Exhibition Manager and Lead Preparator

Overview
The Exhibition Manager and Lead Preparator for the University Museums oversees the planning, coordination, and implementation of all exhibitions and permanent collection installations at the Harnett Museum of Art and the Lora Robins Gallery. A critical member of the Museums collaborative team, reporting to the Deputy Director and Curator of Exhibitions. The Exhibition Manager is responsible for managing the museum's exhibition program, developing exhibition production timelines, budgets and installation plans, and ensuring exhibitions open on time and at the highest standards. A skilled art handler with broad experience in all media, the Manager leads all exhibition preparation and fabrication, coordinates audiovisual displays and new media, and supervises the Exhibition Preparator, occasional contract workers and UR student interns.

Working Conditions / Physical Effort

Primarily inside work, occasional outside work occurs. Requires use of personal protective equipment to protect against paint, solvents, adhesives, and airborne particles, and minimize risk while using specialty hand and power tools.

Requires ability to climb ladders, have flexibility and mobility, to lift and move large and heavy objects using basic moving equipment, and to stand for long periods of time.

Must work unscheduled overtime during installation/deinstallation periods and support special programs and events.

Requires use of personal vehicle.

Job Duties / Responsibilities
Exhibition Planning and Management (40%)

Oversees exhibition planning and management for all museum exhibitions and permanent collection installations in coordination with museum leadership.

Creates and develops exhibition and installation timelines using specialized project management software, including AirTable.

Ensures benchmarks are met according to schedule and presents timelines to entire museum staff, assigning tasks as appropriate.

Expert in exhibition design, creates exhibition layouts professionally designed with CAD software, including SketchUp, with assistance from the Assistant Preparator and in consultation with curators.

Ensures exhibitions and objects are installed according to the highest museum standards and best practices, and in accordance with programmatic, conservation, aesthetic and ADA requirements.

Prepares and administers exhibition budgets and estimates in partnership with Deputy Director and Director of Operations, ensuring expenditures stay within agreed limits.

Researches, recommends and hires specialized contractors and equipment as needed for complex exhibition projects and subject to approval by museum leadership.

Oversees and coordinates routine gallery inspections, touch-ups, and cleaning.

Exhibition Preparation and Installation (35%)

Manages and executes all aspects of exhibition installation, deinstallation, and construction.

Prepares exhibition spaces in advance, schedules necessary contractors or campus partners, coordinates gallery painting, and facilitates building all temporary walls and installation components.

Determines display casework and presentation furniture as needed with curators, produces construction plans and shop drawings, and coordinates and builds all exhibition casework and display furniture with Exhibition Preparator.

Oversees inventory and movement of cases, museum furniture, and other exhibition-related objects.

Identifies framing and other artwork preparation needs in consultation with curators.

Assigns and supervises artwork preparation including framing by the Assistant Preparator.

Supervises design, production, and installation of all exhibition didactics, text panels, title displays, object labels, and other graphic displays by the Assistant Preparator.

Well-versed in time-based media installation, determines and coordinates all audiovisual requirements, assists with equipment installation, setup, maintenance, and supervises specialized contractors.

Coordinates delivery and handling of loaned artworks with Curator of Collections.

Sets and maintains gallery lighting at accepted light levels in consultation with curators.

Manages vendors, temporary contractors, and purchases; requests estimates, places orders, tracks, coordinates, and manages deliveries in partnership with Director of Operations.

Facilities Management (10%)

Oversees facilities maintenance, organization of collections and storage spaces, and museum workshops in coordination with the Director of Operations, including scheduling and facilitating work with University Facilities and outside contractors.

Ensures storage areas are maintained at professional levels of environmental and security control.

Monitors and maintains museum facilities, ensuring the organization of collection storage spaces and the appearance of exhibition spaces by the Exhibition Preparator.

Manages the museum workshop and establishes workshop standards for overall safety.

Maintains tools and equipment; coordinates replacements with the Director of Operations.

Tracks inventories of tools, materials, and supplies.

Supervises cleaning and organization of shop facility.

Assists with environmental monitoring of museum facilities.

Collections Care & Management (10%)

Ensures collections storage areas maintain professional environmental and security control, and all collections objects are safely moved, stored, and maintained.

Maintains and updates location of collections objects, packing materials, and supply storage with TMS Administrator.

Oversees and facilitates safe packing and transportation of collections objects.

Supervises matting and framing of collections objects and preparation for storage and display by the Exhibition Preparator.

Provides conservation recommendations in consultation with museum leadership, curators, and TMS Administrator.

Coordinates shipping and receiving, packing and unpacking of all collection objects with Curator of Collections, ensuring proper handling and security procedures are followed.

Supervision (5%)

Supervises Exhibition Preparator.

Trains student interns and temporary exhibition workers.

Ensures all workers understand and implement best museum practices and safety protocols in all museum spaces and workshops across campus.

Qualifications

Specialized knowledge of exhibition planning and project management, including software such as AirTable.

Highly skilled in exhibition design and recent exhibition technologies.

Ability to translate curatorial ideas into 3-D models and CAD drawings.

Broad knowledge of best museum practices for art handling, installation, collections management, object care, fabrication, and shipping.

Fluent in time-based media installation.

Highly skilled in object handling, carpentry, matting and framing, fabrication of exhibition furniture, platforms and displays, hanging and mounting systems, gallery lighting, moving objects, patching, painting, and ladder use and safety.

Clear communicator capable of working with a diverse range of colleagues and stakeholders.

Ability to carefully assign tasks to ensure exhibition planning and installation is completed on time and on budget.

Ability to make independent decisions and apply creative methods to solve complex installation problems with attention to detail.

Ability to work in a diverse environment with a diverse range of colleagues, stakeholders, and visitors.

Ability to work on multiple projects and tasks simultaneously to meet deadlines.

Ability to prioritize multiple projects and competing demands, balancing tasks to completion.

Commitment to continuous learning of new skills and staying abreast of new developments in exhibition planning and design.

Working knowledge of SketchUp, AirTable, Gallery System (TMS) Collections Management Software, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office Suite.

Education / Experience

Bachelor's degree and 5 years of art preparator and exhibition planning & design experience with increasing responsibility.

Knowledge of museum best practices, appreciation for stewardship, safety, care, and preservation of fine art.

Successful driving check required.

Salary Structure
Full-time, with Benefits, Exempt.

Grade 6:

$50,461 to $66,851

Scheduled Hours
Monday-Friday, 8:30am - 5pm, some nights and weekends.

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