Visual Merchandising Director jobs in Springfield, MA

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

About the Fine Arts Center

The Fine Arts Center seeks to engage and inspire the campus and regional communities in the arts through a broad array of exemplary performances, exhibitions, and educational programs. Since its founding in 1975, the UMass Fine Arts Center has been a central force in the cultural, social and academic life of the University, the Five College campuses, and the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. The Fine Arts Center's combination of educational, visual, and performing arts programs not only makes us unique, but provides affordable access to high quality arts programming that advance knowledge and improve lives.

The University Museum of Contemporary Art - the teaching museum of the University Massachusetts Amherst - is a multidisciplinary, international laboratory for the exploration and advancement of contemporary art. Through exhibitions, a permanent collection, educational programming, and a visiting artists program, the University Museum of Contemporary Art acts as a forum where renowned and emerging artists can test ideas and where diverse audiences can participate in cultural experiences that enhance understanding of the art of our time.

The Hampden Gallery, located in the Southwest residential complex, provides students and the University community with challenging and diverse contemporary exhibitions that introduce works in new and experimental media. Augusta Savage Gallery, located in New Africa House, is a multicultural and multi-arts facility. Its mission is to promote artistic works from a broad spectrum of cultures which enlighten the viewer on such issues as race, ethnicity, class, and cultural identity.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of the Fine Arts Center (FAC) at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, the FAC seeks a Visual Arts Director to provide executive leadership and to articulate a strong and broad vision for the FAC's three visual arts entities including: the University Museum of Contemporary Art, Augusta Savage and Hampden Galleries. Additionally, through strategic partnerships with campus and community stakeholders, this position will develop and support opportunities for and engagement with public art exhibitions and community art making activities across campus.

The Visual Arts Director manages the staff and resources of the museum and galleries to ensure strong, dynamic exhibition and educational programs; appropriate care of the permanent collection consistent with best museum professional practices; sound fiscal operations; a vibrant marketing program; and coordination with the intellectual and academic life of the university. The Visual Arts Director works closely and collaboratively with FAC staff, faculty, as well as various other university and external constituents to meet the strategic objectives of the museum and galleries.

Essential Functions

Vision and Advocacy:

In collaboration with the FAC Director:

• Represents and provides strategic vision for FAC visual arts programs, on campus and in the community.
• Brings a broad vision of the potential inherent in Museum and gallery exhibitions, collections, and related programming, and serves as a forceful advocate for the visual arts.
• Provides overall strategy and direction for the exhibition and educational programs, as well as the care, maintenance, and growth of the permanent Research/Study Collection (20^th and 21^st century works of art on paper -- prints, drawings, and photographs; large-scale outdoor public art sculpture).
• Develops and maintains a diversity plan that builds access and inclusion for all museum constituencies.

Curatorial:

• Curates exhibitions at the Museum that foster critical thinking; provides new interpretations and the creation of new knowledge; writes/edits accompanying scholarly publications (in print and on line).
• Provides supportive leadership and guidance to all visual arts areas and curatorial thought partnership to the Education Curator and the Associate Directors of Hampden and Augusta Savage Galleries.

Education and Pedagogy:

• Works closely with the Visual Arts Education Curator to foster curricular connections across the Visual Arts vertical.
• In collaboration with the Marketing Office and IT Manager, oversees a multi-purpose website as an online resource that documents and archives of all past and present exhibitions and public events; publicizes programs; serves as a vehicle for research and educational initiatives; and as a site for student and faculty curated, virtual exhibitions and artists' projects.

Fundraising:

• Seeks funding from municipal, state, and federal grants along with other appropriate public sources.
• Collaborates and partners with UMAF to request short and long-term needs for private support to ensure alignment with the priorities of the Visual Arts Programs.

Marketing and PR:

• Works with the appropriate Fine Arts Center, University, and Visual Arts staff to develop and manage comprehensive and coordinated marketing and public relations plans.

Managerial and Fiscal Oversight:

In collaboration with the FAC's Deputy Director:

• Ensures appropriate professional museum and gallery standards are maintained.
• Supervises staff including a system of hiring, discipline, annual performance evaluation, training and mentoring.
• Ensures development and maintenance of an effective program to recruit and train appropriate student employees.
• Chairs regular meetings of a UMCA Advisory Board and an Art Acquisitions Committee.
• Prepares and manages an annual UMCA budget that meets the strategic objectives of the museum. Oversees the budgets for the galleries in collaboration with the Associate Gallery Directors.

Other Functions

• Demonstrates commitment to cultural diversity.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Master's Degree in the Fine Arts or related field.
• 5-7 years of progressive leadership experience in the visual arts field.
• Career track of ambitious leadership, collaboration and partnership, reflecting an understanding of all aspects of the internal and external operations of a significant academic art museum, including education, curatorial, and publications, with knowledge of recent trends in museology.
• Commitment to, and passion for, the visual arts from many cultures, both past and present, with a strong specialization in modern and contemporary art.
• Strong background in contemporary art by artists of African descent.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

Work Schedule

Varies; may include some nights and weekends.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please apply online and provide cover letter, resume, and contact information for three (3) professional references. Search will remain open until a suitable candidate pool has been identified.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.