Van Cleef & Arpels Senior Exhibition Project Manager

About Van Cleef & Arpels

Van Cleef & Arpels is a distinguished Parisian haute joaillerie maison renowned for exceptional craftsmanship, poetic creativity and the stewardship of a significant heritage collection. The brand combines historic savoir-faire with contemporary cultural programming and frequently collaborates with museums, curators and cultural institutions to present exhibitions that reflect its artisanal legacy.

Role & Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of temporary and touring exhibitions, from concept development through installation, deinstallation and post-project review.
• Manage project schedules, detailed technical dossiers, and critical path activities to ensure milestones and deadlines are met.
• Own project budgets: prepare estimates, monitor spend, approve vendor invoices and implement cost-control measures.
• Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders including heritage & archives, curatorial teams, designers, production, legal, insurance and marketing/PR.
• Oversee procurement, selection and management of external suppliers—fabricators, exhibition designers, art handlers, riggers and transport providers.
• Ensure compliance with conservation and collection-care standards for jewellery and delicate objects, including packing, climate control and handling protocols.
• Administer loan processes: prepare loan agreements, condition reports, insurance arrangements and customs documentation for national and international shipments.
• Supervise on-site installation and deinstallation, ensuring technical plans, CAD drawings and site health & safety requirements are executed precisely.
• Prepare and present project reports and executive summaries for senior management and external partners.
• Contribute to interpretive content and visitor experience decisions to align exhibitions with brand positioning and audience expectations.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master's preferred) in art history, museology, cultural management, architecture or a related discipline — or equivalent professional experience in exhibitions.
• Proven track record (typically 5+ years) managing exhibitions, cultural projects or high-profile events within museums, cultural institutions or luxury brands.
• Demonstrated experience with exhibition logistics: loans, condition reporting, packing, insurance and international customs procedures.
• Strong budget management skills with documented responsibility for multi-stakeholder budget control and procurement.
• Excellent stakeholder management and negotiation skills; comfortable liaising with curators, conservators, external fabricators and senior executives.
• Fluency in French and professional working proficiency in English (oral and written) is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with conservation and collection-care protocols specific to jewellery or small precious objects.

Skills

Experience

Typically 5+ years of progressive experience delivering exhibitions or cultural projects, with hands-on responsibility for logistics, budgets, vendor management and on-site installation; experience within a luxury maison, museum or major cultural institution is strongly preferred.

Education

Master's degree in art history, museology, cultural management, architecture or equivalent professional experience.

Workplace

Culture

Van Cleef & Arpels blends artisanal excellence with cultural engagement; teams value meticulous craftsmanship, curatorial rigor and collaborative interdisciplinary work. The workplace favours attention to detail, reverence for heritage and high standards of professionalism expected in luxury heritage projects.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.