Global Exhibitions & Fairs Manager

Job description

Global Exhibitions & Fairs Manager About Us: From Functional Art to Collectible Design, today Carpenters Workshop Gallery produces and exhibits functional sculptures by international rising and established artists or designers going outside their traditional territories of expression. Actively involved in the research and production of limited edition works, the gallery's choices are guided by seeking an emotional, artistic and historical relevance and breaking boundaries between art and design. The gallery relies on the partnership of childhood friends, Julien Lombrail and Loïc le Gaillard. They first opened a space in London's Chelsea in 2006 in a former carpenter's workshop; they now operate four galleries globally in London, Paris, New York, and Los Angeles. ln 2015, the gallery opened The Workshop in Roissy, a unique 8,000 square meters space dedicated to artistic research bringing together the elite of artisans. Today, Carpenters Workshop Gallery is recognized as a leading gallery for contemporary collectible design. About the Role: We are looking for a highly organised, rigorous and experienced Global Exhibitions & Fairs Manager to lead the planning, coordination and delivery of Carpenters Workshop Gallery's global programme of art fairs and gallery exhibitions. Reporting to the Global Head of Sales & Offer, the Global Exhibitions & Projects Manager acts as the central project manager for all fairs and exhibitions, coordinating projects from initial planning through installation and de-installation. The role requires exceptional project management capabilities, precision and the ability to orchestrate multiple internai and external stakeholders across different geographies. Based in London, the role works closely with the London Gallery Director, local gallery teams and all relevant central functions. The scope is global, covering CWG's participation in international fairs across Europe, the Middle East, lndia and the United States, as well as exhibitions across the Gallery's locations. ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Planning & Project Management: Own and maintain the global calendar of art fairs and gallery exhibitions, providing clear visibility on key milestones, dependencies and deadlines. Lead the end-to-end project management of fairs and exhibitions, from initial brief through installation, opening and de-installation. Develop and maintain detailed project plans, critical paths, responsibilities and deliverables, coordinating multiple projects simultaneously across locations. Anticipate risks, delays and conflicts, ensuring timely resolution and escalation when required. Cross-functional Coordination: Act as the central point of coordination across Sales & Offer, Production, Logistics, Marketing, Finance, local gallery teams and other relevant internai stakeholders. Coordinate external partners and suppliers involved in project delivery and ensure clear ownership, deadlines and information flow across all stakeholders. Work closely with local gallery teams to ensure consistent and effective execution of exhibitions and fairs across al! locations. Supplier Management: Directly own and manage CWG's external supplier base for fairs and exhibitions, covering bath fine art specialists (art handling, crating and packing, fine art transport, customs and temporary admission, insurance, installation and rigging) and non fine art suppliers (stand builders, scenography and joinery workshops, AV and lighting, furniture hire, signage and print, catering, security, freelance technicians). Source, brief, negotiate and appoint suppliers against budget, deadline and quality standards, in coordination with Finance and Exhibition & Fair Design: Coordinate the scenography and booth design process between the founders, external scenographers and relevant internai Ensure that creative concepts are translated into feasible plans, budgets and timelines and that required decisions and approvals are secured in line with project deadlines. London Technical Team: Manage the London technical team and coordinate its activities across gallery exhibitions, installations, fairs and other relevant Plan workload, resources and priorities to ensure the appropriate level of technical support and high-quality execution. Budget: Prepare, maintain and monitor budgets for all fairs and exhibitions in coordination with Finance and relevant stakeholders. Track commitments and actual costs against budget, maintain a clear financial overview and identify potential deviations at an early stage. Stakeholder & Upward Management: Actively drive the decisions, approvals and arbitrations that projects depend on from the Global Head of Sales & Offer, the founders and gallery directors, rather than waiting for them. Set expectations clearly, say no or propose alternatives when a request is not feasible within the agreed budget, timeline or technical constraints, and surface trade-offs early with options and a Maintain a single version of the truth on status, cost and risk, and keep senior management informed without needing to be chased. Reporting: Provide clear, accurate and regular reporting to senior management on project status, budgets, key milestones, risks and decisions Ensure project documentation, schedules, artwork lists and relevant internai systems are accurate and kept up to date throughout each project. Conduct post-project reviews and capture key learnings to continuously improve project delivery, processes and tools. QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS ROLE: Proven experience in project management, with the ability to manage complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, deadlines and Exceptional organisational and time-management skills, with a very high level of precision and attention to detail. Strong ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, international environment. Strong budgeting and financial tracking Ability to produce clear, concise and reliable reporting for senior Excellent coordination and interpersonal skills, with the ability to act as a true orchestrator across creative, commercial and operational teams. Proactive and solution-oriented, with the ability to anticipate risks, drive decisions and ensure deadlines are met. Confidence working with senior stakeholders, artists, external partners and international teams. Experience within the art, design, luxury, events or related sectors is strongly Ability to read and understand floorplans and technical drawings; 3D rendering capabilities are a plus. Excellent written and spoken French is a Availability to travel internationally as required for fairs and We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, colour, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristics.