Exhibitions Manager

Reporting to the Department Manager and Dean, the Exhibitions Manager oversees the School of Architecture’s Exhibition Program, including inventory, organization, and tracking of exhibition and archival materials.

About the role

The incumbent manages the development, production, operations, installation/de-installation, communications, and budget oversight of exhibition programming. As a key point of contact for SoA-based and external constituencies, this role involves hiring and supervising subcontractors and students, collaborating with university partners, visiting scholars, faculty, staff, and colleagues to ensure exhibitions align with the SoA’s mission and vision. This position requires a self-starter with initiative, creativity, and the ability to manage multiple projects while meeting deadlines and maintaining positive working relationships. The role is full-time and may require some weekend, evening hours, and occasional travel.

Responsibilities

• Exhibition Planning, Production, and Installation (60%)
  • Manage logistics and administrative duties for ongoing exhibitions curated by faculty, visitors, and students, including seasonal, traveling, and off-site exhibitions.
  • Plan and manage the annual exhibitions schedule to coordinate with curricular activities within the School and University.
  • Oversee multiple exhibitions throughout the year, including two to four at the SoA, Spring Open House, the Post-Professional exhibition in New York City, the End-of-Year Exhibition in May, and others as presented.
  • Plan, coordinate, and facilitate the organization, production timelines, and installation of exhibitions at the SoA and off-site locations.
  • Manage installation and deinstallation, hiring and supervising students and contractors for fabrication, installation, and deinstallation, collaborating with SoA staff as needed.
  • Oversee exhibition content creation, art direction, and graphic identity with curators and the Dean; manage marketing materials and logistics, including digital and printed assets, photography, and exhibition-specific events.
  • Collaborate with University partners such as Facilities, Risk Management, Public Safety, Procurement, Shipping and Receiving, and the Office of General Counsel to ensure adherence to University policies and compliance.
  • Arrange and manage legal loan agreements, insurance, and contracts; perform registrarial duties.
• Archival Management (25%)
  • Manage, inventory, catalogue, organize, and store archival materials at the SoA, including various media formats from analog to digital.
  • Collaborate with University Records Management and libraries to store approved materials off-site, recycle or dispose of unwanted materials, and retain stored materials properly.
  • Develop best practices for internal and external requests and use of archival materials.
  • Propose possible exhibitions based on archival material.
  • Collaborate with the Dean and SoA staff to communicate the SoA’s archival holdings.
• Gallery Management (5%)
  • Conduct and oversee day-to-day exhibition operations in SoA Gallery Spaces.
  • Preserve gallery spaces, collaborating with facilities to request services such as painting, cleaning, upgrades, and additions.
  • Manage storage and inventory of exhibition display systems, installation materials, equipment, and tools.
  • Serve as the point person for inquiries and matters related to exhibitions, gallery spaces, and facilities.
  • Support building maintenance requests as needed.
• Budgetary Oversight (10%)
  • Prepare and maintain proposed and actual budgets for all exhibitions, working with the Department Manager, Business Manager, Dean, and exhibition curators.
  • Track, inventory, record, and reconcile all financial expenditures.
  • Onboard vendors, generate requisitions and purchase orders, process invoices, and reconcile expense reimbursements using PeopleSoft and Concur.
  • Review and approve student employees using Timesheet X.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in architecture, art, or a related field.
• At least five years of experience in exhibitions management, including best practices around art-handling and gallery environments.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated organizational ability and attention to detail.
• Strong team skills and ability to work collaboratively and independently across multiple disciplines with diverse groups of people.
• Ability to manage and meet multiple deadlines, overseeing multiple projects in an ever-changing environment; coordinate exhibitions calendar including production timelines and deliverables.
• Ability to problem-solve and prioritize needs in situations requiring immediate decisions, including troubleshooting production and fabrication solutions.
• Fluent and demonstrated experience with Adobe Creative Suite, Google G-Suite, Microsoft Office, social media platforms, and other cloud-based platforms.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Ability to travel as needed.
• Valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using architectural design software including Rhino3D, AutoCad, SketchUp, Grasshopper, V-Ray, and Enscape.
• Experience in a university or college setting.
• Experience in production and/or fabrication.

Pay

Salary range: $90,000 to $100,000.

Schedule

• Full-time position.
• Standard weekly hours: 36.25.
• Eligible for overtime: No.
• Some weekend and evening hours required.
• Occasional travel required.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefit program available to eligible employees.
• Probationary period: 180 days.