Art Handling & Logistics Manager

AIC/SAIC UPDATED 10/2024; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

The Art Institute of Chicago is seeking a Manager, Art Handling to lead the packing, handling, and relocation of permanent collection objects and loans across the museum. You will supervise art handlers, coordinate with the Director of Loans and Exhibitions, and ensure safety, conservation standards, and timely delivery across installations.

You will develop schedules, manage vendors, train staff on rigging and packing techniques, and participate in exhibition planning and daily operations.

Qualifications

• 5+ years museum/gallery/fine-art handling experience with supervisory experience.
• Proficiency in museum-standard packing, crating, rigging, and mountmaking.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-functional collaboration skills, with vendor management.
• Experience with museum databases and project tracking tools (CITI, JIRA, TMS, NetX).
• Ability to lead multi-phase exhibition schedules and manage budgets.

Responsibilities

• Plans and schedules art handling of collections, exhibitions, and stored objects.
• Supervises packing, wrapping, and crating to conservation standards and air transit requirements.
• Ensures staff and contractors follow art-handling guidelines at all times.
• Develops detailed project schedules with milestones, resources, and risk logs.
• Monitors progress, analyzes status, and adjusts scope to stay on schedule.
• Closes completed projects and captures operational outcomes and metrics.
• Coordinates with managers and internal departments to ensure timely completion.
• Attends and leads exhibition planning, installation, and meetings (on-site and virtual).
• Assigns and supervises day-to-day work of specialists and contractors; provides coaching.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Art handling

Packing & crating

Rigging & mountmaking

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

CITI

TMS

NetX

Jira

Job description

The Art Institute of Chicago is seeking a Manager, Art Handling to lead the packing, handling, and relocation of permanent collection objects and loans across the museum. You will supervise art handlers, coordinate with the Director of Loans and Exhibitions, and ensure safety, conservation standards, and timely delivery across installations.

You will develop schedules, manage vendors, train staff on rigging and packing techniques, and participate in exhibition planning and daily operations.