American Federation of Arts Director of Exhibitions and Curatorial Initiatives (DECI)
New York, NY, USA: On-site
Full-Time, Exempt
Reports to: Director and CEO
Deadline to Apply: October 14 2025, rolling review process
The American Federation of Arts (AFA) is a global leader in advancing access to the visual arts and a connector across the sector. Founded in 1909, the AFA (a 501(c)3) organizes and tours museum-quality exhibitions throughout the United States and abroad, ensuring that audiences across regions and institutions of all sizes can experience transformative works of art.
AFA’s acclaimed exhibitions—such as Rembrandt: Masterpieces in Black and White—Prints from the Rembrandt House Museum; Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld; Abstract Expressionists: The Women; Designing the New: Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Glasgow Style; and Black Refractions: Highlights from The Studio Museum in Harlem—span diverse mediums and subjects. In addition, AFA publishes scholarly catalogues and develops educational programs, including ArtViews, Director’s Dialogue, and Curator Conversations.
The organization is led by Pauline Forlenza, Director and CEO, whose vision and leadership drive AFA’s mission to foster cultural exchange, strengthen museums, and expand opportunities for audiences to connect with art. A distinguished Board of Trustees—comprising collectors, philanthropists, museum directors, and cultural visionaries—supports this mission by bringing both local expertise and a global perspective. With more than a century of innovation and impact, AFA remains committed to building access, knowledge, and appreciation of the arts, while supporting museums as vital civic and cultural resources.
About the role
The AFA seeks a Director of Exhibitions and Curatorial Initiatives, which is a senior-level role that combines curatorial rigor with demonstrated experience in management and financial acumen. The position requires a strategic thinker who can envision the big picture while driving projects independently, striking a balance between creativity and practical execution to produce work of the highest quality.
The DECI will bring a steady presence, collaborative spirit, and the ability to motivate and inspire colleagues and partners by earning their trust. This individual will be responsible for developing long-term strategies, building upon existing relationships and cultivating new ones with museums and cultural organizations, both nationally and internationally, and ensuring that exhibitions achieve both academic excellence and public resonance. The DECI will also align programmatic vision with institutional sustainability and business development.
A unique opportunity in the field, working at AFA provides the potential to make a lasting contribution that extends beyond a single medium, field of study, location, or institution. The role offers the opportunity to expand existing capabilities while gaining significant exposure to high-level collaborations, contract negotiations, and cross-functional management.
Reporting to Pauline Forlenza, Director & CEO, and working alongside a strong leadership group including the Director of Institutional Advancement, Associate Director and CFO, and Director of Registration, this role will play a central part in advancing AFA’s mission and shaping its next chapter. Judith Pineiro Consulting has been retained to secure AFA’s next Director of Exhibitions and Curatorial Initiatives. Applications, nominations, and inquiries should be directed as outlined.
Candidate Profile
Success as the Director of Exhibitions and Curatorial Initiatives requires the ability to oversee multiple priorities with precision and cultivate confidence and credibility within the team. While no candidate is expected to embody every qualification, the most competitive will demonstrate a combination of the following professional and personal qualities and skills.
Exhibitions & Curatorial Efforts
Exhibitions and curatorial leadership form the core of this position. It requires pairing curatorial vision with operational discipline, particularly in relation to budgets and timelines. The successful candidate will be a respected and well-connected figure in the field, recognized for scholarly capacity and the ability to mentor and guide colleagues. They will identify themes and opportunities that reflect the pulse of the discipline, shaping projects that are both broadly engaging and impactful.
Oversight extends to all traveling exhibitions and publications, involving close collaboration with AFA staff, guest curators, and private and public collections. Responsibilities include shaping concepts, securing venues for tours, and participating in high-level planning meetings. As a representative of AFA, the DECI will serve as a strategic presence in external forums, spearhead contract negotiations and partnership agreements that safeguard institutional integrity, and scan the touring landscape for co-organized exhibitions, joint ventures, and innovations.
