Senior Director of Curatorial Affairs/Gary R. Libby Curator of Art

The Museum of Arts & Sciences is seeking an experienced curatorial leader to join our Senior Leadership Team. The Senior Director of Curatorial Affairs will serve as the head of the Curatorial department guiding all affairs related to exhibitions, collections, conservation and scholarship for our art, science and history holdings. The Senior Director will also act as the Gary R. Libby Curator of Art focusing on the Museums expansive holdings in American, Cuban, Modern/Contemporary, African and many other areas of emphasis. Special focus on the Brown Museum of Art’s extensive collection of art related to Florida will be of the utmost importance.

The Senior Director will be joining the Museum at a critical juncture in its history. A new five-years Strategic Plan and upcoming Master Campus Planning initiative will be guiding a robust and exciting vision for the Museum’s future. The ideal candidate will enjoy a challenge and be interested in helping to shape a future direction for the Museum’s future.

Position Summary:
Working as the primary liaison to the Executive Director for curatorial matters, the Senior Director of Curatorial Affairs provides visionary leadership, department motivation and managerial oversight of the Curatorial department that encompasses an art, science and history collection. Key responsibilities include the management and cultivation of Curatorial staff, the planning of exhibitions, publications, strategy and budgeting. The Senior Director of Curatorial Affairs establishes and maintains Curatorial policies and procedures, long-range exhibition/programming schedules and oversees the responsibilities of the department.

In partnership with the Executive Director, the Senior Director of Curatorial Affairs shapes and implements the Museum’s curatorial objectives that advance MOAS’s mission. Through collecting, researching, presenting and interpreting the Museum’s diverse collection and by listening to the needs of the communities we serve, the SDCA will champion fresh thinking and approaches to art, science and history seizing opportunities to pursue innovation in exhibitions, collections display and programs.

In addition to leading the Curatorial Affairs division, the SDCA will be the Gary R. Libby Curator of Art and focus attention on the Brown Collection of Art of over 1300 works of art celebrating Florida history, artists and landscapes; the Museum’s vast collection of American decorative and fine art; it’s modern and contemporary holdings; Cuban art collection; and many other areas of importance.

Strategic Leadership
• Provide necessary leadership as it relates to the Five-Year Strategic Plan, Master Campus Plan, and other related prescriptions to drive future growth and development
• Collaborate with key team leaders and focus curatorial energy to create WOW experiences for guests, members and all communities we serve
• Support fund development and donor cultivation to secure works of art and funding for exhibitions, publications, endowment, and other programs.
• Champion the museum as a welcoming place by serving as a positive museum representative through presentations and participation with internal training, programs, lectures, development, publicity marketing and networking activities.
• Develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships with members of the broader arts community including artists, curators, educators, writers, journalists, collectors, and cultural institutions both nationally and internationally.
Exhibition/Program Management
• Develop and implement a collections and exhibition strategy that supports our mission of being the nexus of art, science, and history.
• Implement an exhibition program that creates and maintains a comprehensive 3+ year exhibition schedule
• Develop timelines and project manage, and/or oversees management of, all curatorial programs; creates agendas and presentation materials for curatorial and cross-departmental meetings
• Explore and develop collaborations with other museums
• Oversee curatorial publications through all stages of production from concept to delivery including publication budgets, schedules and contracts. Works with other departments and/or outside resources on the design & copy.
Collections Management
• Develop and maintain loan acquisition and donation policies
• Working with the Executive Director, maintain annual art insurance and customs bond; procures art insurance for borrowed works; ensures proper insurance coverage for works on loan
• Supervise and support the Research Associate/Department Coordinator, Collections Manager and Preparator in the management of the permanent collection’s care & conservation and the health and accessibility of the database & records
• Establish conservation priorities; plans and implement the conservation and preservation of artwork including managing and coordinating conservation treatments; provide information to Development department to support conservation funding
Art Collection
• Act as the Curator of Art and provide leadership and management of the Museum’s art collection
• Raise the profile of MOAS’s art collection through exhibitions, acquisitions, and research
• Work with the Curators to focus energy on being the nexus of art, science and history through exhibitions, programs and interpretation
Supervision
• Manage a team of seven including Senior Curator of History, Curator of Science (2 direct reports), Collections Manager, Research Associate/Department Coordinator and Preparator.
• Develop and maintain departmental budgets, contracts, agreements and other administrative documents
• Supervise and support the Curators throughout the process of exhibition proposal development and implementation of exhibitions; facilitate decisions on exhibition proposals and loan requests
• Evaluate, develop and implement departmental procedures such as, but not limited to, courier practices, loan agreement guidelines, etc.
• Develop performance standard for department; manage hiring, training, coaching and performance management of curatorial staff; oversee workload and priority setting of curatorial staff and determine equipment, training and other needs.
• Build a culture of collaboration, mutual respect, and teamwork within the Curatorial department and cross-departmentally throughout the organization
• Work closely with other departments on the development, implementation and execution of all curatorial programs
• Effectively manage guest curators; identify and manage project specific consulting teams.
• Member of the Senior Team
• Member of the Board of Trustees Collections Committee
Requirements & Qualifications:
• Master’s Degree minimum in Art History or other relevant fields such as Museum Studies, or Arts; expertise in Florida Art and/or History is a plus
• A minimum of ten years of experience demonstrating progressive responsibilities in museum(s), including managerial and administrative roles
• Strong administrative, fiscal and staff management skills, with a clear record of leading and managing projects
• Knowledge and experience working in an art museum
• Demonstrated experience supporting strategic plans in support of organization’s goals,
• Self-directed and motivated
• Ability to multi-task, plan long range and balance many priorities at once
• Knowledge of cutting-edge technology usage in museum settings
• Strong written and oral communication skills with a mastery of the English language and the ability to plan and deliver oral and written communications that clearly inform their intended audiences

To apply, please email resume & cover letter to alexandra@moas.org