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

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 resume, a one-page narrative describing interest and experience, and three professional references utilizing our online application system.