Director of Collections and Exhibitions Management

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

• Demonstrate the willingness and capacity to be a thought leader and cross-divisional partner to help the MCA realize a revolutionary open-storage concept that reframes the way the MCA’s collection is shared with the public.
• Participate in the integration of a large multimedia collection shared in partnership with another cultural institution.
• Create multiyear strategies for the care of the collection including implementation of emerging trends in conservation, institution-wide policy development, and oversight of collection maintenance programs.
• Initiate, evaluate, and manage all MCA exhibition calendars in collaboration with Visual Arts department, ensuring that the goal of maximizing use of gallery spaces is balanced with adequate resources (staffing, security, space, etc.).
• Direct the traveling exhibition tour programs from initial venue solicitation through tour conclusion; write, negotiate, and manage all contracts and documents related to MCA-organized, co-organized, and rented exhibitions, artist commissions, loan agreements, co-acquisition agreements and other agreements involving artworks, artists, external curators, designers, or exhibitions.
• Collaborate as a high performing Department Head providing input and counsel for decisions affecting the MCA’s annual and long-term operating plans, including the strategic action plans, program priorities, capital needs, human and financial resources.
• Supervise, mentor, train, and oversee direct reports on a day-to-day basis, including oversight of special projects and staff management to ensure the effective and efficient operation of all assigned activities and responsibilities and accountability for results; facilitates strong performance and achievement of key metrics; and provides on-going feedback to assigned direct reports to address, resolve, and/or encourage performance and/or engagement-related matters. Evaluate department workflow and work assignments to maximize efficiency, coordination, and output among team members.
• Orchestrate reaccreditation processes for the collection and exhibitions, including documentation and submission.
• Lead three-year inventory program utilizing collections and risk management strategies to meet museum accreditation requirements; presents findings to Collection Committee as needed.
• Update and ensure adherence to MCA Collections Management Policy in line with current best practices and with museum accreditation requirements.
• Develop strategy to acquire for and deaccession from the collection, in alignment with the Collections Management Policy and ethical standards in the field; execute contracts with auction houses for sale of deaccessioned and non-collection works and negotiates terms of sale.
• Assess and advise on risk, insurance, preservation, and other logistical issues surrounding potential acquisitions.
• Collaborates with the Director of Security and Director of Facilities to oversee gallery security operations including budgets, installation/deinstallation scheduling officers, and alarm systems.
• Analyze and advise on proper distribution of permanent collection acquisition funds.
• Lead exhibition and permanent collection contract negotiations with outside legal counsel.
• Administer fine arts insurance program for the collection and temporary exhibitions including policy bids, annual renewal and special collection and exhibition policies.
• Direct department’s financial operations, including planning, implementing, and managing applicable budgets to ensure effective financial controls and the meeting of budget goals.
• Oversee the expansion of The Museum System (TMS), the collections database, to promote accessibility of collections and exhibitions for staff, researchers, and the public.
• Develop all art aspects of MCA Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Plan in collaboration with Chief Operating Officer.
• Attend MCA Collection and Exhibition Committee meetings.