Director of Collections and Exhibitions at The Neon Museum

Job Title: Director of Collections and Exhibitions

Job Status: Full-time

Location: Las Vegas, NV

Salary: $100,000 – $110,000

Description

Deadline for applications:            August 31, 2024

Please note, with your applications please submit a current resume and a cover letter describing how your skills and experience align with the requirements of the role.

The Neon Museum is a nationally accredited non-profit organization experiencing tremendous growth. Rooted in a mission dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs for educational, historic, arts and cultural enrichment, The Neon Museum is now embarking on an ambitious new relocation and expansion effort resulting in 80,000 square feet of outdoor exhibition space and, for the first time, 60,000 square feet of indoor space; nearly tripling its existing footprint. We are seeking an experienced, creative, collaborative museum professional who will lend a leading voice to the curation of the current installations as well as the design and content of the Museum’s future iteration. 

Current collections include:

  • over 900 signs from over 200 properties:
  • 1,500 items, contents and reference materials in ephemera and archival collections including matchbooks, postcards, ashtrays, show programs and brochures;
  • 20+ fine art objects,
  • 40 renderings and hundreds of technical drawings;
  • 100 research books;
  • 500 research materials including periodicals, films, oral histories, photos;
  • 2,000 photographs, documents and other archival materials. 

Discussions are underway to expand the collecting scope of the Museum and the Director of Collections and Exhibitions would be a leading voice in that ongoing conversation. 

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities

As a member of the senior leadership team and reporting to the Executive Director, the DCE will lead and define the strategy for the preservation, restoration and exhibition of the Museum’s intellectual and physical collections and archives through permanent collection exhibitions, in-house temporary exhibitions, and travelling exhibitions.

This role will oversee significant growth in the department, and therefore experience in recruiting, building and developing teams to support the goals of the future is essential.  

The successful candidate will move easily from management to community engagement and donor cultivation and stewardship. They will have a track record of important acquisitions and a national network of relationships that help facilitate collection growth.

The DCE is also the staff liaison to the Board’s Collections Committee. 

Collections 

  • With the Executive Director, Collections team, and senior leadership, advise on and continue to refine the strategic vision for the permanent collection, including new directions in acquiring, collecting and defining the Collection Policy that underpin the Museum’s mission and values.
  • With the Collections team, refine and expand the Permanent Collection in accordance with the collections development plan and collections policy, including proactively seeking out new acquisitions and proposing and conducting deaccessions.
  • Provide oversight and historical accuracy to restoration efforts
  • Prioritize acquisitions as well as restoration efforts based on historical representation, urgency of care, and gap in the Museum’s presentation
  • Drive initiatives that makes The Museum’s Collections more accessible to the general public as well as researchers, making them available online.
  • Engage conservators, scholars and other professionals as necessary to support efforts.
  • Ensure accurate, complete and consistent documentation for objects in database, digital files, hard copy files and exhibition labels.
  • Provide oversight with regard to environmental data and pest management as it pertains to outdoor collections.

Exhibitions 

  • Design, promote and deliver a program of Las Vegas-centric travelling exhibitions that align with AAM standards and are bookable by other national and international institutions.
  • Provide strategic oversight for the development of exhibitions with wide community appeal.
  • Oversee the creative and technical design, development, and implementation for the display of objects throughout The Museum’s Collection.
  • Respond positively and promptly to pop-up exhibitions opportunities, which sometimes present themselves with little planning time.
  • Develop and submit annual collections and exhibitions budget for approval and manage allocated budget throughout fiscal year.
  • In coordination with the Learning Department, develop interactive displays and activities for exhibitions as well as to program and interpret the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions.
  • Oversee contracts with artists, institutions, galleries, lenders, traveling venues, artist commissions; tracks loan forms and coordinates shipping and insuring of borrowed artworks.
  • Follow AAM guidelines and Museum standards for format, accuracy, presentation, safety and interpretation of objects.
  • Collaborate with community partners to ensure exhibitions have relevance and connection to a broad audience. 

Administration

  • Works with the Executive Director and Director of Finance to develop and monitor annual budget for the Department.
  • Collaborate with the Executive Director and Director of Advancement to secure public and private contributions to fund special acquisitions, restorations and exhibitions.
  • Strategically structure and define the department organization, and recruit as needed to fulfil.
  • Establish annual goals for Department and conduct annual performance reviews.
  • Provide editorial oversight for exhibition and collection publications, research and other scholarly pieces. 
  • Coordinate and facilitate Museum meetings regarding the Curatorial Department and committees of the Museum Board of Trustees, including the Collections Committee. Prepare meeting agendas and department board reports as needed.
  • Cultivate relationships with artists, collectors, donors, and other key stakeholders.
  • Apply for regional and national awards as they apply to collections and exhibitions.

