Director of Curatorial Affairs and Programs

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Full Time
Corona, NY, US
Requisition ID: 1021

Position Title: Director of Curatorial Affairs and Programs
Department: Exhibitions and Public Programs
Reports to: President and Executive Director
Position Classification: Regular, Full-time, Exempt (Salary), Benefits-eligible
Worksite location: Onsite at the Queens Museum (Corona, New York)
QM Salary Band: B – Director
Management classification: Senior Management
Direct reports: Exhibitions Curator, Assistant Curators, Curator of Public Practice, Archives & Collections Manager, Production Manager, Special Projects Manager, External Curators, artists and writers.

About the Queens Museum:

The Queens Museum is dedicated to presenting the highest quality visual arts and educational programming for people in the New York metropolitan area, and particularly for the residents of Queens, a uniquely diverse, ethnic, cultural, and international community.
The Museum fulfills its mission by designing and providing art exhibitions, public programs, and educational experiences that promote the appreciation and enjoyment of art, support the creative efforts of artists, and enhance the quality of life through interpreting, collecting, and exhibiting art, architecture, and design.

Position Overview: The Director of Curatorial Affairs and Programs (DCAP) is a key strategic role. They work closely with the President and Executive Director (ED) to develop and oversee all of the curatorial programming including exhibitions, commissions, public art and practice, artists residencies, studio programs, talks, events, public programs and publications. They are responsible for managing budgets and fundraising for the program and to cultivate and maintain effective relationships with donors, collectors, gallerists and artists. They are responsible for leading an integrated program across all strands of activity and work closely with the Director of Education and Content Team (CT) to position the QM as a leading institution for contemporary art, social practice and culture. They lead the Content Team and support interdepartmental planning and collaboration. They are responsible for ensuring that the QM Collection and archive is well managed and activated through exhibitions and programs.

Essential Functions:

Exhibitions and Programs

Lead and manage the Exhibitions and Programs team and external curators to plan, curate and deliver an integrated program of exhibitions, commissions and public projects and a wide range of events and programs including publications and digital content.
Work with the ED and CT to set the artistic priorities and develop a curatorial strategy for the Museum and its wide reaching program of exhibitions, public practice and programs, digital content and community and socially engaged practice.
Work with the ED, ET and HoE to develop plans and content for the Queens Children’s Museum (as part of the QM site launching in 2024)
Lead the CT meetings and set priorities and ensure that an integrated approach to exhibitions, research, collections development, interpretation, public programs, and community practice and publications is fostered institutionally.
Solicit and evaluate proposals by guest curators and other consultants in exhibition design, architecture, visual arts, film and video.
Negotiate with museums, private collectors, donors, artists, and art dealers to secure and manage loans and organize co-commissions, partnerships and tours.
Oversee registration, conservation, framing, and proper care of objects for exhibitions.
Develop interpretive materials for exhibitions in collaboration with the Head of Education and Communications Manager.

Representing QM

Serve as a spokesperson and advocate for the Queens Museums’ overall artistic program as needed.
Promote and support institution-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; attend and participate in Board of Trustee meetings as needed and maintain high standards of professional behaviour at all times.
Work directly with trustees, donors, patrons, and other colleagues in the field, both nationally and internationally, to advance the QM mission and profile.
Maintain a high level of research and visibility within the field by contributing to and participating in professional conferences, symposia, juries, and national/international events

Team management

Encourage and facilitate a culture of collaboration and support departments to ensure effective communication, efficiencies, and accountability.
Lead cross-departmental efforts toward long-range planning to align with the organization’s mission and vision.
Work closely with senior leadership to attract, develop, and retain talent to ensure that people with the right skills and motivations to meet institutional needs are in the right place at the right time.
Work closely with the Communications Manager to develop and shape seasonal content plans and work closely with staff across programmatic areas to generate and contribute content on a timely and regular basis.
Regularly review performance of staff and hold weekly staff management meetings.
Establish work scope for fellows and interns and ensure they are well supervised
Attend Senior Staff meetings and ET meetings.

