Director, Fine Arts Studios and Academic Space Management

About the Role

Tufts Technology Services (TTS) is Tufts' trusted leader in technology partnership, support, and enablement, delivering solutions in service of the university’s mission. TTS works closely with school and central division partners to meet the technology needs of the Tufts community across three campuses and global networks. The School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University (SMFA at Tufts) is a nationally recognized art school where creative practice, experimentation, and interdisciplinary learning are central to the student experience.

This fully onsite leadership position is based at SMFA at Tufts in Boston's Fenway neighborhood, with regular on-campus presence expected five days per week. The Director, Fine Arts Studios & Academic Space Management serves as a key partner and trusted advisor to the Dean of SMFA and school leadership while leading a team of approximately 14 professional studio staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, operations, and continuous improvement efforts for approximately 21 studios, labs, classrooms, and informal learning spaces across SMFA.
• Partner closely with the Dean, faculty, academic leadership, and administrative colleagues to ensure learning environments align with the school's educational and strategic priorities.
• Provide leadership and strategic guidance on academic space planning, utilization, facilities needs, and future space initiatives.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of approximately 14 professional studio staff, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
• Translate strategic priorities into actionable plans that support teaching, learning, creative practice, and student success.
• Oversee budget planning, resource allocation, equipment investments, and operational planning related to studio and academic space management.
• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and service models that support equitable access, operational effectiveness, safety, and innovation across learning environments.
• Collaborate with colleagues across TTS and the university to enhance services, improve operational effectiveness, and support institutional priorities.
• Participate as a member of the TTS leadership community, contributing to strategic planning, service improvement initiatives, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Build strong partnerships and alignment among faculty, students, administrators, and university leaders.
• Use data, assessment, and community feedback to evaluate services and identify opportunities for improvement and innovation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and 10+ years of progressive management experience, or a Master's degree and 6+ years of progressive management experience.
• Extensive experience leading teams and managing complex operations within academic, creative, arts, cultural, studio, laboratory, or similarly specialized environments.
• Experience leading organizational change, strategic initiatives, or service improvements across complex stakeholder environments.
• Demonstrated success building and developing high-performing, collaborative teams.
• Demonstrated experience coaching, mentoring, and developing staff while fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment.
• Experience managing service-oriented organizations, studios, labs, creative spaces, academic operations, or related facilities.
• Strong communication, organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, students, administrators, and staff.
• Experience translating strategic goals into operational outcomes and measurable results.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related field.
• Record of creative practice and/or leadership experience in arts education, arts administration, museums, cultural organizations, or design education.
• Experience working within art schools, design schools, museums, cultural organizations, higher education, makerspaces, fabrication facilities, or other creative learning environments that support teaching, learning, and creative practice.

Pay

Minimum $131,100.00, Midpoint $163,900.00, Maximum $196,700.00. Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.