Director of Exhibitions & Collections Salary

Grounds For Sculpture; Hamilton Township (NJ); Vor Ort; USD 120.000 - 180.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Grounds For Sculpture seeks a Director of Exhibitions and Collections Management to lead planning and execution of interior and exterior exhibitions, installation logistics, and collections care. This role shapes inclusive, accessible exhibition design and coordinates across departments.

The position covers long-range planning, staff development, artist relations, risk management, and grant-writing support, while supervising vendors, managing contracts, and maintaining documentation to uphold

Qualifikationen

• Bachelor's degree required; master's preferred.
• 2–4 years of related museum experience with 6–8 years preferred.
• Experience with registration, cataloging, and collections databases.

Aufgaben

• Plan, coordinate, and implement exhibitions and installations.
• Develop and manage the Curatorial Department budget.
• Coordinate transport of artworks locally and internationally.
• Support curators with artist collaborations and production.
• Maintain fine art insurance and incident reporting.
• Supervise external vendors and contractors for exhibitions.
• Facilitate cross-departmental communication on projects.
• Manage image rights and reproduction for collections.
• Document collections with Registrar; ensure data integrity.
• Identify conservation needs and grant opportunities.
• Monitor exhibition spaces for safety and condition.
• Draft/negotiates contracts and advises on policies.
• Oversee exhibition texts, signage, and catalogs for accessibility.
• Contribute to social media and public communications.
• Occasionally present talks to engage members and community.
• Support training and orientation of staff and interns.

Kenntnisse

Museum registration

Written communication

Project management

Organizational skills

Sculpture knowledge

Installation safety

Conservation awareness

Team leadership

Ausbildung

Bachelor's degree

Masters preferred

3 years post-degree experience substituted

Tools

Excel

Word

Outlook

PowerPoint

CAD

Jobbeschreibung

Role Overview

The Director of Exhibitions and Collections Management leads the logistical planning and execution of interior and exterior exhibitions and art installations. This role is instrumental in shaping and maintaining an inclusive, thoughtful, and accessible approach to exhibition design and collections care. The Director coordinates across departments, develops, implements, and oversees policies and procedures that ensure the safe, ethical, and respectful stewardship of artworks across rotating exhibitions and the outdoor collection.

The candidate is responsible for long-term planning, staff development, institutional coordination, artist relationships, risk management, and conservation planning, and serves as a key partner in grant writing related to institutional needs and curatorial and exhibition priorities.

In close collaboration with a diverse team of internal and external partners, the Director ensures that all artworks are installed, insured, protected, and documented with the highest standards of care. This position also advises on legal, ethical, preservation, and logistical considerations, contributing to a culture of integrity, transparency, and shared responsibility.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Grounds for Sculpture (GFS) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, GFS complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment at every location where the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. The organization expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with GFS employees' ability to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.

Job Responsibilities & Expectations

The following outlines key responsibilities associated with this position. These responsibilities provide a general overview of the role and may evolve based on organizational needs. We recognize that employees bring diverse skills and strengths, and we encourage adaptability and collaboration in fulfilling job duties. GFS may adjust specific responsibilities to align with operational needs and will communicate such changes with transparency and support.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. 1. Plan, coordinate, and implement all activities related to changing exhibitions, including artist scheduling, site visits, curatorial planning, installation logistics, and deinstallation.
2. 2. Develop, propose, and manage the Curatorial Department's annual budget in alignment with organizational goals.
3. 3. Coordinate the safe transport of artworks locally, nationally, and internationally in collaboration with the Registrar, ensuring best practices in handling and shipping.
4. 4. Support the curator in collaboration with artists, fabricators, and other stakeholders on the development and production of new work for exhibitions.
5. 5. Partner with the Chief Financial Officer and insurance broker to maintain appropriate fine art insurance and manage any related incident reports or claims.
6. 6. Engage and supervise external vendors and contractors (e.g., riggers, installers) to support exhibition needs and timelines.
7. 7. Foster consistent cross-departmental communication to align on upcoming projects and collaborative planning.
8. 8. Manage image rights and reproduction requests for the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, ensuring compliance with legal and ethical standards.
9. 9. Ensure accurate and consistent documentation of the collection in both physical records and the collections database, partnering with the Registrar to maintain data integrity.
10. 10. Identify and prepare conservation and collection care for grant funding opportunities.
11. 11. Monitor indoor and outdoor exhibition spaces through routine inspections to ensure the safety and condition of artworks.
12. 12. Prepare, negotiate, and manage contracts related to exhibitions and the permanent collection; provide contract guidance to other departments when needed.
13. 13. Draft and revise policies related to collection care and exhibition practices, including implementation and updates to the Conservation Plan to remain up-to-date.
14. 14. Oversee the production of exhibition texts, signage, catalogs, and digital materials, collaborating with in-house or external designers to ensure accessibility and inclusive design.
15. 15. Advise on and contribute to social media content and public communications related to exhibitions and the collection.
16. 16. Occasionally give public talks or presentations that support institutional engagement with members and the broader community.

Supervisory Responsibilities

1. 1. Manage departmental workflows and timelines to ensure efficient execution of curatorial and exhibition-related tasks.
2. 2. Supervise and mentor interns and volunteers, ensuring a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
3. 3. Advise and assist with training and onboarding of departmental staff, interns, and volunteers.
4. 4. Lead the annual review and reporting of the permanent collection inventory, preparing a summary for the Executive Director and Board of Directors.
5. 5. Support and contribute to the implementation and regular revision of the organization's Conservation Plan in alignment with strategic priorities.
6. 6. Guide the development and review of curatorial and collections management policies in collaboration with relevant departments and stakeholders.

REQUIRED & PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree required. Masters degree preffered

2-4 years' experience required, 6-8 preferred.

3 years' additional work experience substituted for degree.

Skills and Competencies

1. 1. Demonstrated experience in museum registration practices, with a commitment to ethical stewardship and inclusive collections management.
2. 2. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage respectfully and clearly with diverse internal and external audiences.
3. 3. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with a commitment to accessibility, accuracy, and inclusiveness in all documentation and record-keeping practices.
4. 4. Proven ability to manage projects and meet deadlines in a collaborative and respectful work environment.
5. 5. Solid knowledge of contemporary sculpture, with an openness to a broad range of artistic expressions, voices, and practices.
6. 6. Expertise in sculpture installation practices, with an emphasis on safety, accessibility, and honoring artists' intent.
7. 7. Awareness of conservation issues and practices, including those that respect cultural context and material diversity.
8. 8. Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities simultaneously, while maintaining a supportive and inclusive team environment

Primary Equipment/Applications Used

List primary equipment used: forklift, hand-truck,Standard office equipment.

Required software knowledge (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, CAD, etc.) and required proficiency (i.e.,

basic, intermediate or advanced) Microsoft Office suite – intermediate; database experience

Physical Demands

Medium work that includes moving objects up to 50 pounds

Americans with Disabilities Act & Workplace Accessibility

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible workplace where all employees can thrive. Employees and applicants with disabilities are encouraged to request reasonable accommodation to support their ability to perform the core functions of their role. We will assess accommodation requests on a case-by-case basis in compliance with applicable laws, with the goal of ensuring equitable access to opportunities within our organization.