Senior Photographer

• Lead specialist photography and imaging for one of Aotearoa’s leading art galleries
• Work with extraordinary artworks, exhibitions and collections
• Permanent, full-time opportunity at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

He angitūtanga: The opportunity

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki is the home of the visual arts in Aotearoa and plays an important role in the cultural life of Tāmaki Makaurau.

We are looking for an experienced Senior Photographer to lead the Gallery’s Photography & Image Rights function and deliver exceptional photographic and imaging services across our exhibitions, collections and programmes. This is a highly specialised role where you’ll combine hands-on photography with technical expertise and team leadership.

Day to day, you could be:

• Producing high-quality photographic reproductions of artworks using specialist lighting and camera equipment
• Providing specialist photography including macro, micro, infrared and ultraviolet imaging
• Supporting exhibition documentation, publications, reproduction services and image rights
• Leading the digitisation and management of collection and archival imagery
• Managing digital image archives, metadata and preservation master files
• Leading and developing photography and image rights staff, contractors and interns
• Advising colleagues on photographic technologies, equipment and imaging techniques.

This is a permanent, full-time position working 40 hours per week, predominantly Monday to Friday, with some flexibility required for work outside normal hours.

We are ideally looking for the successful candidate to start mid to late January 2027.

He kōrero mōu: About you

You’ll be an accomplished, experienced photographer who combines strong technical expertise with an understanding of the care, accuracy and attention to detail required when photographing significant artworks, exhibitions and installations, and other collection items.

You’ll be comfortable working collaboratively with curators, artists, collectors, registrars, conservators, exhibition managers, technicians, designers, editors, and others across the Gallery while also providing leadership, advice and direction within your own area of expertise.

You will bring:

• Significant professional photography experience, ideally within an art gallery, museum, archive or cultural environment
• High-level expertise with professional cameras, lenses, photographic lighting, scanning and printing equipment
• Strong knowledge of digital imaging, colour management and Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Lightroom and Bridge
• Experience managing digital image files, archives and metadata
• Knowledge of specialist photographic and digitisation techniques
• Strong planning, organisation and problem-solving skills
• The ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work to deadline
• Strong communication, collaboration and people leadership skills

Experience handling artworks, knowledge of preventative conservation and museum standards, and experience with collection management systems such as Vernon would be highly advantageous. The position description also identifies a relevant tertiary qualification and an unrestricted New Zealand driver's licence as requirements.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou: What we offer

This is a rare opportunity to combine your photography expertise with art, culture and collection stewardship. Your work will directly contribute to how Auckland Art Gallery’s collections and exhibitions are documented, preserved, published and experienced by audiences now and into the future.

You’ll work alongside passionate specialists across the Gallery and have the opportunity to apply your technical expertise to an extraordinary and diverse collection while continuing to develop professional practice in museum photography and digital imaging.

To view a copy of the full position description, please click Senior Photographer

Salary range: $95,000 to $115,000 pa, depending on skills and experience.

Our employer KiwiSaver contribution is in addition to the base salary offered.

Applications close: Thursday, 19 November 2026 at 11.59pm.

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and we are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application to assist you through the recruitment process.