Association of Academic Museums and Galleries

Responsibilities:

This position reports to the Dean of the College of Fine Arts on a campus of over 41,000 students in the capital city of Florida. Florida State University is home to the Museum of Fine Arts in Tallahassee, FL and the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, FL. The Director is responsible for supervising a professional staff of four to engage and inspire an annual audience of approximately 55,000 visitors; oversee an annual budget of $500K including staff salaries; maintain 8,000 sq. feet of galleries presenting from 18–20 exhibitions each year; publish 3–5 catalogues annually; and promote and preserve a permanent collection of 6,500 artworks. The Director is responsible for significant grant writing to support essential museum activities and is expected to fundraise and to cultivate collectors and perspective donors on behalf of the institution. Providing artistic and executive leadership, the Director works with an active Advisory Council of university leaders as well as community educators to advance the museum’s reputation for excellence in north Florida, across the state, and throughout the country. The Museum of Fine Arts holds accreditation until 2026 from the American Association of Museums and its innovative program of originating exhibitions and publications was cited as exemplary in the 2012 re-accreditation report.

Florida State University; Location: Tallahassee, Florida; Job ID: 42840

Position Title: Director, Museum of Fine Arts; Company Name: Florida State University College of Fine Arts; Job Function: Directors/Administrators; Job Type: Full-time.

Required

• Terminal degree such as an MFA or a doctorate.
• Experience in art museum/gallery operations.
• Experience and a successful track record in administration, collection management, publication, education or exhibition development.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Established grant writing capability.
• Demonstrated art historical and curatorial depth.
• Demonstrated experience with budget development and oversight.
• Experience supervising professional staff.
• Ability to engage and inspire others in the successful implementation of objectives.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups, including museum staff, university faculty and students, museum patrons, guest artists, guest curators, and volunteers / community members, to craft annual programming that is inclusive of all populations and varied in topic and point of view.
• This position is responsible for teaching a 1/1 graduate course load in museum studies and related areas.

Preferred

• Experience in higher education art, art history, or museum studies.
• Experience fundraising and cultivating collectors and perspective donors.
• Understanding of and enthusiasm for the educational role of art museums.
• Ability to attract, motivate, and manage a talented staff.
• Ability to be effective under pressure and handle constant multitasking.

Job Duration: Indefinite. Serves at the pleasure of the Dean of the College of Fine Arts.

Min Education: Terminal Degree: MFA or PhD required.

Min Experience: Museum and related educational experience in the arts (such as public art programs, curatorial projects, and administrative, teaching, or creative activity).

Required Travel: 0–5%.

Contact: Adam Jolles, Chair, Department of Art History, Florida State University and Chair of the Search Committee (ajolles@fsu.edu).