Senior Director of Exhibition Management

Institution: Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Deadline: Rolling (apply early; position closes once a strong candidate pool is reached)
Supervisor: Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs and Conservation
Contract: Full-time, exempt, 35 hours per week
Salary: $185,000 annually
Benefits: Medical, dental, vision; fully paid short- and long-term disability; life insurance; retirement plan with match; paid vacation, personal and sick days; museum perks
Work Mode: On-site at Philadelphia Museum of Art locations

The Philadelphia Museum of Art seeks a Senior Director of Exhibition Management to lead its exhibition planning and execution, connecting creative vision with operational excellence. This role manages the departments of Exhibition Planning and Design, overseeing multi-site exhibitions, phased rehangs, budgets, calendars, contracts, and teams. The Senior Director ensures accessible, sustainable, and high-quality visitor experiences while partnering closely with Curatorial, Registration, Collections, Learning & Engagement, Marketing, and Advancement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Exhibition Planning and Design departments, managing projects from concept to opening and deinstall.
• Maintain master calendars, room schedules, and multi-year exhibition plans.
• Develop detailed budgets, track commitments, and provide financial reporting.
• Collaborate with Advancement for fundraising, sponsorships, and donor engagement.
• Oversee contracts, legal compliance, insurance, and vendor agreements.
• Supervise design oversight, including spatial concepts, layouts, lighting, graphics, mockups, and fabrication QC.
• Coordinate publications, catalogs, and digital content with Editorial & Publishing.
• Manage traveling exhibitions (~30% of program) and partner relationships.
• Establish cross-departmental governance, exhibition steering groups, and change-control processes.
• Implement systems and tools for project tracking and data consistency.
• Lead, coach, and develop staff; manage FTEs, fellows, contractors, and temps.
• Conduct a top-to-bottom review of exhibition planning processes and implement improvements.
• Develop sustainability frameworks for materials, fabrication, shipping, and energy use.
• Ensure compliance with museum work rules, union agreements, and safety protocols.

Minimum Qualifications

• 10+ years senior-level experience in exhibition planning/project management; 5+ years managing managers.
• Experience delivering high-volume, multi-site exhibitions with complex logistics and multi-million-dollar budgets.
• Strong skills in scheduling, resource allocation, risk management, contracting, and vendor oversight.
• Ability to read drawings and collaborate with creative leads.
• Proven cross-departmental collaboration with Curatorial, Conservation, Collections, Facilities, Marketing, and Advancement.
• Familiarity with AAM standards and accessible-exhibition guidance.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in arts administration, museum studies, architecture/design management, or related field preferred; PMP or similar credential a plus.

Success Measures (first 12–18 months)

• Draft gallery master plan and rehang roadmap with phasing, budgets, and risk mitigation.
• Delivery of at least one pilot rehang/cluster with visitor and accessibility evaluation.
• On-time delivery to published calendar; budget variance within tolerance.
• Effective use of Exhibition Steering Group and Change-Control processes.
• Portfolio dashboard used for evidence-based decisions.
• Advancement-supported exhibitions with on-time fundraising assets and recognition commitments fulfilled.
• Traveling exhibitions reach ~30% of program with clear outcomes.
• Completed process review and implementation plan delivered.
• Sustainability framework adopted and early pilot reductions underway.