Museum Building Manager

About the role

The Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA) is seeking a technically skilled leader and highly collaborative team member as a Museum Building Manager to lead the start-up and operational excellence of the first purpose-built art museum for Williams College, designed by Solid Objectives Idenburg Liu and currently under construction.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the expert on the museum’s physical facilities
• Represent WCMA when participating with the design and construction team during commissioning, punch list and move-in activities
• Manage procurements, develop the operations manual for the new building, maintain as-built construction documents, manuals and warranties
• Work closely with Office of Planning, Design & Construction to facilitate any warranty actions post project turnover and collect, assess and report data required for sustainability goals
• Collect and interpret building data as needed for grant reporting and start-up facilities report for future loans of art, insurance, accreditation, and other purposes
• Act as primary point-person to facilitate work orders with Williams College Facilities for general building repair and maintenance support
• Work closely with the Security Manager and the Manager of Museum Experience and Events for the front line, day-to-day building needs and event set-up; foster a positive and flexible work environment
• Oversee and project manage specialized contracts to ensure the signature building materials are maintained in a manner fitting for an art museum
• Manage the budget for contracts relying on restricted endowment fund for specialized maintenance of museum building
• Oversee landscape maintenance, monitoring and snow management for the 6+ acre site
• Facilitate waste management
• Participate in long-range building improvement planning in conjunction with the College’s CIR process
• Perform and facilitate routine museum building tasks
• Contribute to annual budget planning, including managing a dedicated maintenance budget
• Support WCMA’s existing facilities before the final move from Lawrence Hall
• Coordinate staff moves and facilitate work orders to support new staff workspaces
• Facilitate the routine maintenance, housekeeping, monitoring and coordination necessary at the Library Shelving Facility in partnership with museum Collection staff, CSS, Facilities and Library staff
• Promote an inclusive and accessible environment, act as a teaching and learning partner
• Monitor and collect data, and report on activities to help the museum meet ambitious sustainability standards
• Teach sustainable building and site features to students

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering preferred or equivalent in degree, certifications and experience
• Minimum of 5 years proven experience in building management, facilities operations, or a related field; preferably in a museum, gallery, or similar cultural institution
• Demonstrated technical knowledge of building systems, including HVAC, electrical, and plumbing; preferably familiar with building systems requirements for the preservation and protection of art collections
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate with diverse teams, both internal and external; ability to coordinate and delegate tasks effectively
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to facility maintenance
• Understanding of the physical nature of facilities work and its nontraditional work schedule; ability to work periodic evening and weekend events
• Ability to handle complaints, conflicts, or difficult situations calmly and diplomatically to resolve issues

Preferred

• Experience working in art museums
• Enthusiasm for mission-driven arts and education institutions
• Experience working with college or university facilities, grounds and dining services

About The Williams Community

Williams College has been around for more than 200 years, yet we’re constantly evolving and growing. As a liberal arts college, Williams has always taught fundamental problem-solving skills that students can use well beyond their four years here. We also recognize that facing complex issues within our history and culture is necessary for sustaining an equitable, just and environmentally responsible community. We strive to create an inclusive culture in which every voice is heard. The college is committed to ensuring that everyone is able to find their place and thrive, no matter who you are, where you come from or what role you fulfill when you get here.