Manager of Installation at MASS MoCA

Job Title: Manager of Installation

Job Status: Full-time

Location: North Adams, MA

Salary: $55,000

Description

The Manager of Installation is a key position within the Visual Arts Department at MASS MoCA. The Manager of Installation works in close collaboration with the Managers of Fabrication and Registration, as well as the Director of Exhibitions, to plan, design, fabricate, install, and care for exhibitions and installations throughout the museum. The ideal candidate for this role excels in the execution of large-scale site-responsive installations, working directly with living artists, managing a full-time team of 4 that can grow to almost 10 people during installs, and meeting deadlines. Additionally the role serves as the primary lighting designer for all exhibitions. 

This position is responsible for overseeing all installation needs for the Visual Arts department, including hiring of crew; working with individual curators to stay on schedule and on budget; and ensuring the safety of the installation team, artists, patrons, and art during times of installation. The Manager of Installation works closely with visiting artists to facilitate installation, residencies, and fabrication for upcoming installations. This position reports to the Director of Exhibitions and manages a four-person installation/fabrication crew.

Job Duties:

Administrative/Project Management:

  • Oversees all gallery installations and deinstallations, managing resources and time to complete projects by set deadlines.
  • Collaborates with Managers of Registration and Fabrication, and Director of Exhibitions, to move projects along the exhibitions pipeline from design to fabrication to installation to care and maintenance.
  • Works with Senior Manager of Registration to schedule installation and shipping with artist and staff availability in mind to ensure the sharing of information and collaborative scheduling of all work needed for all exhibitions.
  • Maintains preparator/fabrication weekly schedules and workloads in collaboration with Managers of Registration and Fabrication
  • On call for any onsite exhibition related emergencies along with Director of Exhibitions and Senior Manager of Registration
  • Manages expenses and vendors related to exhibition installation.

Management:

  • The position will hire, evaluate, assign duties, and undertake performance reviews of the art installation/fabrication crew including holding daily morning meetings and with the Senior Manager of Registration overseeing daily art checks; as well as assigning team members tasks as needed.
  • This position will train staff, when necessary, on any of the following: proper safety, material handling, artwork handling and packing, use of all tools common in installation process, administrative tools and systems for scheduling, and protocols for working with artists and/or registrars.
  • This position will laisse with Security on any gallery closures or safety issues.
  • Work with the Director of Exhibitions and Senior Manager of Registration on appointing all installation hires.
  • Develop and implement ongoing training and skill development programs for departmental staff, in collaboration with the Director of Exhibitions.
  • Ensure all team members keep up to date with required certifications and training, including MEWP and forklift certification.
  • Ensure and promote safety in all activities and departmental projects.

Production for Exhibitions:

  • Serve as primary lighting designer for all exhibitions. Manage lighting equipment inventory and maintenance of lighting in all galleries.
  • Manage timelines for all gallery installations, delegating projects to team members, liaising between curators, artists and installation team.
  • Design and implement installation hardware and strategies for commissions and installations, working in tandem with Managers of Registration and Fabrication.
  • Develop packing and crating plans, and ensure the proper handling and care of artworks before, during, and after installation, and in accordance with museum standards.
  • Experience with proper art handling and packing etiquette, for installation and deinstallation but also daily art checks to ensure that works on view are safe and clean
  • Ensure health and safety measures essential to all of the above processes, as well as an understanding of building code, accessibility, and fire and safety needs for fabricated installation
  • Devising rigging and hoisting plans for large sculptures, liaising with crane operators and vendors when required.
  • Valid driver’s license and experience with box trucks and other art moving vehicles.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

  • 5-7 years of experience in museum exhibitions, art fabrication, or public art installation, with at least 2 years experience as a manager. 
  • Bachelor’s degree in Art and Design (or equivalent experience)—we are open to any combination of alternative experience and/or school that you feel qualifies you for this position. Please use your cover letter and resume to convey this experience and why you feel it is relevant to the position.
  • Excellent work ethic, craftsmanship, practical problem solving, creative thinking, embracing collaborative practice, and understanding of team spirit. 
  • Ability to work comfortably and safely at height and experience using scissor lifts and forklifts.
  • Experience in the field of exhibition lighting 
  • The ability to communicate clearly with colleagues, collaborators and artists. 
  • Knowledge of standards for packing, crating, handling, and installing artworks.
  • Ability to read and understand shop drawings, blueprints, and design plans.
  • Computer literate with the ability to understand and use project management tools, spreadsheets, and Google Drive.
  • Deep understanding of and commitment to DEAI work within the context of art museums and exhibitions.
  • The most competitive candidate will have experience working with artists to realize their vision.

Additional Skills: In addition to the above list qualifications, please outline your experience with any of the following:

  • CNC routing, digital fabrication, and CAD.
  • Audio/Visual installation, including projection mapping and multi-channel video and sound.
  • Skills in wood, metal, moldmaking, and plastics, along with experience in the broad range of hand and power tools for manipulating these materials 
  • MIG, TIG, oxy-acetylene welding and cutting, arc welding, plasma cutting, and miscellaneous metal engineering machines
  • Proficiency with digital rendering tools (i.e. sketch up, rhino, CAD); and manual drafting techniques.
  • Art-handling and packing etiquette, for installation and deinstallation.

Work Conditions 

  • Some duties of this position require being able to work outside, potentially in inclement weather for extended periods of time.
  • Duties require sitting at a desk.
  • Duties require working in dusty and loud environments.
  • Potential for overtime and weekends during installation periods

Physical Requirements

  • Ability to stand, walk, and/or sit for extended periods of time with limited breaks
  • Ability to use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arm, and reach above shoulder height.
  • The employee is regularly required to climb or balance, squat, kneel, and crouch. 
  • The employee must regularly be able to lift and/or move up to 50+ pounds and move heavy objects as required.
  • Ability to climb ladders and operate mechanical lifts and power tools
  • Ability, mobility, and license to drive a motor vehicle
  • Acute vision, hearing, voice, smell, and sense of touch
  • Employee is required to move about their work area, between buildings and the campus grounds, ascend and descend stairs
  • Must be able to wear PPE when necessary

Exempt. Minimum starting salary of $55k

TO APPLY

Please apply directly through our website: Manager of Installation.

Deadline: 4/30/2024

This job was sourced via NYFA