Job Listing: Exhibitions Program Manager

Name of Organization – Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech

Job Title – Exhibitions Program Manager

Compensation - $46,000 – $52,000, actual offer will be commensurate with experience.

Type -  Full-time

Apply -  https://careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us/job/531519/exhibitions-program-manager

Summary - The Moss Arts Center is seeking a detail-oriented, highly organized collaborator who loves working with people and the visual arts to join our Exhibitions staff.  See more about exhibitions at the Moss Arts Center at www.artscenter.vt.edu/exhibitions.

The Exhibitions Program Manager is a dynamic, people-facing role responsible for the coordination and administration of visual art programs at the Moss Arts Center. This position reports to the Curator and is the central point of contact for artists, visitors, educational partners, external vendors, and internal teams. The Manager is responsible for overseeing the installation and implementation of exhibitions, arranging and leading student and community engagement with exhibitions and gallery tours, handling financial transactions, maintaining records, and facilitating communication between multiple departments.

The role involves a high degree of collaboration with production, marketing, educational outreach, and facilities teams to ensure successful, engaging exhibitions and programs for diverse audiences. This position requires exceptional project management, organizational, and communication skills, as well as experience in exhibitions management, administration, and public engagement. This is a full-time, hands-on role that requires occasional evening and weekend hours.

Responsibilities – 

 65% Exhibitions Management and Administration

• Oversee exhibition management, including the professional installation of artworks, securing loans, and managing exhibition timelines and logistics.
• Maintain a long-term exhibition calendar and coordinate short-term programs to ensure key deadlines are met.
• Serve as the communication point between exhibiting artists, production teams, marketing, and facilities staff to ensure smooth coordination of exhibition installations, logistics, and related programs.
• In collaboration with the Curator, develop the exhibition layout, design, and signage plans.
• Lead the development of installation timelines, work plans, and schedules.
• Work closely with exhibiting artists, staff, and external vendors to arrange travel, artwork shipment, and other logistics.
• Issue contracts with artists, loan agreements, and coordinate financial aspects related to exhibitions (e.g., invoices and expenses tracking).
• Research and secure external production contractors and suppliers as needed.
• Supervise installation crews, graduate assistants, and student gallery attendants, ensuring they have clear instructions and follow safe practices.
• Collaborate with marketing and development teams to ensure the promotion of exhibitions.
• Train student gallery attendants and provide exhibition information as needed.
• Maintain gallery supplies and ensure exhibition storage spaces are well-organized and safe.

30% Community and Education Engagement

• Community Outreach: Develop and lead exhibition tours for schools, Virginia Tech students, and community groups.
• Public Engagement: Collaborate with programming staff and other departments to design and coordinate public programs and events, ensuring diverse audience participation.
• Educational Initiatives: Partner with center engagement staff, K12 educators and arts organizations to organize curriculum-based programs and recruit students for exhibition-related activities.
• Cross-disciplinary Opportunities: Work with performing arts, visual arts, and Arts@VT colleagues to develop programs that bridge disciplines.

5% Arts Collection Management

• Oversee the off-site VT art collection storage and proactively develop opportunities for innovative student and faculty engagement with the collection.
• Track and manage collection loans and installation across the VT campus and maintain and update the collection database.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in art history, studio art, museum studies, art education, or a related field, or significant equivalent experience.
• Experience handling administrative tasks with proven experience managing financial submissions, payment processing, and maintaining accurate exhibition records.
• Experience in gallery, museum, or curatorial settings with a proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Prior experience installing artwork and preparing gallery spaces.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to work with a wide range of people, including artists, patrons, students, and cross-functional teams.
• Willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends as requested and required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a higher education setting or familiarity with university art programming and collection management.
• Hands-on experience with public programming and K12 educational engagement initiatives related to visual arts.
• Proficiency in Adobe CC programs (Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat) and experience with 3D exhibition design software (Rhino or Sketchup).
• Familiarity with cloud storage and filesharing applications in support of exhibition management.

Application Information

• Review of applications will begin November 29, 2024; applications accepted until the position is filled.
• Full-time position with outstanding university benefits; salary $46,000 – $52,000, actual offer will be commensurate with experience.
• Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law. 
• If you have questions about the position, contact Brian Holcombe at bholcombe@vt.edu.
• Application link: https://careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us/job/531519/exhibitions-program-manager