Careers

Current OpeningS

Senior Director of Development

Position Overview

The Wright Museum seeks a dynamic and creative leader full-time, salaried, to join its team as the Director of Development

The Director of Development, in partnership with the Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement, will be responsible for designing, implementing and facilitating strategic efforts in resource development activities for The Wright Museum. This position will be focused on developing relationships, contributions, and overall sustainable support for the Museum through public and private grants, corporate sponsorship, individual donations, museum membership and special events.

Essential Duties of the Position:

• Co-Design development strategy with museum leadership and oversee ongoing development activities and efforts for the Museum. 
• Work with Institutional Advancement team, and executive leadership to identify funds needed, funding targets, and funding approaches.
• Implement an annual development plan that includes strategies and goals for annual giving and donor relationship building and management.
• Support and partner with Executive Leadership on all major fundraising initiatives and manage key members of the development team.
• Oversee development and execution of all fundraising proposals and solicitations, including corporate sponsorship and local and national grants and grant compliance/reporting.
• Support overall management of special event fundraising.
• Helps the organization define performance measures for fund development and systematically monitor results
• Work with Executive Leadership to devise and implement special fundraising projects as needed (e.g. capital campaign, programmatic campaigns, etc).
• Oversee development related logistics and activities (donor database, development research tools, donor stewardship and cultivation)
• Oversee the hiring, training, and mentoring of the development team, as well as additional staff, interns or contractors related to special projects.

Relationship Structure: 

• Reports to the Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement
• Supervises Grants and Institutional Giving Manager (and other potential hires)
• Engages with President and CEO as well as Board of Trustees Development Committee
• Collaborates directly with colleagues in Membership, Marketing, Learning & Engagement, Curatorial staff

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required. 
• Five or more years of professional experience in a nonprofit organization
• Five or more years in a development (or development related) leadership role
• Proven success leading and managing fundraising at the organizational level
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral; ability to influence and engage a wide range of donors and build long-term relationships
• Flexible and adaptable style; a leader who can positively impact both strategic and tactical fundraising initiatives
• Ability to work both independently without close oversight, but also a team player who will productively engage with others at varying levels of seniority within and outside the organization
• High energy and passion for Museum’s mission
• Strong organizational and time management skills with exceptional attention to detail

• Willingness and ability to work some evenings and weekends is essential.

   

Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination required by the date of hire to be considered for the position.

Apply Now

Registrar

The Wright Museum seeks an energetic and detail-oriented Registrar reporting to the Senior Director of Exhibitions. 

The Registrar oversees the installation schedule relating to art/object movements and staffing related to exhibitions, installations, and special events for collection and loaned objects in museum buildings and other sites. This position oversees the interns/volunteers and works in close collaboration with art preparators, organizing the work schedule for the team on a weekly basis as well as long term planning. This installation and work schedules are to be coordinated with the overall Exhibition Schedule and budget, which are overseen by the Senior Director of Collections and Exhibitions. This position will work closely with the curator on forward planning, forecasting, and management of resources. 

The Registrar works in close collaboration with the Curatorial staff to realize exhibitions and installations of works from the collection, as well as loan and touring exhibitions, including the securing of loans, and the coordination of venues and tours. This position serves as the principle contact for internal and external colleagues on loan procedures, insurance and government indemnities, contracts, and lender negotiations. 

The Registrar works closely with the Director of Collections and Archives to manage filing and maintenance of donor, accessions, and de-accessions forms. The Registrar will be a member of the collections committee to assess the veracity and logistics of receiving incoming donations.

Essential Duties of the Position:

• Has primary oversight and care for the donor and loan documentation.
• Oversees, supervises, mentors, and trains Registrar staff, as well as contracted conservators.
• Working in close collaboration with curatorial and design, Registrar plans, coordinates and schedules collection rotations, installations and exhibitions. 
• Prepares the exhibition installation schedule relating to art/objects movements and shipping for exhibitions and special events.
• Works in close collaboration with the Director to prepare exhibitions and collections related budgets. 
• Monitors the ordering and purchasing of supplies for the permanent collection; coordinates supplies and storage for activities related to the archive and library collection.

