Director of the Berman Museum of Art

Director of the Berman Museum of Art

Department

Art Museum

Overview

The Museum Director sets the vision and establishes priorities for the Berman Museum of Art, connecting the museum’s collections, exhibitions, and programs to the academic mission of Ursinus College. The Berman has a Permanent Collection of over 8,000 works of art. The Museum Director oversees all aspects of museum operations and serves as the primary ambassador for the Berman both on campus and in the broader Philadelphia region.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

Provide artistic vision and lead long-term strategic planning in alignment with the College’s institutional plan including APEX

Serve as a compelling spokesperson for the Berman within the Ursinus campus community and beyond

Partner with the college’s APEX Center and hub directors, especially the Center for Humanities in Action (CHIA) and the Arts in Action hub, on key initiatives

Collections & Exhibitions

Oversee the stewardship, documentation, and care of the Permanent Collection of over 8,000 works including nearly 80 outdoor sculptures located across the campus

Maintain all object, artist, and source records

Develop exhibitions and programming drawn primarily from the Permanent Collection to support faculty and student engagement

Coordinate exhibition installations, checklists, didactics, signage, and labels

Oversee matting, framing, mount creation, and art handling, including coordination of contracted personnel

Support Museum Studies curriculum and student opportunities

Facilitate the Annual Student Exhibition in collaboration with Art and Art History faculty and student artists

Operations & Administration

Oversee day-to-day museum operations, including facility management, security protocols, and coordination with Campus Safety, Facilities Services, and outside contractors for event use

Manage office functions including communications, scheduling, filing, and supply management

Cover the reception desk when student staff is unavailable during hours open to the public

Manage the museum’s overall budget, including invoicing, check requests, reimbursements, and petty cash

Student Staff Supervision

Supervise and mentor student workers, fostering a positive and educational work environment

Provide training in exhibition tours, collections care, and art handling

Campus & Community Engagement

Partner with APEX Center and hub directors, Associate Director of Service Learning and colleagues at the Communications Office to develop and execute communication strategies

Engage with campus partners to foster relationships with the campus community, local community, and the broader Philadelphia arts community

Requirements and Qualifications

Bachelor’s required in Art History, Arts Administration, Museum Studies, or a related field; Master’s preferred

Knowledge of collections management and conservation standards and best practices

Three or more years of leadership experience in museum, management preferred

Proficiency in collections management database software and Microsoft Office Suite

Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills

Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines

Studies have shown that women and underrepresented candidates are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your skillset and its compatibility with this position.

Preferred Skills and Competencies

Demonstrated curatorial experience, with strength in collections-based work preferred

Fundraising experience in an academic and/or museum setting preferred

Experience supervising and mentoring staff preferred

Application

To be considered for the position, you must submit a current resumé, a one-page narrative describing interest and experience, and three professional references utilizing our online application system.