Public Programs & Exhibitions Manager at moCa

ArtInfoLand; Cleveland (OH); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid-work eligibility

Health benefits

403(b) Plan

Paid vacation

Paid holidays

Job summary

moCa Cleveland is seeking a seasoned Public Programs & Exhibitions Manager to lead audience-focused initiatives and support exhibitions. The role blends public programming, artist engagement, exhibition support, and project management in a dynamic museum setting.

Reporting to the Deputy Director & Senior Curator, you will coordinate talks, tours, performances, and interpretive experiences, manage budgets and vendors, and collaborate across curatorial, marketing, development, and operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Art, Art History, Arts Administration, Museum Studies, Exhibition Design, or related field preferred.
• Experience overseeing audience or public engagement functions in nonprofit settings preferred.
• Experience supporting exhibition or artist-project development, design, production, or execution.

Responsibilities

• Lead public engagement programs including talks, tours, trainings, and special interpretation experiences.
• Support exhibition and artist-project development through research, budgets, and production support.
• Coordinate with curatorial, marketing, development, and operations teams to ensure successful programs and exhibitions.
• Maintain partnerships with community organizations and artists and contribute content to digital/editorial platforms.

Skills

Public engagement

Budget management

Event coordination

Partnership development

Project management

Communication

Artist engagement

Exhibition planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Art History

Museum Studies

Tools

SketchUp

Adobe Creative Suite

AutoCAD

Project management tools

Job description

Public Programs & Exhibitions Manager at moCa

The Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (moCa) is a contemporary art museum in Cleveland, Ohio, focused on connecting audiences with contemporary art and artists. The museum describes its workplace as collaborative, inclusive, fast-paced, and engaged with both the local Cleveland community and the broader global cultural ecosystem.

Title & Description

Public Programs & Exhibitions Manager

moCa is seeking a full-time Public Programs & Exhibitions Manager within its Exhibitions & Engagement department. The position combines public programming, artist engagement, exhibition support, and project management. Approximately 65% of the role focuses on public engagement programs—including artist talks, performances, tours, lectures, and special interpretation experiences—while approximately 35% supports exhibitions and artist projects.

The role is designed for an experienced arts professional who can develop audience-facing projects, manage multiple partnerships and deadlines, communicate effectively with artists and colleagues, and contribute to exhibition planning and production.

The Role Overview

• Position: Public Programs & Exhibitions Manager


• Department: Exhibitions & Engagement


• Status: Full-time, exempt


• Reports to: Deputy Director & Senior Curator (DDSC)


• Direct reports: Interns or volunteers, as assigned


• Contract type: Employment position; contract duration not specified


• Work arrangement: Eligible for a hybrid schedule under moCa's RWA policy


• Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits; 403(b) Savings Plan; two weeks paid vacation; 13 paid holidays

Position & Tasks

Public Programs

The manager serves as moCa's primary contact for public engagement programs and oversees budgets, goals, content development, scheduling, logistics, execution, and evaluation. Responsibilities include coordinating artist events, receptions, lectures, tours, trainings, and exhibition-related programs; working with curatorial, marketing, development, and operations teams; presenting talks and tours; supporting donor and community relations; and contributing content to digital and editorial platforms.

Exhibitions

The position supports exhibition and artist-project development through research, checklist preparation, loan requests, image rights, production and layout assistance, catalog support, interpretive texts, and archival materials. The manager acts as a liaison between artists, curators, vendors, contractors, and other partners, while assisting with budgets, schedules, procurement, exhibition design, production, installation, openings, receptions, and special events.

Departmental Support

Additional responsibilities include researching artists and exhibitions, maintaining artist and exhibition options for leadership consideration, preparing presentations for staff and the Board, visiting local artist studios, participating in regional arts events, and coordinating multiple departmental projects.

Categories

• Visual Art


• Contemporary Art


• Curatorial


• Public Programs


• Arts Administration


• Exhibition Design


• Artist Engagement

Applicants should have:

• At least 5 years of progressive, directly demonstrated experience, preferably overseeing audience or public engagement functions in a nonprofit setting.


• Demonstrated experience supporting exhibition or artist-project development, design, production, or execution.


• Experience managing budgets, schedules, vendors, contractors, and cross-departmental projects.


• Experience developing and maintaining community or professional partnerships.


• Working knowledge of museum exhibition standards, art handling, environmental requirements, and installation practices.


• Strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, writing, and project-management skills.

A bachelor's degree in Art, Art History, Arts Administration, Museum Studies, Exhibition Design, or a related field is strongly preferred. Candidates with unrelated degrees or without a college degree must demonstrate three years of direct field experience in addition to the required experience.

Proficiency in SketchUp and Adobe Creative Suite is preferred, particularly Illustrator, AutoCAD, or comparable software. Reliable local transportation and a valid driver's license are required.

This is a salaried museum employment position rather than a grant, residency, or competition. Benefits include:

• Hybrid-work eligibility under moCa policy


• Professional involvement with contemporary art exhibitions, artists, public programs, and community partnerships

The position requires advanced written and verbal English communication skills, including the ability to moderate panels and present to diverse audiences. Candidates are also expected to demonstrate knowledge of contemporary art and culture, inclusive and accessible practices, fundraising awareness, independent decision-making, team management, and strong use of workplace technology.

Physical requirements include prolonged sitting, occasional lifting of up to 30 pounds, frequent stair use, and movement between areas of the museum. The schedule may regularly include evenings and weekends.

moCa states that it is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.