What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Director of Exhibitions Operations position at Folger Shakespeare Library?
The Folger Shakespeare Library knows that an exceptional staff is the backbone of any great organization. We hire exceptionally qualified individuals who are committed to the mission, vision, and values of our organization. Our recruitment process strives to be interactive, accessible, and responsive. Once employed, the Folger provides a generous compensation, leave, and benefits package, as well as many opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Job Description:
The Folger Shakespeare Library, located on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, is seeking an Associate Director of Exhibitions Operations. This person, under the Librarian and Director of Collections and Exhibitions' supervision, is a senior-level role that is responsible for managing the planning, execution, and overall logistics of exhibitions at the Folger Shakespeare Library. This individual ensures that exhibitions are completed on time and within budget, coordinating the work of internal and external teams, and managing resources efficiently. As part of the senior management team for the Collections & Exhibitions department, the Associate Director of Exhibitions Operations works closely with curators, designers, and other stakeholders to manage both permanent and temporary installations and rotations and manages the Exhibitions Department.
The standard schedule for this role is Monday-Friday, 8:45am-4:45pm, which is a 35-hour workweek. Occasional evening and weekend hours may be required for special programs. This position is an onsite role. The selected candidate will need to be within a commutable distance to the D.C. office (DC, MD, VA) by their start date.
Compensation:
- This is a monthly-paid salary position, with a pay range of $107,000-112,000.
- Total compensation includes extensive benefits plan, including fully-covered health, dental, and vision insurance and a generous 403(b) match, outlined athttps://www.folger.edu/employee-benefits.
Supervisory Duties:
- Supervises a growing Exhibitions Department team with reporting staff of up to 3, and contributes to establishing and maintaining adequate staffing levels.
- Supervise outside consultants and vendors tasked with Exhibition related projects.
Duties:
- Develops and manages exhibition timelines, ensuring milestones are met and deadlines are adhered to.
- Hires and manages external designers, contractors, and vendors as needed for exhibitions.
- Oversees and coordinates the work of exhibition teams, ensuring cross-departmental collaboration and seamless integration.
- Creates and manages budgets for exhibition projects, ensuring financial efficiency.
- Serves as the main point of contact for all operational aspects of exhibitions.
- Works closely with curators and the Collections & Exhibitions team to ensure exhibitions’ vision aligns with the library’s goals.
- Tracks and reports on exhibition progress to senior leadership, making adjustments to timelines and resources as needed.
- Contributes to long-term planning for exhibitions and programs.
- Contributes to the management of the Collections & Exhibitions division as part of the senior leadership team in Collections & Exhibitions.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Museum Studies, Arts Administration, or a related field; advanced degree strongly preferred.
- Prior experience in exhibitions with rare materials is required; experience with books and manuscripts preferred.
- Extensive experience in exhibition project management, preferably in a museum or library setting.
- Prior supervisory experience required.
Knowledge and Skills:
- Must have excellent administrative and communication skills, and exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills.
- Must be able to manage and implement budgets, bid out contracts and negotiate terms and conditions, and keep accurate and detailed records.
- Strong understanding of exhibition design, production, and logistics.
- Excellent leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and lead diverse teams.
- Work with others with a very high degree of accuracy.
- Understanding of current museum methodologies and trends is needed.
- Familiarity with art and rare materials handling is necessary; specific training on Folger collection(s) will be provided.
Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:
This position operates in a professional office and library/museum environment. The employee may be exposed to various components of an office environment, such as fluorescent lighting, pollen, dust, recycled air, cooling fans, semi-enclosed areas, central heating, seasonal warmer temperatures, and office noise. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Normal work week is Monday-Friday, 8:45am-4:45pm. This is a 35-hour work week.
- Installation, de-installation, and courier trips will require work outside of normal office hours, including late nights and possible out-of-town travel. These dates will be prescheduled, with very rare last-minute shifts.
- Must have dexterity to handle fragile items with great care.
- Ability to work at a computer for an extended period of time, with accuracy, is required. Desk includes sit-stand options.
- Willingness and capacity to work in an office environment at a workstation, and to come and go repeatedly throughout the day as needed to perform various responsibilities is needed.
- Capacity to communicate, in-person or using video, phone, or electronic communication methods in a manner which can be understood by others, is required.
- Ability to direct and guide the work of interns or fellows involved in exhibition work as needed.
Interested individuals should submit their cover letter and resume. Incomplete applications cannot be accepted. No phone calls please.
The Folger is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Salary : $107,000 - $112,000