Art/Object Collection

• Works with the Director of Collections and Archives to oversee the management, preservation, and storage of the collections, as well as accessioning of acquisitions, including gift documents, IRS forms, and appraisals from donors. Manages accessioning process including recording object information; photographing objects, proper housing for objects, and conducting annual inventories.
• Works with operations to update insurance policies for permanent collection and long-term loans; processes claims; and supervises risk management.
• Oversees long-term loan partnerships (incoming and outgoing loans); conducts annual condition reporting and processes loan renewal documentation.
• Evaluates works in need of conservation treatment, recommends and initiates opportunities for remedy.
• Manages the collections database (Past Perfect); including data clean-up, staff training, and the creation of user guides and reports; and works with staff to ensure data standardization.
• Prepares list of acquisitions for annual report and registrar's report of acquisitions for auditors.
• Oversees Rights and Reproduction requests and processes to ensure proper accreditation and licensing of images of works in collections and loaned objects

 

Exhibitions and Loans

• Works with the Senior Director of Exhibitions to plan, develop, and manage loan exhibitions from the conceptual stage to execution, including contracts, loans, insurance, transport, installation, condition reporting, tours, and storage, as needed.
• Collaborates with curatorial and design in the planning, scheduling, and production of exhibitions, including crew management, assembly of materials, construction and installations.
• In close coordination with the Senior Director of Exhibitions to develop an initial exhibition budget for planning purposes. Regularly updates, forecasts, and monitors expenses, ensuring performance to budget.
• In close coordination with the Senior Director of Exhibitions to assist with drafts and reviews contractual agreements with lenders and participating institutions. Negotiates terms of the contracts and monitors compliance with agreements and payment schedules.
• Assesses lender requirements and fees for loans and negotiates terms in consultation with appropriate staff. Communicates terms and special requirements of loans to appropriate staff and staff of participating institutions, and monitors compliance with such terms and conditions.

• Responsible for securing U.S. Government Indemnity or other insurance.

  Other responsibilities

• Ensures performance to standards set by AAM, participates in reaccreditation activities on behalf of The Wright Museum. 
• Maintains facility reports; in conjunction with Operations / Facilities staff, monitors environmental conditions in galleries and vaults.
• Liaises with Security on emergency preparedness plan and collections evacuation plan. 
• Ensures compliance with IRS regulations, copyright laws, NAGPRA laws, and AAMD guidelines.
• Maintains professional relationships within the field.
• Other duties as assigned or needed.

 

Required Education and Experience:

• B. A. or M.A. in art history, African American history, museum studies or related discipline.
• Eight to ten years' experience in museum registration, collections and exhibition management.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of best practices and procedures for art handling, installation, storage, condition reporting, preservation, and basic conservation. 
• Demonstrated ability to perform long-range planning while retaining nimbleness; flexibility within a fast-paced and changing environment; effective work under pressure amidst shifting priorities; problem-solving and analytical thinking.
• Demonstrated ability to work as a team leader and as part of a team while supervising staff and coordinating with peers; ability to set and accomplish goals and to meet deadlines by effectively prioritizing; ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment. 
• Supervisory experience; skills in diplomacy, negotiation and communication with staff and external parties (lenders, donors, etc).
• Practical writing skills; proficiency in collections management database software, email, word processing and spreadsheet software, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Word and Excel.
• Familiarity with NAGPRA, AAMD guidelines and archiving methods and practices.

 

Salary: $65k-70k

Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination required by the date of hire to be considered for the position.

Apply Now

Mission & Vision

Mission: to open minds and change lives through the exploration and celebration of African-American history and culture.

Vision: a world in which the adversities and achievements of African-American history inspire greater understanding, acceptance, and unity.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Wright is an equal opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.