Job Description

We are looking for a Director, Research, History and Cultural Expression

The Director, Research, History and Cultural Expression provides strategic and operational leadership for the Museum’s research and curatorial activities in history and cultural expression, including areas such as sports and leisure. The incumbent will lead the planning, development, and implementation of research initiatives, ensuring alignment with the Museum’s mandate, corporate priorities, and scholarly standards.

The primary objectives are to advance impactful research; foster innovation and research excellence; ensure effective dissemination of research through exhibitions, publications, and public programming related to Contemporary Canada and the world; and contribute to enterprise-wide strategy, policy development, and organizational performance as a member of the senior management team.

What we are looking for

• Commitment and Engagement
• Collaboration and Cooperation
• Innovation and Change
• Strategic Thinking
• Accountable Management.

Qualifications

• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in historical research, curatorial practice, cultural studies, or a related scholarly or cultural heritage field, including responsibility for complex research initiatives and public-facing interpretation.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in a senior management or leadership role, with accountability for setting strategic direction, managing through subordinate managers or supervisors, and overseeing multidisciplinary professional teams.
• Demonstrated experience building and sustaining relationships with academic institutions, cultural organizations, and other partners, including managing diverse perspectives and navigating issues related to representation, interpretation, and public engagement.
• Experience leading the dissemination of research through exhibitions, publications, and public programming, with a focus on contemporary and/or globally contextualized themes.
• Experience providing strategic advice to senior executives and contributing to organizational policy, planning, and governance in a complex, public sector or cultural institution environment.

Knowledge of:

• Research methodologies, curatorial practice, and cultural heritage scholarship, including interdisciplinary approaches used in history, cultural studies, and related fields such as sports, leisure, and contemporary cultural expression.
• Museological and curatorial standards and governance, including research design, exhibition development, collections stewardship, and public interpretation within a national museum context.
• Ethical frameworks and best practices in research and interpretation, including responsible scholarship, cultural sensitivity, and inclusive and community-informed approaches to knowledge production and dissemination.
• The Museum’s mandate, strategic priorities, governance framework, and public trust responsibilities.
• Canadian legal, policy, and ethical requirements affecting cultural heritage research, collections stewardship, intellectual property, and public dissemination of research.
• Emerging trends, challenges, and best practices in museology, historical research, and cultural interpretation, including developments in public institutions in Canada and internationally.
• Museum operations, including collections management, publishing, research dissemination, and exhibition development in a national and international context.
• Principles and practices of public sector administration, including financial and human resource management in a unionized environment.
• Canadian history and heritage, and an understanding of diverse cultural expressions, identities, and narratives shaping Contemporary Canada and global perspectives.
• Relevant legislation and policy frameworks, including the Museum Act, Financial Administration Act, Official Languages Act, and applicable collective agreements.

Compensation: $137,673 to $156,476 MG6 (In review). The position is also subject to a performance bonus.

Other benefits:

• Flexible benefits package
• Government of Canada pension plan
• Opportunities for hybrid work and a dedicated office
• Paid vacation and other time off, including three personal days, sick days, family days, medical appointments, etc.
• Employee and Family Assistance Program
• Professional development opportunities
• Discounts at our Museum shops and restaurants.

Status: Permanent Full-Time Position (# 10517)

Security Level: Reliability Status

Location: 100, Laurier Street, Gatineau, Quebec

Language: CBC. We encourage all candidates to submit their application, regardless of whether they believe they meet the linguistic requirements of the position. Qualified candidates will be sent for linguistic validation.

Open to: Museum employees and external candidates. Priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Apply no later than September 27, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.