Assistant Director for Gallery and Exhibition Planning

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Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

The Harvard Art Museums

Ever since their founding, the Harvard Art Museums—the Fogg Museum, Busch-Reisinger Museum and Arthur M. Sackler Museum—have been dedicated to advancing and supporting learning at Harvard University, in the local community, and around the world. Displayed in galleries that mix not only media but schools of art, the collection at Harvard is celebrated and interrogated within a larger story of artistic expression and historical and contemporary issues. The diverse collection is among the largest in the United States. Through research, teaching, professional training, and public education the museums strive to advance the understanding and appreciation of art.

The Assistant Director Gallery and Exhibition Planning works across museum teams to realize temporary exhibitions, presentations in the collection galleries, and related spaces from initiation through closure. With the Director, they shape and guide the development and realization of exhibitions and collection displays that create meaningful encounters with works of art of varying media and from diverse regions, time periods, and areas of human experience. This position also supports the reach of the collection through traveling and partnered exhibitions. Leads planning process for establishing the schedule of exhibitions; develops and manages short- and long-term budgets for the exhibition program and oversees administration of all temporary exhibitions and collection displays; serves on the Directors’ team and other institutional teams as assigned.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with the museums’ leadership, defines projects, coordinates planning and scheduling with contributing departments, manages execution, and tracks progress. With leadership, develops a strategy, defines and sets the concept goals, and ensures a balance of divisional representation, media, etc. 
• In all matters works closely with related staff in Curatorial, Collections Management, Editorial and Design Services, Institutional Advancement and Finance. Provides guidance and direction, as needed, and maintains active communication. 
• Drafts, develops, and manages exhibition budgets. Works closely with Curatorial, Finance, and Institutional Advancement to identify funding sources and to complete and submit the working budgets. Under the general direction of the museum’s Director, monitors expenditures, its impact on funding and provides approval as appropriate. Reconciles deviations or unanticipated expenses.
• Drafts, develops, and manages contracts and relationships with external partners and contributors, including artists and institutions related to commissions and traveling exhibitions. 
• Sets institutional review process, from proposal to approval; develops and communicates strategies and processes to stakeholders and project teams. Continuously reviews and revises for effectiveness and relevance, consulting with stakeholders as appropriate.
• Forms cross-departmental exhibition project teams and manages toward timely completion; sets milestones within the project plan, assigns activities and timelines. Sets project team meeting schedules, directs agendas, and facilitates discussions. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements:

This position is conducted in an office setting.

Basic Qualifications are the minimum requirements a candidate must meet to be considered for this role.

• Minimum of seven years of exhibition project management experience in an art museum or other cultural properties institution.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

Bachelor’s degree in art history, museum studies, arts administration, or other relevant discipline strongly preferred. Supervisory experience desirable. Outstanding organizational and time management skills. Demonstrated successful problem-solving abilities. Proven ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships at all levels of an organization. Experience in monitoring and/or managing complex budgets. Skills in meeting management and facilitation very helpful. Proven ability to accomplish goals amid sometimes conflicting priorities. Must be able to work both independently and as an effective team member. 

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Harvard University requires pre-employment reference and background screenings: Identity, Education, Criminal
• Other Information:
  • This position may be considered for a hybrid schedule.
  • This position will have a 3-month orientation and review period. 
     

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Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 058. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.