Director

Full time / $150,000 - $175,000 annually / Museo de Arte de Ponce / Ponce, PR

Position Summary
The Director will inspire, guide, and implement Museo’s strategic goals and shape its vision as a dynamic leader with a deep passion for stewarding and expanding the collection. Focused on innovative programming, touring the collection, and advancing Museo’s reputation in the field, the Director will be an inspiring leader and accomplished fundraiser and administrator. Reporting to and collaborating with the Board of Trustees, the Director will focus on increasing contributed revenues, financial operations, and human resources. Driving participation and attendance at Museo, the Director will revitalize programmatic strategies, educational activities, and community engagement while empowering, mentoring, and leading the Museo team. The Director will also oversee the reconstruction and reopening of the Edward Durell Stone building, as well as ensure safety and accessibility of all Museo buildings and grounds.

Roles and Responsibilities
Strategic Vision and Leadership
• Develop and implement an ambitious artistic, research, publication, touring, and community engagement vision for Museo’s collections and programs, connecting its creative practice in the region to national and global networks and dialogues.
• Serve as an ambassador and lead spokesperson, connecting Museo to potential partners and donors, building ongoing networks, and collaborating across the field.
• Guide implementation and execution of Museo’s strategic plan, with ongoing refresh and updates in collaboration with Museo staff and Board, including American Alliance of Museums accreditation.
• Oversee the reconstruction, retrofitting, and reopening of Museo’s Edward Durell Stone primary home.
• Conceive, develop, and execute innovative and academically rigorous exhibitions of Old Masters, and modern and contemporary art in collaboration with curatorial staff and guest curators.
• Foster an environment where artists, scholars, and other creative practitioners who work with the Museo can thrive in their practice.
• Embrace other strategic vision and leadership duties, as needed.

Revenue Enhancement and Community Engagement
• Provide strategy and vision to Museo’s fund development activities, embracing the role of key fundraiser, working with the Board and staff to identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with donors, city and county officials, foundation, corporate, and government partners.
• Cultivate and innovate Museo’s connection to the local art community, trustees, collectors, educators, city and county officials, and affinity groups of donors, for gifts to the collection, acquisition funds, program support, and capital support in collaboration with the development team.
• Deliver progressive and engaging programs for schools, teachers, children and families, and the community in collaboration with the education and community engagement team.
• Embrace other community engagement and revenue enhancement duties, as needed.

Board Governance and International Relations
• Strengthen Museo’s regional, national, and international professional networks in collaboration with the Board of Trustees.
• Provide support best to utilize the Board’s talents and Museo’s resources, engaging with board members, committees, and advisory members to develop strategies that effectively mobilize and utilize stakeholders.
• Ensure efficient and timely development and distribution of reports, including financial and programmatic reporting, to inform decisions that advance the mission and goals of Museo.
• Attend quarterly board meetings, executive committee and other committee meetings providing reports as needed to facilitate the flow of information.
• Embrace other board governance and international relations duties, as needed.

Mentorship and Operational Resilience
• Guide, manage, and mentor a team of direct reports including the Curator, Conservator, Registrar, Head of Education & Community Engagement, Chief Financial Officer, Human Resources Manager, and Director of Operations & Sustainability; with oversight of full staff in collaboration with the deputy director.
• Ensure compliance with the board approved budget. Work with direct reports and CFO to assure proper controls and monitoring of all activities.
• Ensure compliance with all standards and practices to maintain Museo’s American Alliance of Museums accreditation.
• Provide direction and central coordination on all exhibition matters, including exhibition development, schedules, budgets, and contract negotiations.
• Oversee and coordinate the design, installation, and production aspects of all museum exhibitions, and supervise all publications.
• Embrace other mentorship and operational resilience duties, as needed.

Traits and Characteristics
The Director will be a dynamic, versatile, and resourceful leader who values equity, artistic practice, scholarship, and community-oriented programming. Leading with creativity and innovation with a demonstrated passion and commitment to the field, they will be an authentic spokesperson and advocate, building organizational capacity and fostering innovative, creative strategies for programmatic growth. A versatile self-starter who can see the big picture, this individual will work collaboratively with the team and as an active member of the community. They will be people-oriented, valuing frequent interactions with a range of stakeholders, and comfortable networking across sectors (public, private, philanthropic, education, and community) beyond the arts is a must.

A sound decision-maker with the ability to anticipate complex problems, the Director will demonstrate leadership through consultation and consensus building with highly developed cultural competencies, handling difficult situations with diplomacy and ease. The Director will also possess leadership that promotes transparency with constituents, including the Board, staff, artists, patrons, and external stakeholders.

Other key competencies include:

• Flexibility and Resiliency – The dexterity to quickly adjust to changing circumstances in the industry and environment with the flexibility to remain optimistic in the face of setbacks and challenges, recognizing these are part of learning and growth that inform new strategies and tactics.
• Leadership and Goal Orientation – The capacity to organize, inspire, and influence people to believe in a vision, creating a sense of common purpose centered on the well-being and growth of Museo staff, patrons, and community, and setting and attaining goals established to advance Museo’s profile.
• Time and Priority Management – The aptitude to ascertain competing priorities, resolve difficulties, overcome obstacles, and maximize the use of time and resources to attain the desired outcomes.
• Personal Accountability – The ability to take responsibility, be accountable, listen and use feedback, and analyze data to learn from mistakes, possessing a high degree of awareness of the impact of personal actions and decisions.
• Diplomacy – The clarity to demonstrate emotional intelligence and sensitivity when handling challenging issues while communicating, building rapport, and relating well to others.
• Planning and Organizing – The competence to identify and oversee all resources, tasks, systems, and people to establish courses of action to ensure that work is completed effectively.

Qualifications
Qualified candidates will have seven to ten years of senior museum management experience, demonstrating increasing responsibility. A master’s degree in art history, curatorial studies, or a related field is preferred. Outstanding presentation and communication skills and the experience and propensity to be a passionate spokesperson, relationship builder, and fundraiser are needed. A strong commitment to the professional development of staff and a successful track record of recruiting and retaining an inclusive team is essential. Educational credentials and demonstrated professional experience supporting leadership intelligence, organizational growth, community engagement, and developing diverse audiences, are highly desired. Bilingual Spanish/English proficiency is required, with additional preference for proficiency in French.

Compensation and Benefits
The Museo de Arte de Ponce provides competitive compensation, with an anticipated start salary range of $150,000 to $175,000 with an auto allowance and annual holiday and performance bonuses. Benefits include health, medical, and dental insurance with Museo covering 90% of premiums; paid time off and parental leave, and short- and long-term disability insurance.

Requirements

Qualifications
Qualified candidates will have seven to ten years of senior museum management experience, demonstrating increasing responsibility. A master’s degree in art history, curatorial studies, or a related field is preferred. Outstanding presentation and communication skills and the experience and propensity to be a passionate spokesperson, relationship builder, and fundraiser are needed. A strong commitment to the professional development of staff and a successful track record of recruiting and retaining an inclusive team is essential. Educational credentials and demonstrated professional experience supporting leadership intelligence, organizational growth, community engagement, and developing diverse audiences, are highly desired. Bilingual Spanish/English proficiency is required, with additional preference for proficiency in French.