Summary:
Reporting to the Director of Design and Operations, the Exhibitions Project Coordinator supports all phases of exhibition design, exhibition planning, project management, installation, and crew coordination. The role coordinates multiple concurrent projects within the Exhibitions Department and provides day-to-day administrative support to ensure the successful delivery of dynamic, frequently rotating exhibitions and installations, including supplies management and ordering, materials tracking, and coordination of fabrication needs.
This role requires professionalism, strong communication skills, and a collaborative approach. The ideal candidate is proactive, highly organized, and solutions-oriented, with the energy to balance competing priorities and the attention to detail needed to deliver high-quality results. This role also is highlighted by hands-on installation work as a lead installation crew member.
The Exhibitions Project Coordinator works closely with the Director of Design and Operations and colleagues in the Exhibitions Department, and collaborates with museum staff across Curatorial, Registration + Collections, Education, Communications, and Development.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
-
Responsible for all phases of the physical exhibition installation and de-installation process, including, but not limited to; art handling, gallery preparation, wall painting, and the installation of artwork, exhibit-related technology, and exhibition graphics.
-
Serve as a lead installation crew member with an emphasis on instruction and team building, while assisting with the oversight of on-call installation staff.
-
Responsible for the handling, packing, and transport of artwork within the Museum.
-
Responsible for maintaining the Exhibitions Department’s materials, supplies, and overall supply chain to support both daily activities and exhibition installations.
-
Assist the Director of Design and Operations with logistical coordination and correspondence with exhibiting artists, SJMA staff, guest curators, guest registrars, guest installation assistance, couriers, and visiting or contract installation support staff.
-
Provide day-to-day administrative support for the Exhibitions Department.
-
Maintain the premises, galleries, and production spaces through frequent and regular inspections.
-
Assist the Chief Preparator with the fabrication of all exhibition and project furniture.
-
Assist with the maintenance of all departmental tools and equipment.
-
Assist the Director of Design and Operations with the production and installation of exhibition and museum graphics.
-
Responsible for the production and installation of exhibition labels.
-
Work closely withSJMA’s CollectionsManager andRegistrar to maintain the art storage facility.
-
Other potential duties may be assigned or requested.
Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience: Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university preferred, and five (5) years related experience as a crew member or preparator and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Computer Skills: Competence with Microsoft Office 365, the Adobe Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Media Encoder), and Google SketchUp.
Other Skills and Abilities: Strong experience in financial resource management, budget development, and forecasting. Demonstrated proficiency in strategic planning, critical thinking, and problem solving. Strong skills in coaching, evaluating, and motivating staff. Comfortable managing multiple projects simultaneously and meeting deadlines. Experienced with leadership and management concepts and tools, and best practices in the field.
Other Qualifications: Strong writing, speaking, presentation, and active listening skills. Ability to think strategically, and to develop and execute action plans. Must be able to travel as assigned.
Requires a comprehensive knowledge of: The standard tools, practices and methods used in painting; rough and finish carpentry, as well as cabinet work; and the use of different materials such as the various kinds of lumber, fabrics, plastics, mechanical fasteners and adhesives.
Requires good ability to: Establish and maintain effective working relation-ships with the curatorial staff; design, estimate costs and construct a wide variety of wooden fixtures; physically handle delicate and valuable works of art with extreme ease; direct and work with a small group of assistants in the installation of exhibits.
Requires considerable skill in the use and care of hand and power tools and in the use and application of a variety of materials.
Collaborates effectively with all stakeholders, fostering a culture of '1SJMA' through respectful and collegial communication, while building trust and strong working relationships across the institution and maintaining an inclusive approach towards all.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to handle, grasp, and manipulate tools, materials, and artwork, and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently bends, stoops, kneels, crouches, climbs, and balances, and may occasionally crawl in order to install, de-install, pack, move, or prepare artworks and exhibition components. The position also requires the ability to talk, hear, and work safely in active exhibition, storage, and preparation environments.
Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee works in a museum environment that includes galleries, art storage areas, workshops, and loading or receiving spaces, and may occasionally be exposed to outside weather conditions during loading, unloading, or transport activities. The noise level is typically moderate, with occasional periods of higher noise during installation, construction, or de-installation activity.
Other: Demonstrates a clear commitment to SJMA's values of Collaboration, Care, Curiosity, and Inclusion. Ability to work with discretion and diplomacy; excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills; organized and detail-oriented. Can be depended upon to report consistently to work at scheduled time and is seldom absent from work. Notifies supervisor with appropriate notice when absent. Completes work in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner and is conscientious about assignments. Follows instructions, responds to management direction, takes responsibility for own actions, and keeps commitments.
About Us:
The San José Museum of Art (SJMA) is a contemporary art museum dedicated to inclusivity, new thinking, and visionary ideas. Founded in 1969 by artists and community leaders, its dynamic exhibitions, collection, and programs resonate with defining characteristics of San José and Silicon Valley–from its rich diversity to its hallmark innovative ethos. The Museum offers lifelong learning for school children and their educators, multigenerational families, creative adults, university students and faculty, and community groups. SJMA is committed to being a borderless museum, essential to creative life throughout the diverse communities of San José and beyond: https://sjmusart.org/about ;
SJMA has been awarded re-accreditation by the American Association of Museums (AAM), a recognition given to just 1,106 of the nation’s 33,000 museums and SJMA is one of only 78 museums accredited in California. With its mix of self-assessment, peer review, and public recognition, AAM Accreditation ensures the integrity and accessibility of museum collections, reinforces the education and public service roles of museums, and requires good governance practices and ethical behavior. SJMA has been awarded Charity Navigator Four Stars and Guidestar Platinum Transparency, noting the highest non-profit distinctions exceeding or meeting best practices and industry standards.
Located near the Plaza de César Chavez in downtown San José, the Museum serves 100,000 people a year, including 30,000 school children, and is the largest provider of arts education in Santa Clara County.
SJMA conducts pre-employment, post-offer background checks in accordance with state and federal law.
SJMA is actively seeking individuals from diverse backgrounds. We deeply appreciate cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity, as well as different gender expressions and abilities. We encourage BIPOC, LGBTQ+, bilingual or multilingual candidates, and individuals with disabilities to apply. As an equal opportunity employer, we at SJMA highly esteem the diversity of individuals and the multitude of ideas, perspectives, insights, and values they contribute to our workplace.
SJMA's hiring policy requires all candidates to be at least 18 years of age. Due to the high volume of interest, regrettably, we cannot respond to individual applicants. If you are selected as a potential candidate, SJMA will contact you to schedule an interview. No phone calls, please.
Salary Range: $28.00 - $33.00 per hour.
