What are the responsibilities and job description for the Executive Director position at The Frick Museums and Art of Pittsburgh?
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR—THE FRICK PITTSBURGH
THE INSTITUTION
The Frick Pittsburgh is a masterful culmination of the vision of its founder Helen Clay Frick. Its five-plus acre estate and grounds feature Miss Frick’s beloved Gilded Age family home, Clayton, together with its greenhouse and playhouse. Miss Frick added The Frick Art Museum in 1970 to house her collection of Old Master art. The family’s cars and carriages are now housed in their own museum on the grounds, with others that have been donated. A visitor center, cafe, and education center complete the public spaces.
The crown jewel of the campus is Clayton, which has been meticulously restored and features art and furnishings, much of which have been in place for over 130 years. Since Clayton’s public opening in 1990, thousands of visitors have delighted at this “inside look” at the Gilded Age. In addition to docent-led tours of Clayton, a full program of exhibitions, lectures, art classes, and interactive events take place annually on the grounds and in the Frick Art Museum. The permanent collection contains a substantial collection of paintings, works on paper, furniture and decorative arts acquired by both Henry Clay Frick and his daughter Helen Clay Frick. Strengths of these holdings include 18th- century French furniture and paintings, early Italian Renaissance panel paintings, important bronzes and sculptures and a significant group of Chinese ceramics.
While there is a charge for tours of Clayton and some of the special exhibitions in the art museum, the public has free access to the grounds and the museum’s permanent collection. Many of the programs and community outreach are free as well.
The Frick’s current strategic plan can be found at www.thefrickpittsburgh.org/strategicplan. It details a future for the complex that remains respectful of Miss Frick’s vision while positioning the Frick as a 21st-century institution ready to advance its cultural reach well beyond the Tri-state area with thoughtful exhibitions and enhanced programming. The new Executive Director will have the opportunity to suggest revisions to the strategic plan.
The Frick’s Board of Trustees is made up of thirty Term Trustees and six Family Trustees who are direct descendants of Henry Clay Frick. The annual operating budget for the complex is approximately $9 million. The staff numbers approximately 40 full-time and 100 part-time employees and includes union and non-union positions.
THE POSITION
The Executive Director will provide the leadership, management, and direction necessary to advance the mission of the Frick Pittsburgh, as well as pursue a clear and impactful vision for its future. The Executive Director will further the understanding of the Frick family’s importance to Pittsburgh, particularly Henry Clay Frick’s role in the city’s emergence as an international industrial center.
The Executive Director will serve as an ambassador for the Frick while engaging with the greater Pittsburgh community. The Executive Director will ensure excellence in the Frick's curatorial, educational, marketing, and operational endeavors, and deliver outstanding programming.
The Executive Director will be responsible for the overall financial health of the institution, including annual and long-term planning and budgeting, securing philanthropic support, and maximizing sources of earned income. The Executive Director will engage Trustees and staff in assessing current and future infrastructure and operating requirements of the campus and collections.
Importantly, the Executive Director will demonstrate a strong commitment to the Frick's continued emergence as an outstanding presenter of exhibitions and public programming, and a vision for amplifying the appeal of the Frick Pittsburgh to the broadest possible audience.
Further information regarding the ideal experience and qualifications of the Executive Director position may be found at www.thefrickpittsburgh.org/employment
Applications should be sent to badams@thefrickpittsburgh.org by January 31, 2025
We offer a competitive salary.