Collection management

Supervise the Collection and Archive Manager and work with the ED to identify acquisitions, including identifying objects for purchase and making valuations.
Oversee the registration and digitization of the records and archives of the collection
Ensure Acquisitions Committee meetings are properly prepared and be responsible for committee meeting minutes and actions.

Finance, fundraising, and administration

Develop budget/programming priorities for the artistic program on an annual and multi-year basis; work closely with the team to develop budgets in support of larger institutional program goals and artistic vision.
Oversee the administration of the annual budgets for the Exhibitions and Programs department, in collaboration with the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Finance, to ensure budget goals are met at the end of each fiscal year.
Work closely with the ED and Director of External Affairs to cultivate and solicit donors to support institutional priorities and ensure that donor engagement is nurtured in the team and led by example..
Work closely with colleagues in the Development Department to develop fundraising strategies and secure contributions for individual projects, broader cross-disciplinary initiatives, and annual operating support.
Maintain relationships with collectors, gallerists and a wide range of donors to support the organization.
Prepare Board papers and presentations as needed.

QM employees may be assigned other duties and the essential functions of the position may change or be changed with or without notice.

Competencies:

Well-organized with strong attention to detail
Demonstrates initiative, resourcefulness, and a creative approach to problem-solving
Thrives in culturally diverse settings
Displays a high level of support for colleagues, builds professional and respectful relationships with others
Adaptability and flexibility

Qualifications

Proven experience in museum management including exhibition and artistic program coordination and presentation, collections and acquisitions development, interpretation and public programs, project management, team leadership, staff supervision, and budget development/administration.
Ability to use a team approach to plan and produce complex, interdisciplinary programming.
Extensive knowledge and relationships in the contemporary art field across disciplines
Demonstrated track record with curating, scholarship, and publications
Experience in art acquisitions, organization of exhibitions, preparation of catalogs, and supervision of gallery installations and other programmatic events
Wide-ranging international experience; ability and enthusiasm for working with diverse artistic and community groups
Strong leadership, interpersonal, planning, and organizational skills; excellent written and verbal communication skills; public speaking, negotiation, problem-solving, and meeting management skills.
Demonstrated commitment to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in programming, staff, and audience experience
Knowledge of fundraising principles and practices in the arts and proven relationships with a wider range of donors.

Requirements

Degree required; advanced degree preferred.
At least 8 years of experience as a manager and senior curator with established arts organizations.
How to apply: Apply through our online careers portal

Submit a cover letter describing your interest in this position and a resume outlining your previous work experience. The QM is accepting applications for this position on a rolling basis. Please note: only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Benefits:

This is a full-time benefits eligible position to participate in the following benefits:

Paid Vacation, Sick & Personal Days
Paid Holidays
Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits
Retirement Benefits (401K savings plan, Pension plan, and Life Insurance policy)
Free admission to NYC Cultural Institutions Groups (CIG)s

EEOC Statement:
The Queens Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, familial status, marital status, military status, sexual orientation, genetic information, HIV status, arrest record, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, genetic information, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Our management team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities and general treatment during employment. Our commitment to equal opportunity employment applies to all persons involved in our operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee, including supervisors and co-workers.

New York City Key to New York COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate:
The highest priority of the Queens Museum is safeguarding the health and safety of its employees and communities. It is therefore the policy of the QM to require employees to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a measure of public safety. The QM is committed to complying with all legal requirements applicable to it, including NYC’s Key to NY Executive Order #225, which requires that all covered business entities, including art museums citywide, not permit employees or patrons to enter the premises without proof of vaccination, effective August 17, 2021. As such, proof of COVID-19 vaccination is a condition of employment of the Queens Museum under New York City ordinance. This job offer is conditional upon proof of COVID-19 vaccination, which is to be submitted to Human Resources prior to the start of work date stated on this letter. Requests for reasonable accommodations for persons who cannot show proof of vaccination because of a disability, pregnancy, religious belief, status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking, or sex offenses or for medical, or other covered reasons will be considered in accordance with all applicable laws.