussions.

MOWAA is seeking an experienced conservator to join our Collections department. Reporting to the Head of Collections, the Senior Conservator will be responsible for the preventive care of art and artefacts in MOWAA’s collection, as well as providing support for supervised restoration work.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out research and apply standard conservation techniques to treat objects in MOWAA’s collections.
• Conduct thorough assessments and documentation of objects to monitor their condition and identify signs of deterioration.
• Prepare detailed written treatment proposals, condition reports, and treatment reports, including comprehensive photographic documentation.
• Work closely with colleagues to plan and execute complex conservation treatments.

Essential Skills

• A bachelor’s or postgraduate degree in Conservation or a related field, with a specialization in object conservation, from a recognized training institution..
• A minimum of 6–8 years of relevant experience in a recognized heritage institution or equivalent technical expertise and education, with a preference for candidates with experience working with historic collections.
• Proven track record of planned and successfully completed conservation treatments.
• Active membership in a professional conservation organization.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Familiarity with a diverse range of West African objects, including ethnographic, historical, archaeological, and contemporary art.

How to Apply:  To apply, submit your CV, cover letter to careers@wearemowaa.org. Kindly include “Senior Conservator” in the subject line. Enquires should also be sent to the same address.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further discussions.