Exhibitions Project Manager

About the role

The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is a public non-profit charitable organization.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Art Management and Exhibitions, the Exhibitions Project Manager is responsible for managing team efforts to develop and implement temporary exhibitions, collections gallery projects, and outdoor installations that inform, engage, surprise, and delight our guests. This vital role is responsible for managing multiple, overlapping projects across the Crystal Bridges Campus of Art and Wellness, the Momentary, and satellite spaces, and is a key contributor to achieving the museum's mission. The ideal candidate contributes organization, focus, planning, attention to detail, diplomacy, and outstanding communication skills to advance the work of exhibition project teams. The Exhibitions Project Manager is able to motivate and engage a wide variety of colleagues at various levels within the organization, as well as outside partners.

Principal Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with curators, exhibition designers, preparators, registrars and other creative teams, along with internal and external collaborators, including artists, to steer the development and implementation of exhibitions and gallery installations.
• Provide project management for large-scale special exhibitions, temporary focus exhibitions and collections gallery projects, while also ensuring that numerous day-to-day details are handled.
• Lead team meetings for occasional outdoor projects.
• Develop meeting agendas, facilitate productive meetings, and send out notes focused on next steps, responsibility for deliverables, and decisions made.
• Develop, communicate, and actively administer project schedules.
• Generate and manage budgets in collaboration with project team and prepare reconciliation reports.
• Act as the point person and liaison for internal and external collaborators and communications for the projects in their portfolio.
• Keep supervisor apprised of challenges, opportunities, and any schedule or budget slippage; contribute to problem-solving.
• Work with exhibition designers, contract, schedule and help manage outside vendors and ecosystem support teams for fabrication, construction, painting and other gallery work.
• Review exhibition contracts to ensure obligations are met.
• Work with teams and external partners to prepare exhibitions for travel to additional venues.

Additional Responsibilities

• Work with exhibitions assistant or coordinator to process project-related invoices and payments.
• Provide reports and statistics as requested and on a regular basis for Executive Leadership.
• Answer inquiries in a prompt, professional manner.
• Provide suggestions to improve exhibition processes.
• Assemble, maintain, and archive project files.
• May serve as supervisor to interns and volunteers.

Qualifications and Skills

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in art, art history, museum studies, arts administration, communications, business, finance, or relevant degree/experience.
• Experience and success in project management and in meeting deadlines within fast-paced working environments.
• Knowledge of current practices in project management or equivalent experience in exhibitions.
• Experience with accounting and Microsoft Office Suite software.
• Excellent communication and diplomacy skills.
• Highly organized and detail oriented.
• At least two years demonstrated project management experience in any field (developing and tracking budgets and schedules, organizing and facilitating meetings, managing team efforts, drafting and negotiating contracts).
• One year of project management experience in museum or gallery exhibitions.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Physical demands: This position requires working at a desk and utilizing a computer for prolonged periods of time, and good eye/hand coordination. Vision abilities required by the job include close and distant vision. When not in the office, the person in this position will require the capability to move and be present in galleries during construction, installation and deinstallation, and be able to navigate through different Museum and Campus buildings and on the trails and grounds. When working in public spaces and galleries, physical stamina is needed to lift and carry supplies, and at times, assist with installation of labels and other exhibition-related elements. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally be required to travel independently. Work Environment: Work will be performed in an office environment, museum spaces, outdoors, and in the communities served. When not in the office, the employee will spend time in the Museum and Campus buildings, grounds, and galleries. The noise level in the Museum work environment is usually low to moderate.