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Department:                Exhibitions and Collections

Reports to:                  Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs

Classification:             Full-Time, Exempt

Position Summary

Working closely with the Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs, the Exhibitions Manager is responsible for the project management and development of exhibitions and permanent collection display over two sites in Balboa Park as well as assisting in the organization of SDMA touring exhibitions nationally and internationally.

Duties & Responsibilities

  • Act as a liaison to all Museum departments over two sites to facilitate collaborative team approaches to all aspects of exhibition development. Create Exhibition Dossiers containing key project information and images.
  • Liaise with artists, collectors, lending institutions, and participating venues on contracts and exhibition development.
  • Assist Deputy Director in departmental budget preparation. Monitor exhibition budgets and assist in keeping projects on schedule. 
  • Develop and Manage and coordinate exhibition timelines with curatorial, registration, graphics, and exhibition design and fabrication.
  • Organize inter-departmental exhibition implementation meetings.
  • Manage curatorial checklists and loan requests.
  • Secure image rights and reproduction clearances for publication in catalogues, web site, online lectures, Museum app, and digital media.
  • Collate exhibition-related text for wall labels, title walls, panels, credit lines, and other printed/digital exhibition materials for editing, translation, and design.
  • Assist with exhibition content for website and social media.
  • Liaise with Exhibition Designer to prepare galleries for installation and troubleshoot during the installation period.
  • Create proposals for SDMA touring exhibitions and approach prospective venues.
  • Organize contracted assistance with installation work and gallery builds.
  • Manage temporary staff/contractors for installations.
  • Source AV or specialty installation materials.
  • Assist with installations as needed.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

  • BA in art, art history, or related subject preferred. A shared passion for the arts and humanities
  • Five years’ experience in a museum or art gallery.
  • Demonstrated experience managing and maintaining departmental and/or project budgets.
  • Highly organized and able to prioritize and manage several projects simultaneously under tight deadlines and remain calm under pressure.
  • Ability to work collaboratively as well as independently and possess excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • Excellent technical/computer skills including experience with Excel, collection databases, and organizational or calendaring software such as Microsoft Project, Google Suite, Trello, etc. Willingness to learn CAD design software.
  • Art handling experience or willingness to be trained in art handling.
  • Proficiency in a foreign language preferred.

Physical Demands

  • Required to move about work area, between galleries, offices, and storage areas.
  • Stand and/or sit for long periods of time.
  • Occasionally lifting 15 lbs.

Work Environment

  • Noise fluctuates between quiet and moderately noisy.
  • Office space may be shared.

This job description is intended as a guide to the general job responsibilities and is not inclusive of every duty the employee is expected to perform.

Pay: $68,000 – $71,000 annually

DEADLINE: November 19, 2023

If interested, please submit cover letter, resume, and writing sample (4-page max in PDF/Word format) to resumes@sdmart.org or mail to The San Diego Museum of Art, Attention: Human Resources – Exhibitions Manager, PO Box 122107, San Diego, CA 92112.

The San Diego Museum of Art is committed to providing equal employment opportunity and will comply with all applicable federal, state, and local equal opportunity employment laws. The Museum prohibits discrimination against staff members or applicants on the basis of sex, race, religion, color, national origin, disability, protected medical condition, marital status, age, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, military or veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.