Director: University Art Museum, State University of New York at Albany, SUNY

The University at Albany SUNY seeks a visionary leader to provide administrative, artistic, and intellectual leadership for the University Art Museum, a recognized cultural asset of UAlbany and the regional community. The director is responsible for all aspects of the museum’s general operations, exhibitions, permanent collection, fundraising, educational programs, and involvement in the growing regional arts community. S/he will be committed to integrating the museum into the University’s overall educational mission by providing opportunities for teaching and learning through exhibitions, collections, publications and programs. An energetic fundraiser, with experience in grant writing and donor cultivation, the director will work to increase the museum’s attendance and base of financial support. The director is responsible for day-to-day operations and for developing and managing the museum’s annual budget.

UAlbany Description

Established in 1844, the University at Albany is the oldest state-chartered public institution of higher education in New York and a major research university center within the 64-camopus State University of New York System.  UAlbany employs 1,000 full and part-time faculty and enrolls 17,600 students, including 4,600 graduate students, in nine degree-granting schools and colleges.  The University offers 50 bachelor’s and more than 120 programs leading to master’s and doctoral degrees in the arts and sciences, business, criminal justice, education, engineering and applied sciences, public affairs and policy, public health, and social welfare.  A new college of emergency preparedness, homeland security, and cybersecurity is also being created.  The faculty generates more than $285 million annually in external funding.  UAlbany’s programs are based on three campuses in New York’s Capital Region, approximately 120 miles north of New York City.  The institution’s proximity to New York City and the Hudson River corridor has generated increased activity and support for the arts throughout the Upper Hudson Capital Region.

Mission/Program Description

The mission of the University Art Museum is to advance knowledge and foster understanding in contemporary visual arts. Through exhibitions, collections, educational programs, and publications the museum seeks to provide a forum for art, artists, and audiences that enriches the intellectual life of the university and community.

Founded in 1967, the museum’s 9,000 square foot facility was designed by architect Edward Durell Stone and, along with much of the uptown campus, is recognized as an icon of late 20th century modernist architecture. The museum organizes four to six individual and thematic exhibitions a year, presents lectures, tours, classes, and other public programming frequently in collaboration with other programs and academic departments. It is responsible for the care, conservation, and exhibition of the University Art Collection in accordance with accepted standards in the museum field. Over 13,000 visitors attend exhibitions and events each year.

The director supervises a staff of seven full and part-time employees (5.15 FTE): Associate Director/Curator, Exhibition and Publication Designer, Exhibition and Outreach Coordinator, Preparator, Registrar, two Administrative Assistants, supported by work study students, interns, and volunteers.

This position reports to the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Responsibilities

  • Provide the museum with strategic, collaborative leadership, effective management, and vision guided by its mission.
  • Assure the museum continues to provide programming of the highest quality that is of importance to audiences regionally and nationally with meaningful connections to academic programs and campus wide initiatives.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration and maintain professional and collegial working relationships among a dedicated professional staff with a high degree of experience and expertise.
  • Work with the Associate Director/Curator to plan and implement an innovative program of changing exhibitions and related educational events.
  • Develop and implement policies and procedures for the growth, care, study, exhibition and accessibility of the permanent collection.
  • Work with the Office of Development to raise funds from individuals, foundations, corporations and government sources to support the museum’s operations, programs and to increase the endowment.
  • Includes grant writing, major donor cultivation, and supporting Office of Development’s fundraising efforts across the University.
  • Oversee day-to-day operations in accordance with standards in the field and in compliance with the University’s policies and procedures.
  • Oversee all financial and budgetary functions and maintain annual museum budget, including income and expense projections.
  • Create and maintain strategies to increase the museum’s visibility, attendance, and recognition in the museum field and contemporary art world.
  • Responsible for supervision of personnel in accordance with the University’s HR policies and procedures.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion as a core value and to bringing cultural experiences to a wide and diverse audience.
  • Serve as a persuasive advocate and spokesperson for the museum and represent its interests to the university, community, patrons, as well as to regional and national art communities.
  • Cultivate relationships and collaborative partnerships that will continue to increase awareness of the museum’s programs on-campus, regionally, nationally and among peer

Minimum Qualifications

  • A degree or equivalent in art history, museum studies or related field.
  • At least five years of senior administrative experience directly related to responsibilities outlined above.
  • Deep understanding, expertise and dedication to the field of contemporary art.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of professional museum standards and procedures.
  • Demonstrated ability to work productively in a culturally diverse community.
  • Willing to work nights and weekends as needed to accommodate operational and programmatic needs.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Ability to foster an environment of exemplary professionalism and commitment among staff, to build strong working relationships with other university departments and cultural institutions in the region.
  • Record of success in grant writing and fundraising.
  • Competence in managing museum operations including budget, personnel, and audience development.
  • Track record of distinguished, innovative exhibitions and programming.

Professional Rank: Director of Art Museum, SL-5

Please apply online via http://albany.interviewexchange.com/candapply.jsp?JOBID=72987

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, without exception, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University’s crime statistics for the past three years; and disclosures regarding the University’s current campus security policies. The University at Albany’s Annual Security Report is available in portable document format [PDF] by clicking this link http://police.albany.edu/ASR.shtml

THE UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY IS AN EO/AA/IRCA/ADA EMPLOYER

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