Manager, Traveling Exhibitions

The Jewish Museum

thejewishmuseum.org

The Position:

The Museum seeks a Manager for Traveling Exhibitions to implement the Museum’s traveling exhibition program. This position will contribute to the Museum’s visibility and its agenda for audience expansion by developing positive and fruitful partnerships with other museums and cultural organizations both domestically and internationally. Working closely with curators and the program administration team, the Manager will actively pursue new partnerships for the Museum, develop and pitch proposals for touring exhibitions, manage timelines, negotiate venue and/or co-organization agreements, and serve as a principal liaison to the Museum’s curatorial and program administration teams on logistical matters related to traveling collection and temporary exhibitions, both incoming and outgoing. A new initiative to share the Museum’s collection of ceremonial objects domestically will be a particular area of focus, as will rotations of the Museum’s new permanent collection galleries involving external collaborators. The ideal candidate will be an eager collaborator and communicator, possess excellent organizational skills, and have a deep first-hand knowledge of the curatorial process. A vital part of the Museum’s curatorial division, this position will work closely with staff across the Museum to identify and facilitate positive partnerships and touring opportunities for the Museum’s exhibition program throughout the United States and beyond. The Manager will also oversee planning for all traveling exhibition budgets, cost-sharing, and fees, with a goal of yielding significant net income on an ongoing basis in support of the Museum’s exhibition program.

Responsibilities

Serving as a central curatorial liaison for all external collaborations and partnerships as it pertains to collection-based and traveling exhibitions, both incoming and outgoing.
Working closely with the Museum’s Director and Chief Curator on identifying appropriate long-lead partners and venues for ambitious exhibition program.
Conducting outreach, preparing written proposals, disseminating, tracking, and following up on all leads and responses.
Creating positive working relationships with curators to manage and advance traveling exhibition plans and serving as point person on logistical matters once projects are launched.
Maintaining steady flow of communication with internal and external stakeholders and providing regular updates and progress reports on venue prospects and next steps.
Developing and maintaining a database of appropriate museum venues, contacts, and correspondence. Tracking and maintaining records on past and potential venues.
Working closely with program administration team (exhibition management, registration, and collection management) on workplans, contracts, cost estimates, and deadlines for traveling exhibitions.
Overseeing regular planning meetings for collection and traveling exhibitions, creating agendas, and coordinating presentations and follows-up on action items related to planning, as needed.
Drafting contracts in consultation with the Chief Curator, Director of Program Administration, and Chief Legal Counsel. Ensuring venues and organizing institutions comply to all contract terms.
Ensuring that approval processes for collection and traveling exhibitions are tracked and channeled to appropriate internal staff, including Curatorial, Program Administration, Marketing/PR, etc.
Troubleshooting and diplomatically developing solutions as issues arise and working toward ongoing productivity and success with all collaborations.
Traveling as needed to conduct research and site visits.
Disseminating exhibition information to Museum departments and facilitating interdepartmental communication.
Initiating collections installations and change-outs as appropriate in curatorial capacity.
Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

B.A. degree in art, art history, museum studies, or a related field preferred. Curatorial experience developing exhibitions, preferred.
4-5 years relevant experience developing, coordinating and/or managing complex exhibitions, programs or similar.
Experience working with TMS by Gallery Systems and NetX, preferred.
Aptitude for working across departments and disciplines in a highly collaborative, goal-oriented manner; ability to maintain a professional and positive attitude in a dynamic and creative setting.
High degree of organizational skill and ability to handle multiple projects in various stages of development; demonstrated ability to proactively prioritize and manage time, juggle multiple duties and tasks, and meet deadlines.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, effective and diplomatic negotiation skills.

How to Apply

Send Resume with Cover Letter To:

Director, Human Resources

The Jewish Museum

1109 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10128

Email: jobs@thejm.org

The Jewish Museum is committed to diversifying its staff and encourages individuals of all ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds to apply for this position. The Museum is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic prohibited by applicable law.

This is a unionized position with covered employees represented by Local 2110, UAW, AFL-CIO.

Apply Contact