Head of Exhibition Preparation & Installation

The Ackland Art Museum is both the best college or university art museum in North Carolina and a very complex organization. With nearly 30 employees, dozens of volunteers, and a budget of approximately $4M per year, the Ackland maintains a collection of over 20,000 works of art. It produces four big exhibitions and many smaller installations annually.

The museum receives nearly 60,000 visitors, always free of charge, who come from all 100 North Carolina counties, across the nation, and internationally each year. The Ackland serves UNC students, faculty, and the public through its special exhibitions, programs, and activities based on its permanent collection. The staff of the Ackland works with approximately 150 faculty and graduate instructors each year to provide opportunities for them to meet their teaching and research goals by bringing their classes to the museum (approximately 10,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students). The Ackland provides approximately 20 internships annually for both graduate and undergraduate students. It welcomes and trains a corps of 30 docents to work with K-12 schools and the public.

The Head of Exhibition Preparation and Installation leads and manages all aspects of exhibition preparation, design support, fabrication, construction, installation, and de-installation for museum exhibitions and permanent collection displays. This position oversees art handling, packing and transport, mount making, gallery preparation, exhibition maintenance, and art storage operations to ensure the safe care and presentation of works of art. The position collaborates closely with curatorial, registration, conservation, and facilities staff to plan and implement exhibitions, manage museum spaces, and support long-range facilities planning.

Additionally, the Head of Exhibition Preparation and Installation supervises preparatory staff and contractors, manages departmental budgets and resources, and ensures adherence to museum and industry best practices for the care, transport, and display of art.

Bachelor's degree in a discipline related to the area of assignment and one year of experience that demonstrates possession of the competencies necessary to perform the work; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

-Experience overseeing the entire lifecycle of an exhibit installation, including facility management.

-Experience in handling a diverse array of fine art and media.

-Knowledge of the exhibition furniture standards required to display and support art.

-Experience managing staff.

-Experience collaborating with various departments and living artists.

-Ability to use diverse hand and power tools (including cabinet and shop equipment of varying sizes and complexity), moving vans, hydraulic lifts, dollies with or without reasonable accommodations.

-Ability to climb and to work on ladders for extended periods of time; to reach works of art above shoulder level; to lift heavy objects up to 50 pounds; and to stand or to walk for an eight-hour workday with or without reasonable accommodations.

Not Applicable.