Do you have the vision, leadership, and curatorial expertise to inspire teams, strengthen community connections, and advance cultural heritage outcomes? Join us and make a difference.

The Senior Manager Living History is responsible for leading the preservation, interpretation, and presentation of Fremantle Prison's cultural heritage, ensuring that both its tangible and intangible values are authentically represented and respectfully shared. The position oversees museum management, collections and curatorial functions, exhibitions, education and research programs, guided tours, and living history volunteer activities.

The role is accountable for delivering engaging and historically accurate visitor experiences while helping to safeguard Fremantle Prison's heritage values. It provides strategic leadership to ensure an integrated approach across interpretation, collections, exhibitions, education, and community engagement, maintaining standards expected of a World Heritage Site. The position also fosters partnerships and community connections to enhance public understanding and appreciation of Fremantle Prison's history and significance.

There is one permanent full-time position available for immediate appointment; part-time or job-sharing arrangements may also be considered. This process may be used to fill future similar permanent or fixed-term positions that may arise within the Department and across the WA public sector in the next 12 months from the initial date of appointment. 

To be successful for this position, you need to demonstrate: 

1. Tertiary qualifications and/or substantial experience in cultural heritage, humanities, strategic museum management, curatorial and collections, and/or the intangible aspects of living history including exhibitions, interpretation, education and storytelling in support of enhanced visitor experiences.

1. Demonstrated knowledge of trends, issues, and developments in the sector with substantial knowledge of standards, procedures, and systems to preserve the Prison’s living history.

1. Substantial skills and ability in effectively communicating with and influencing others, building and maintaining productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including the ability to communicate effectively with people of diverse cultures.

1. Demonstrated understanding of Aboriginal culture, and the issues impacting the management and conservation of cultural heritage.

1. Demonstrate the behaviours within the leadership context of Leading Others.

Core leadership behaviours outlined in Leadership Expectations are applicable to this role and should be demonstrated in the context of Leading Others. Leading Others context is about motivating and enabling others to deliver high quality work that contributes to the agency. 

How to apply: All applications are submitted online. Select ‘Apply for Job’, located at either top or bottom of the screen, and follow the instructions; you will need to provide a:

• Comprehensive CV that clearly shows your skills, experience, and key achievements,
  including the details of two referees, with at least one being your current or recent manager or
  supervisor.
• A maximum three (3) page cover letter clearly demonstrating your skills and experience against position requirements 1 to 4, as detailed above and in the JDF.
• Please attach your relevant qualification to your application.

About us

Our team is based at Fremantle Prison, in the Fremantle CBD, with our head office centrally located in the Perth CBD, above the Perth Underground rail station and close to major transport links.  We also have a number of offices located in the regions.

For more information on what we do, our recruitment process, and why working at the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is an attractive proposition, please visit the Department page on the DPLH website.

We have a comprehensive  Applicant Information Pack to provide information about us, the values of the department and practical guidance on the process for you.

Benefits of Working at DPLH

DPLH offers a broad range of benefits including but not limited to:

• Access to flexible working arrangements including working from home or alternate work locations for enhanced work life balance.
• 12% superannuation, full employer contribution and salary packaging options
• Comprehensive learning and professional development opportunities.
• 4 weeks annual leave with 17.5% loading paid as additional pay every December
• 3 days additional public sector holidays each year
• Cultural leave for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff
• Leave for study, bereavement, foster caring and parenting
• Free access to a confidential employee assistance program (EAP) for you and your family, which includes psychology and counselling services.

Further Information: 

If you would like to know more, please give Courtenay Heldt a call on (08) 9336 9203 or email courtenay.heldt@fremantleprison.com.au to discuss the role in further detail. Please do not send your application to Courtenay Heldt or to seek their assistance with lodging your application. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants – For a confidential discussion about the recruitment process, please reach out to Jake Louthean or Barb Culbong from our Aboriginal Employment and Engagement team. You can contact Jake at 0428429486 or Barb at 0408 895 002 or alternatively email us at aboriginalemployment@dplh.wa.gov.au.

The Department is an equal opportunity employer and as a measure to achieve equality under sections 51, 66R and 66ZP of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, young people (24 years of age and under) and people with disability who meet the requirements of the position, may be prioritised for appointment.

Accessibility: If you have any communication or access needs that require adjustment to allow you to participate in this recruitment process, please contact our Recruitment team on (08) 6551 9419 or email recruitment@dplh.wa.gov.au.

We can also be contacted via the National Relay Service on the below numbers:
TTY/voice calls – 133 677
Speak and Listen – 1300 555 727
SMS relay – 0423 677 767

Special Requirements for this position:

The Department will conduct a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check for applicants successful to this recruitment process. 

To be eligible for a permanent appointment to the Western Australian public sector it is essential that you are an Australian citizen or have permanent residency status in Australia. To be eligible for a fixed term appointment you must have documentary evidence of your entitlement to live and work in Australia for the period of the contract.  

Please ensure you have saved your documents in MS Word (.docx files only) or PDF format and have allowed plenty of time to submit your application, as late, emailed and proforma applications will not be accepted. 

If you experience technical issues when submitting your application, contact ramshelpdesk@bigredsky.com, or please call (08) 6551 9419 for any other queries.

DPLH reserves the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised closing date should circumstances around the vacancy change.

Closing Date – Tuesday 8 September 2026 @ 4:00pm