Director Museum

NMSU School of Nursing Official Page; Las Cruces (NM); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

University Art Museum at New Mexico State University seeks a Director Museum to serve as the chief executive and artistic leader of the museum, balancing creative vision with academic rigor and public engagement. The Director oversees staff, collections care, exhibitions, and donor relations while advancing the museum's visibility regionally and nationally.

Reporting to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Director coordinates with faculty, manages grants, and aligns museum programs

Qualifications

• Associate's Degree plus 10 years of relevant experience required.
• Bachelor's degree plus 8 years of relevant experience required.
• Master's degree or higher preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead as chief executive and artistic leader of the University Art Museum.
• Oversee professional staff and ensure ethical management, preservation and collection care.
• Plan and manage rotating exhibitions (9–12 per year) across four galleries; manage funding and donor relations.
• Coordinate academic integration, curricular support, and collaborations across campus.
• Oversee operations including finance, facilities, technology, marketing, HR, and governance.

Education

Associate's Degree + 10 years of relevant experience

Bachelor's degree + 8 years of relevant experience

Master's degree or higher preferred

Job description

Department Contact: Enrico Pontelli, [e-mail], [phone]

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Advertising Summary: The University Art Museum at New Mexico State University is seeking a Director.

Position Details

Position Title: Director Museum

College/Division: Arts and Sciences College

Department: 330110-UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate: Commensurate with qualifications.

Appointment Full-time Equivalency: 1.0

FLSA Status: Exempt

Bargaining Unit Announcement: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule:

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Job Duties and Responsibilities: New Mexico State University (NMSU) seeks an engaging, dynamic, and qualified individual to serve as the chief executive and artistic leader of the University Art Museum (UAM). This role balances the creative vision of an art museum with the academic rigor of an R1 research university and the public engagement of a land-grant institution. The Director is responsible for overseeing a professional staff to ensure the ethical management, preservation, collections care, and strategic growth of the NMSU’s Permanent Art Collection. UAM hosts exhibitions and programming that advance the mission of the UAM and the university, while heightening the UAM’s visibility in the region and nationally. The Director, supported by the Art Museum Manager, is responsible for planning and managing the UAM’s rotating exhibitions (9 to 12 per year) across four galleries; raises, manages, and optimizes funding from diverse sources while building lasting donor relationships and ensuring responsible, sustainable stewardship of the organization’s resources; oversees financial, facility, technology, marketing, communications, and human resource functions within the UAM; and streamlines operations to best meet organizational needs. The Director oversees the NMSU Permanent Art Collection, maintenance, budgeting, and acquisitions with the support of the Collections Curator; works closely with Museum Conservation Faculty to ensure consistency between Conservation curriculum and UAM procedures as they relate to museum conservation best practices; trains undergraduate and graduate student employees; researches and prepares grant proposals; and serves as a liaison and resource for the NMSU campus and broader community. Additionally, the Director is responsible for academic integration and support by collaborating with faculty across disciplines to integrate the museum’s permanent collection and rotating exhibitions into university curricula, supporting object-based learning and research. NMSU is the state’s land-grant university, serving the educational needs of New Mexico’s diverse population through programs of education, research, extension education, and public service. The NMSU University Art Museum is housed on the main campus of NMSU in Las Cruces, NM in the El Paso del Norte Region which includes El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The director reports to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and maintains a close working relationship with various NMSU executive positions and the NMSU Foundation, and implements policies and procedures established in accordance with the provisions in the by-laws and in accordance with American Alliance of Museums (AAM) National Standards and Best Practices.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

Associate's Degree + 10 years of relevant experience or a Bachelor's degree + 8 years of relevant experience. Master's degree or higher preferred.

Equivalent Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

Resonance and or connection with the unique southwest and borderland region; identification with the mission and values of the UAM, including a deep appreciation for the full scope and breadth of its collections and assets; capacity to define, communicate, and execute clear priorities while operating within the framework of a public, state-funded institution; demonstrated administrative competency; experience in supervising staff; leadership within a collaborative environment; experience and success in grant writing; demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives, manage multiple priorities, and collaborate effectively across departments and areas of expertise; experience overseeing, training and teaching students in a wide range of museum areas and skills. Knowledge of museum and curatorial practices, including exhibit preparation required. Teaching experience is a plus.

Special Certification/Licensure

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

Physical Effort: No or very limited physical effort required.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.