Museum Director
SUMMARY
The Museum Director position manages staff, oversees museum security, and supervises daily operations. Responsibilities include managing budgets, collaborating on strategic planning, curating exhibitions, and developing educational programs. The director is also involved in acquisitions, collections, and outreach efforts. Required skills include strong writing, presentation, project management, and knowledge of museum cataloging and digital tools. The role involves leading a team, overseeing exhibitions, and enhancing audience engagement through innovative programming.
ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND
The Center for Puppetry Arts is the largest nonprofit organization in the United States dedicated to the art form of puppetry. The Center’s mission is to inspire imagination, education, and community through the global art of puppetry. For further information, visit our website at www.puppet.org.
REPORTS TO
- Executive Director
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Manages Museum department full-time and part-time staff, as well as project-based contract labor or interns.
- Responsible for opening/closing and security of Museum and collections storage.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Supervises daily activities of staff in the Museum department, facilitating retention, hiring, and strategic planning.
- Manage annual income and expense budgets for department and special projects.
- Collaborates with Center staff across Production, Education, and operational departments on strategic planning and future visioning for the Center.
- Conducts outreach for acquisition, loan, exhibition, and partner programming plans.
- Sets departmental season calendar.
- Curates and/or coordinates special exhibitions.
- Oversees and guides priorities in collecting plans and main gallery rotations
- Researches and writes for various audiences: database notes, collection labels, exhibition copy, digital engagement content, and marketing copy
- Develops new educational and cultural consumer programming for in-person activations and digital platforms.
- Plans and delegates operations for programs, events, and exhibition rotations
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Must be able to lift 20 to 30 pounds and climb ladders.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Candidate must have knowledge of standard museum policies and procedures according to AAM standards and knowledge of standard museum cataloging systems.
- Candidate must have experience in performing and aggregating academic research in support of our collection and special exhibits.
- Candidate must have strong writing skills for various audiences and strong presentation skills, with strong professional presence and ease in front of crowds.
- Candidate must have experience in exhibition design and development, with a foundation in project management skills for multiple simultaneous projects.
- Candidate must be detail-oriented, while also being able to think strategically about expanded museum audiences through innovative programming.
- Candidate must be able to effectively direct and delegate responsibilities to the museum team, which may include contractors, interns, and volunteers.
- Candidate must be comfortable working across various digital platforms and software from relational databases to in-gallery technology. Candidate should be knowledgeable enough with AI and other advancements to develop efficient use of technology tools both in the galleries and in support of operations.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- 5+ years of progressively responsible experience within a museum or cultural organization.
- Masters in History, Public History, Museum Studies, or related field preferred.
- Experience supervising staff.
- Demonstrated understanding of collections-focused research, such as publications or exhibition curation.
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
AND PAY
Full time, Salary (exempt) position with benefits
$60,000 to $70,000 per year, commensurate with experience
Non-remote
BENEFITS
- Medical –Center pays 75% of the employee’s premium.
- Dental
- Vision
- 403(b)
- Disability, Life and AD&D Insurance
- Vacation/Personal Days – 14 days.
- Sick Leave – 6 days
- Paid Holidays – 9 Days
- Paid Personal Days – 5 Days
- Museum Store Discounts
- Free show tickets
- Free parking
HOW TO APPLY
Please send cover letter and resume to: hr@puppet.org
Please note any attachment over 10 MB may need to be sent in separate emails.
No phone calls please. If you have questions, please email hr@puppet.org.