Staff Management

There are two staff members within the department: the Registrar and the Sr. Collections Manager. The DCE will grow the department by adding a Project Manager in FY25 who will oversee the coordination of traveling exhibitions under the leadership of the DCE. 

The department will grow appropriately to meet the needs of the tangible and intangible collection providing the DCE the opportunity to shape the team. 

Required Skills and Experience

Demonstrable experience leading, building and developing curatorial and exhibition teams in a museum is essential.

  • 5+ years working in an AAM-accredited museum.
  • 5+ years people management experience including hiring, coaching, and team building.
  • Experience defining and managing multi-million dollar budgets.
  • Experience working with non-conventional objects
  • Experience with Collections Management systems essential. The Neon Museum currently uses PastPerfect.
  • Strong program management skills
  • Experience in managing an expansion plan within a cultural organization preferred, such as building or moving to a new location.   
  • Experience working with consultants in Interpretative Planning preferred. 

Desired Skills and Competencies

  • Knowledge of the history of Las Vegas preferred.
  • Demonstrable in:
    • Internal and external leadership
    • collections acquisition, ongoing care & maintenance, deaccession,
    • project management
    • people management
    • financial management
    • customer service and guest recovery
  • Education and Qualifications (required and preferred)
  • M.A. in Art History, Public History, Museum Studies or a discipline closely related to the core responsibilities of this position required, Ph.D. an asset. 
  • Familiarity with the use of archival-related database programs. 
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Outlook, Adobe Creative Suite. 
  • Ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing. Fluency in Spanish is advantageous.

Working Conditions

  • Ability to work outdoors in seasonal desert weather conditions
  • Ability to work indoors in a climate-controlled environment, sitting / standing for long periods of time.
  • Available to work varied shifts and extended hours, including occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays.
  • Ability to lift 35 pounds.
  • Ability to use a computer and office equipment, knowledge and use of Microsoft products
  • Valid clean driver’s license and use of a car.
  • Requires working with the public.

Benefits

  • Subsidized employee health insurance, including dental and vision coverage.
  • Employer-contributed 403(b) retirement plan.
  • Fifteen days paid vacation annually (full time only), increasing with tenure.
  • Additional 10 days observed paid holidays per annum.
  • Paid sick leave.
  • Museum store discount and other discount programs.
  • Counseling and advice benefits.
  • Employee complimentary museum ticket program for friends and family. 

Salary Range

$100,000-$110,000 based on previous experience and applicable skills 

Our Values

The Neon Museum’s culture is driven by our three values:

  • To create a sense of belonging, for both guests and team members, providing a voice for sharing feedback
  • To be scholarly in our work and known as a source of researched and original material
  • To offer fun engagement that encourages commitment in team members, and creates lifelong memories for guests

To Apply

Apply via AAM

Equal Opportunities

The Neon Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer that complies with the laws and regulations set forth under EEOC. As required by the Americans with Disabilities Act reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to help perform the duties and tasks of this position. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Embracing the diversity of our community, and our workforce, is an important part of our values as an organization, as is striving to ensure equity and inclusion in all our practices. We appreciate that in order to provide a collaborative work environment that allows everyone to thrive, acknowledging that every team member plays an essential part in providing our guests with an exceptional experience.

About The Neon Museum

On our existing 2+ acre campus, The Neon Museum offers an outdoor exhibition space known as the Neon Boneyard; the North Gallery, home to the 360 o light and sound experience “Brilliant! Jackpot”; and an awe-inspiring visitors’ center inside the historic lobby of the former La Concha Motel. Public and K-12 education, community outreach and engagement, research, and arts preservation represent a selection of our many ongoing projects. Welcoming 200,000-plus visitors annually, the Museum has received numerous national accolades and extensive recognition as a Las Vegas treasure. 

The Neon Museum enjoys regional, national, and international media attention through print, web, podcast and television. The Neon Museum was recognized alongside The Metropolitan, The Getty, and the Smithsonian as one of the top 27 museums in America by Travel + Leisure.  USA Today named us “The Best Pop Culture Museum.” Museum leadership has become the authority on arts & culture and architecture in Las Vegas by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Travel Weekly, The Times, Forbes, and more.