Residency and Exhibitions Manager

Arts Hacker; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Residency and Exhibitions Manager at MAK Center leads the international Artists- and Architects-in-Residence program and supports planning, production, and institutional systems across MAK Center sites.

Working with the Director, you will oversee residency onboarding, exhibitions production, registrarial processes, archive activities, and public programming, ensuring strong project management and professional interactions with artists, lenders, and partners.

Qualifications

• The candidate has 7+ years of experience in exhibitions, residencies, or related arts programs.
• Experience managing complex projects from planning through completion.
• Strong knowledge of loan documentation, condition reports, shipping, and insurance.
• Proven ability to liaise with artists, curators, lenders, galleries, and vendors.
• Excellent organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines independently.
• Experience working in or with small institutions and collaborative teams.

Responsibilities

• Residency Program Management: lead the international Artists- and Architects-in-Residence program and manage onboarding, contracts, travel, scheduling, reimbursements, and documentation.
• Exhibition Management: oversee timelines, budgets, logistics, and partner coordination across MAK Center sites; manage installation/deinstallation.
• Archive and Study Center Support: maintain residency and exhibition records, metadata, and archival materials; collaborate with staff and contractors.
• Institutional and Program Support: provide production support for public programs and assist with donor engagement and grant reporting.
• Collaborate with Director and facilities team to ensure operations, record-keeping, and reporting meet institutional standards.

Skills

Exhibition management

Residency administration

Museum operations

Arts program management

Registrarial procedures

Budgeting and reporting

Stakeholder coordination

Job description

Residency and Exhibitions Manager
Reports to: Director
Status: Full-time, Non-exempt

POSITION SUMMARY

The Residency and Exhibitions Manager is a full-time staff position responsible for managing the MAK Center's Artists-and-Architects-in-Residence program and contributing to and supporting the planning, production, and institutional systems that support exhibitions and public programming across MAK Center sites.

Working closely with the Director, the position leads exhibition production, registrarial coordination, artist and lender relations, residency administration, and related program logistics, ensuring strong project management, artist support, and operational coordination across MAK Center sites.

The ideal candidate will bring substantial experience managing exhibitions, residencies, or other complex arts programs and be able to take ownership of projects from planning through completion. The position requires excellent judgment, organization, communication, and follow-through; the ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously; and a high degree of professionalism and care in working with artists, curators, residents, lenders, vendors, and institutional partners.

This is a highly collaborative and hands-on position within a small institution, requiring both the experience to work independently and the flexibility to contribute across the Center's programmatic and operational needs.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Residency Program Management

• Manage the MAK Center's international Artists- and Architects-in-Residence Program and serve as the primary staff liaison for residents at the Mackey Apartments
• Manage resident onboarding, contracts, travel, scheduling, communications, reimbursements, and other program administration
• Maintain ongoing communication with residents throughout their stay and provide responsive support around programmatic and practical needs
• Manage the planning and production of residency‑related exhibitions, presentations, and Final Projects in collaboration with residents and guest artists
• Oversee residency schedules, production requirements, installation logistics, and documentation
• Liaise with the facilities team to ensure maintenance of the Mackey Apartments and Garage Top Gallery
• Track and archive resident activities and documentation
• Maintain accurate and current residency records and program information

Exhibition Management

• Manage exhibition timelines, budgets, production plans, and logistics across MAK Center sites in close collaboration with the Director
• Serve as a key point of contact for artists, curators, lenders, galleries, vendors, and other exhibition partners
• Oversee installation and deinstallation logistics, including coordination of artwork handling, fabrication, shipping, contractors, equipment, and site requirements
• Manage registrarial processes, including loan agreements, condition reports, shipping, insurance, artwork inventories, and related documentation.
• Track exhibition budgets, schedules, production needs, and deliverables, ensuring projects remain on schedule and within established parameters
• Manage the editing and production of didactic materials and printed matter as necessary
• Organize and maintain exhibition documentation and records
• Anticipate logistical and production needs, identify potential issues, and work with the Director and project partners to resolve them

Archive and Study Center Support

• Maintain and develop residency- and exhibition-related records, documentation, and metadata within the MAK Center's institutional archive and developing Study Center, including ongoing cataloging, organization, and updating of information
• Organize and preserve residency-related records and exhibition materials
• Contribute to the activation of archival materials through research and documentation
• Collaborate with staff, researchers, archivists, and contractors on archive development

Institutional and Program Support

• Provide production support for public programs across MAK Center sites
• Contribute to grant reporting, fundraising events, and donor engagement events in coordination with the Director and development team
• Participate in staff meetings, planning discussions, and institutional initiatives
• Participate in visitor services coverage and support front-of-house operations as part of a shared institutional model
• Perform other duties as reasonably assigned by the Director consistent with the responsibilities of the role

QUALIFICATIONS

• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in exhibition management, residency administration, museum or gallery operations, arts program management, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience managing exhibitions or comparable arts projects from planning and production through installation and completion
• Strong working knowledge of registrarial procedures, including loan documentation, condition reporting, shipping, insurance, and artwork handling
• Significant experience working directly with artists, curators, galleries, lenders, vendors, and other external partners
• Demonstrated ability to manage project timelines, budgets, logistics, and multiple concurrent deadlines with a high degree of independence
• Excellent organizational, written, and verbal communication skills
• Exceptional attention to detail and demonstrated ability to maintain accurate project records and documentation
• Strong judgment, initiative, and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to anticipate needs and move projects forward
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of responsibilities while collaborating effectively within a small team
• Ability to balance multiple priorities and respond flexibly to changing programmatic and operational needs