Director of Collections and Exhibitions Management
hace 5 días
Chicago
Job Description We have an opening for a Director of Collections and Exhibitions Management who will align the activities of the Registrars, Conservation, Art Exhibition, and Technical Production to further the mission of the MCA with respect to collection care, loan program, temporary exhibitions, and on-going artwork presentation. The position provides leadership and vision for establishing and implementing strategies and policies to ensure the effective stewardship of the permanent collection and the execution of the exhibition program, both onsite and touring. To be successful in this role, you will: Department Leadership • Collaborate as a high performing Department Head providing input and counsel for decisions affecting the MCA’s annual and long-term operating plans, including the strategic action plans, program priorities, capital needs, human and financial resources., • Supervise, mentor, train, and oversee direct reports on a day-to-day basis, including oversight of special projects and staff management to ensure the effective and efficient operation of all assigned activities and responsibilities and accountability for results; facilitates strong performance and achievement of key metrics; and provides on-going feedback to assigned direct reports to address, resolve, and/or encourage performance and/or engagement-related matters. Evaluate department workflow and work assignments to maximize efficiency, coordination, and output among team members., • Direct department’s financial operations, including planning, implementing, and managing applicable budgets to ensure effective financial controls and the meeting of budget goals., • Create multiyear strategies for the care of the collection including implementation of emerging trends in conservation, institution-wide policy development, and oversight of collection maintenance programs., • Evaluate and actualize best practice procedures for the care of artworks in the MCA’s control and possession., • Oversee and ensure adherence to MCA Collections Management Policy in line with current best practices and with museum accreditation requirements., • Manage all contracts and documents related to acquisitions including purchase agreements, deeds, letters of intent, co-purchase agreements, and co-ownership agreements., • Develop strategy to acquire for and deaccession from the collection, in alignment with the Collections Management Policy and ethical standards in the field; execute contracts with auction houses for sale of deaccessioned and non-collection works and negotiates terms of sale., • Direct administration for the acquisition of works into the MCA Collection, collaborating with Senior Curator and Board Relations on Collection Committee Meeting series; develop timelines, ensure staff accountability, and consistently audit policy and procedure., • Assess and advise on risk, insurance, preservation, and other logistical issues surrounding potential acquisitions., • Direct inventory program utilizing collections and risk management strategies to ensure that we meet museum accreditation and MCA’s Collection Management Policy requirements; presents findings to Collection Committee as needed., • Lead the integration of large-scale gifts, including co-owned and co-purchased gifts into the MCA collection., • Analyze and advise on proper distribution of permanent collection acquisition funds., • Initiate, evaluate, and manage all MCA exhibition calendars in collaboration with the Curatorial departmental and leadership stakeholders, ensuring that the goal of maximizing use of gallery spaces is balanced with adequate resources (staffing, security, space, etc.)., • Oversee the Exhibition Project Management function, ensuring the Exhibition Project Manager is successful in tracking related exhibition work to ensure project success., • Direct the traveling exhibition tour programs from initial venue solicitation through tour conclusion; write, negotiate, and manage all contracts and documents related to MCA-organized, co-organized, and rented exhibitions, artist commissions, loan agreements, and other agreements involving artworks, artists, external curators, designers, or exhibitions., • Participate in museum reaccreditation processes as the key representative for Collections and Exhibitions., • Collaborate with Building Operations leadership to oversee in-gallery security operations and building-related work activities in the galleries., • Develop all artwork and collection care related aspects of MCA Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Plan in collaboration with Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer., • Maintain working knowledge of best practices and legal guidelines for museum collection and exhibition administration. QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES • Master’s Degree in Arts Management, Art History, Fine Arts, Museum Studies, Visual/Material Culture or other related fields and general knowledge of post-1945 art or equivalent experience from which that training can be acquired., • Minimum ten years of museum experience in collections and exhibition management, including significant experience in art registration, exhibition touring, contracts drafting and negotiation, and field-related risk and insurance issues., • Familiarity with artists' materials as well as experience working with living artists., • Ability to develop a creative and strategic approach to problems that translate into tactical solutions., • Excellent organization, program management, planning, and administrative skills, with ability to prioritize and coordinate multiple activities to meet deadlines., • Experience communicating successes and opportunities in a variety of settings in both written and verbal formats., • Proven ability to engender confidence and lead with authority., • Ability to forge and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals., • Experience working in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment with demonstrated ability to meet shifting demands and priorities., • Highly developed leadership, political, entrepreneurial, decision-making, and people management skills; ability to motivate, foster trust, collaboration, and consensus among team members and manage through change with flexibility and confidence., • Unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values; proven ability to be trusted with highly confidential and sensitive information., • Curiosity and drive to stay ahead of trends in the museum world to identify new opportunities to serve the museum’s mission., • Proactively stay ahead of legal and tax best practices relating to collections management., • Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365., • Ability to perform occasional light lifting., • General mobility throughout the museum. BENEFITS OF WORKING AT THE MCA INCLUDE: • Individual and MCA-provided retirement savings plans., • Paid time off., • Pre-tax, reduced rate parking and Ventra/Metra benefits., • Free admission to MCA exhibitions for yourself and guests., • Free admission to many special and member events., • Reduced price tickets to MCA Stage performances., • Discounts on dining in Marisol and in our award-winning MCA Store., • Access to our onsite library., • Opportunities to attend curator-led staff tours. Full-time, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm; with occasional additional hours as required by activity in the department; courier and project-related travel as needed. This position is eligible for hybrid work arrangement per the Remote Work Policy. 40 hours per week.