Management & Collaboration
The Director of Exhibitions and Curatorial Initiatives will lead and partner with 4–6 curatorial team members and is expected to model an inclusive, empowering, transparent, and team-centered management style.
Clear communication, strong prioritization, and the ability to listen, inspire, and adapt are crucial for maintaining the alignment and progress of complex projects. Collaborating across departments, this role will be responsible for equipping teams with updates and information that helps everyone advance initiatives effectively.
In this role, one is required to navigate differing perspectives with diplomacy and tact, offering steadiness and clarity in dynamic situations. Success involves establishing clear expectations and benchmarks while fostering creativity and collaboration—both internal and external—toward shared outcomes.
Budget Strategy & Operational Accountability
Excellence at AFA depends on an exhibitions program that is curatorially rigorous and financially sound. This position requires a leader with proven skills in resource planning and oversight, including the ability to effectively build and manage budgets.
Additionally, the DECI will collaborate with other teams to develop business cases, revenue models, and performance benchmarks that measure results. Collaboration with development colleagues on donor and grant proposals will be essential, as will clear, confident communication about fiscal matters. Anticipating challenges, adjusting course with discernment, and articulating the implications for resources will be vital.
Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement
The DECI will be instrumental in cultivating and maintaining relationships with museum directors, curators, cultural partners, and funders to co-develop impactful exhibitions and shared initiatives. Working closely with the Director and CEO, this role will move forward high-level institutional alliances and opportunities. Success in this role hinges on the ability to navigate sensitive situations with poise and tact.
Direct Experience
A required qualification for the role is a minimum of 7–10 years of curatorial or related exhibition work, with the majority of those years spent managing a team. Progressive expertise in exhibitions, business development, and partnerships is preferred, with direct experience in a museum setting of great importance. An M.A. or above in Art History or a related field is desired but not required. Proficiency with Excel and budget management tools, as well as excellent written and oral communication skills, public and internal presentation skills, is essential. Additionally, knowledge of collection management systems, standard office computer programs, and other standard digital tools is required.
Institutional Alignment
AFA’s work is recognized across the museum field for its rigor, creativity, and professionalism. The individual in this role carries the responsibility of upholding that reputation. AFA’s audiences and network look to the organization not only for exceptional exhibitions and scholarship but also for the values, collegiality, and thoughtful engagement that define its approach. At the AFA, staff are expected to approach their work with both meticulousness and warmth, honoring collaboration and diverse perspectives, and ensuring that the organization remains a trusted and respected voice within the national and international cultural community.
Compensation & Benefits
The annual salary is anticipated to be $125,000-$150,000. The Director of Exhibitions and Curatorial Initiatives also has opportunities for travel and professional networking. AFA employees are respected and valued, with a comprehensive and robust benefits package that includes employer-paid medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long-term disability coverage, along with 15 days of paid vacation (years 1-4, 20 after 4 years of service), 4 personal days, 12 sick days, and 10 holidays annually.
Applications, Inquiries & Nominations
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a firm deadline of October 14, 2025. We encourage candidates to apply early. Judith Pineiro Consulting has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Please send all nominations and inquiries to AFASearch@judithpineiroconsulting.com. To apply directly for the position, please prepare to submit your letter of interest, resume, and responses to our short questions by visiting: https://www.judithpineiroconsulting.com/searches
This position has the physical requirements of being able to remain stationary for extended periods of time, to utilize computers and other office equipment required of this job, to perform physically administrative duties in a typical interior office environment, gallery, or exhibit space, and to access most public and staff areas of the museum campus, and be able to operate a computer/keyboard and other office equipment used to generate work/transmit data. The AFA conducts background checks, which are required after a conditional job offer is made. The consideration of the background check will be tailored to the job’s requirements. This position description is intended to describe the general nature of the role and the work being performed. This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, and additional duties may be required outside of these responsibilities as needed.
Photo Credit: Norman Lewis, Bonfire, 1962. Oil on canvas, 64x 49 7/8 in., The Studio Museum in Harlem; Gift of the Estate of Norman Lewis, Copyright: Estate of Norman W. Lewis; Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery LLC, New York, NY.
