Assistant Director of Exhibitions

Exhibitions & Planning

Reporting to the Deputy Director for Curatorial and Exhibitions, the Assistant Director of Exhibitions is responsible for the planning and coordination of the museum’s ambitious exhibition program. In collaboration with the Deputy Director, the position develops the long-range exhibition schedule and corresponding budget. Leading a team of four, the Assistant Director of Exhibitions supervises and aligns the activities and workflow for permanent collection installations, commissions, temporary exhibitions, and traveling exhibitions. The successful candidate will be a dynamic professional who is flexible, with an ability to be pro-active and problem solve, set priorities in a fast-paced environment, and manage multiple projects, while effectively representing LACMA to external stakeholders including artists, vendors, and other museum professionals.

LACMA’s exhibition program is a key part of its mission to serve the public through the collection, conservation, exhibition and interpretation of significant works of art from a broad range of cultures and historical periods. Committed to showcasing a multitude of art histories, the museum exhibits and interprets works of art from new and unexpected points of view that are informed by the region’s rich cultural heritage and diverse population. Our spirit of experimentation is reflected in our work with artists, technologists, and thought leaders as well as in our many regional, national, and global partnerships to share collections and programs, create pioneering initiatives, and engage new audiences. Our employees are committed to the museum’s mission of inclusive access, collaboration, and dialogue, and to working closely with colleagues across the museum and our many communities beyond, fostering creativity, connection, and diverse thinking. 

Responsibilities 

• In collaboration with the Deputy Director, develops and maintains long-range exhibition schedules and budgets.
• Leads planning and coordination for all exhibitions, liaising with all stakeholder teams across the museum including Curatorial, Art Preparation and Installation, Collections Management, Conservation, and Registration. Manages the exhibition coordination team, assigning projects and tasks as necessary and liaises with exhibition teams to plan installations and schedules and assist in managing workflow and budgets.
• In collaboration with the Deputy Director, establishes the project’s budgetary scope. Coordinates preparation and scheduling of Exhibition Review Committee Meetings, and leads review. Collaborates with Senior Financial Analyst and coordination team to finalize exhibition budget, monitor actuals versus budget, and report on final project costs.
• Oversees the development of exhibition tours, developing solicitation materials, identifying potential tour venues, establishing terms, and managing shared cost tracking and reconciliation.
• Overseas the development of all necessary agreements including professional service agreements, exhibition agreements, and artist agreements.
• Leads planning for exhibition program annual operating budget. Collaborates with Deputy Director and Senior Financial Analyst to ensure that program and project scopes meet divisional targets.
• Liaises with key external stakeholders to support the museum’s many pioneering initiatives.
• Provides clear communication of program, schedule, titles, and credit lines to staff throughout the museum.
• Other special projects or initiatives as assigned

Benefits 

• The expected salary for this Los Angeles, CA based position is $115,000 - $125,000 subject to change, and the position is eligible for LACMA’s comprehensive benefits package, including pension plan.
• LACMA is committed to providing its employees with valuable and competitive benefits as a core part of a strong overall employee experience.

Qualifications

• BA in art history or related field
• 8 to 10 years progressively responsible experience and demonstrated success in exhibition budgeting, planning, and production 
• Extensive knowledge of the exhibition development and implementation process--including project management, budgeting, and contracts--is essential
• Ability to problem solve, be proactive, flexible, and adaptive to changing priorities, and to collaborate with a diverse implementation team 
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills and organizational abilities
• Advanced computer skills including MS Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) and Google Workspace (Drive, Docs, Slides, etc); familiarity with TMS preferred  
• Knowledge of a foreign language is beneficial

Please provide a CV, cover letter, and list of three references. Applications without a cover letter will not be reviewed.