Exhibitions Associate

Seattle Art Museum (SAM)

Location: Seattle, WA
Position Type: Full-Time
Compensation: $27.50 – $29.79 per hour
Reports To: Sr. Manager of Exhibitions & Publications
Hours: 35 hours/week

The Exhibitions Associate will support the Senior Manager of Exhibitions & Publications in managing 15-20 exhibitions at various stages of planning. Responsibilities include project management, documentation, rights & reproductions, payment processing, and cross-departmental collaboration. The role will also assist with organizing exhibitions, including coordinating artist hospitality, handling exhibition materials, and maintaining exhibition documentation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Exhibitions Project Management:
  • Manage exhibition planning via Asana, adjusting timelines and deliverables.
  • Schedule and attend cross-departmental meetings, ensuring next steps are captured.
  • Lead internal training on exhibition planning tools.
  • Coordinate with Marketing & Communications to update exhibition info on SAM’s website.
  • Maintain exhibition documentation on internal channels and file storage.
  • Execute payments related to exhibition planning and work with the Finance department for documentation.
• External Rights & Reproductions:
  • Obtain and clear reproduction rights for images used in exhibitions.
  • Process payments for images and educational materials used in galleries.
  • Oversee legal agreements for image and video use in exhibitions.
  • Maintain and share usage guidelines for images with other departments.
• Other Duties:
  • Support additional duties as requested by the Exhibitions & Publications department.

Qualifications:

• Experience:
  • 4+ years of professional work experience.
  • 2+ years of experience in image rights and copyright administration.
• Skills:
  • Proficiency in Asana, Microsoft Office Suite, and Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Acrobat).
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Experience in project management and database management.
  • Knowledge of U.S. copyright law and archival procedures.
• Preferred:
  • Advanced project management coursework or PMP certification.
  • Familiarity with art terminology and institutions, exhibition planning, and using TMS.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and Flexible Spending Accounts.
• 403b retirement plan with 3% employer contribution after 1 year.
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Discounts at SAM Museum Shop and MARKET café.
• Access to onsite fitness facility.

Working Conditions:

• Primarily office-based with exposure to moderate background noise.
• Ability to perform desk-based work for 80% of the time and some movement around the work area.
• Clear verbal and written communication in English required.