Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs
UMMA seeks a creative, dynamic Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs to partner with the Museum Director to develop and lead the creative and curatorial vision of the institution.
Position Summary
UMMA seeks a creative, dynamic Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs to partner with the Museum Director to develop and lead the creative and curatorial vision of the institution, oversee a dynamic exhibition program, and provide strategic vision and managerial oversight for the Museum’s collection, including public art, and the curatorial department.
The senior leadership team comprises the Deputy Director of Public Experience and Learning the, the Deputy Director of Operations, the Chief Development Officer, the Director of Marketing and Public Relations, and the Strategic Advisor. As a key member of that team, the Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs plays a key role in setting institutional priorities, forging new creative directions, and advancing the Museum’s mission through bold and innovative curatorial projects.
This position provides strategic leadership across the curatorial division – directly supervising the curatorial staff and the Director of Exhibitions and Publications. They will also have oversight over the exhibitions & publications and collections & registration teams – all in service of leading curatorial and collections initiatives in accordance with standard museum practice and guidelines of the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD), Association of Art Museum Curators (AAMC) and the American Alliance of Museums (AAM).
An essential aspect of this role is fostering and maintaining strong relationships with current and prospective donors, in close collaboration with the Chief Development Officer and Museum Director. The Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs will play a key role in cultivating philanthropic support for exhibitions, acquisitions, and curatorial initiatives, and the Museum as a whole—actively engaging collectors, patrons, and funders to strengthen and grow the Museum’s donor community. A passion for communicating curatorial vision to a wide range of stakeholders, and the ability to inspire support for UMMA’s mission and programs, is crucial.
Reporting to the Museum Director, the Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs will have a well developed curatorial practice and proven experience managing staff. Expertise in modern, and/or contemporary art is required with appreciation for the full range of the field and its global reach.
This unique opportunity will appeal to candidates who thrive in a cohesive, team-based environment, and who are excited by the possibilities of working in a large, research-based university with close interaction with scholars across all disciplines, artists, students, donors and alumni, and a broad, diverse public.
Duties & Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership (35%)
- Collaborates with the Museum Director to conceive and shape a distinctive, compelling exhibition program that advances the Museum’s visibility and reputation, and includes exhibitions that travel nationally and internationally to ensure the Director’s strategic vision is realized. The Museum’s program includes both contemporary and historic exhibitions, and it prioritizes projects that are innovative and current in approach, material, and point of view.
- Collaborates with the Deputy Director of Public Experience and Learning and Museum Director to shape the overall artistic program.
- Directs the creative work of the curatorial team to produce well-researched, exciting, and original exhibitions and programs relevant to contemporary culture and issues, and that achieve established goals for public and campus engagement and impact.
- Provides strategic direction for the collection’s long-term growth, including the university’s public art collection, via the museum’s collection plan.
- Collaborates with the Museum Director to support and shape U-M’s public art program.
- Plays a key role in UMMA’s long-range institutional planning efforts, such as establishing programmatic and collection development priorities and strategic planning.
- Collaborates with UMMA development staff on fundraising, actively cultivating relationships with existing major and potential donors, foundations, collectors, and alumni; leads the Director’s Acquisition Committee (DAC) in partnership with Development staff
Administration and Supervision (35%)
- Supervises the curatorial staff, encouraging their professional growth and collaboration.
- Supervises the Director of Exhibitions and Publications to create publications and programs that expand collections’ research and scholarship and key initiatives.
- In collaboration with the Director of Exhibitions & Publications and Deputy Director for Operations, develops and monitors the curatorial affairs budget that includes exhibitions and publications, registration and collections, and core curatorial budgets.
- Actively mentors curators, interns, and students in current curatorial practices, theories and evolving discourse around curatorial practice, and in particular works to strengthen exhibitions ideas, writing, and implementation.
- Serves as a key member of the senior leadership team.
- Partner with the Deputy Director of Operations on administrative, financial and HR matters.
Creative Output/Service to the Field (30%)
- Builds and maintains a network of professional relationships with artists, curators, gallerists, critics, and other specialists locally, nationally, and globally.
- Contributes actively to programs, talks, symposia, and electronic media.
- Writes and edits exhibition and publication materials that convey sophisticated ideas while also appealing to a broad range of visitors and readers.
- When possible, teaches courses and workshops to undergraduate and graduate students.
Required Qualifications
- PhD in Art History or equivalent experience, with extensive knowledge and emphasis in modern, contemporary, and appreciation for the full range of the field and its global reach.
- 6+ years of curatorial experience in a museum environment.
- 5+ years of proven experience leading and managing museum projects, programs, supervising staff and leading teams, and mentoring others.
- Advanced knowledge of and proven experience in museum curating, research, and collection development.
- Understanding of, and sensitivity to, the breadth of communities served; locally, nationally, and internationally.
- Experience with cultivation and stewardship of donors who are capable of making transformational gifts.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex concepts about history, visual arts, and cultural practice to a public that ranges from casual museum-goers to academics.
- Ability to collaborate internally and externally, and cultivate strong relationships with various stakeholders such as donors, faculty, deans, and other university groups.
- Ability to balance the creative and intellectual work of curatorial oversight with administrative, financial, and practical management duties.
- Ability to maintain the highest ethical standards related to organizational responsibilities and public accountability.
Additional Information
This position is exempt from the LEO-GLAM bargaining unit.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future need for visa sponsorship. We are unable to sponsor visas at this time.
Work Location
This position is primarily in-person and based in Ann Arbor, MI. Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about U-M work modes.
Travel
This role requires domestic and occasional international travel, approximately 25% of the time.
How to Apply
For full consideration please provide a resume with a cover letter, describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the position requirements. Due to system limitations, please submit your cover letter and resume together as one PDF.
Department:
Curatorial Affairs
Location:
In-person
Appointment:
Full-Time
Salary Range:
$145,000-$155,000