Job Overview
Employment Type
Full-time
Compensation
Salary
Range $68,495.00 - $116,441.00
Work Schedule
Standard Hours
Flexible
On-call
Weekend Shifts
Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Paid Time Off
Retirement Plan
Life insurance
Professional Development
Job Description
New Hanover County is proud to announce an exciting opportunity for an experienced Museum Manager of Exhibitions to join the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science team. As a leading public institution dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich history and science of the region, the Cape Fear Museum plays a significant role in the cultural and educational landscape of New Hanover County. The museum connects the community with its past through engaging exhibitions, educational programs, and research initiatives, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the local heritage and natural sciences.
As part of New Hanover County government, the museum operates under a commitment to public service, equity, innovation, and stewardship, providing a diverse and inclusive environment for both employees and visitors. The team is passionate about creating meaningful experiences for all visitors while maintaining the highest museum standards in collections care, exhibitions, and facility operations.
The Museum Manager of Exhibitions is a critical leadership role within the museum, reporting directly to the Museum Director. This position serves as the lead project manager for all traveling exhibitions, onsite exhibition development, and major initiatives related to the Market Street campus. The role requires strategic leadership and operational coordination to manage the Research, Collections, Design & Fabrication team, ensuring their work complies with professional museum standards and supports the overall mission and goals of the Exhibitions unit.
This full-time, exempt position offers a competitive salary range between $68,495 and $92,468 annually, commensurate with experience, along with an attractive benefits package. The typical work schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, but flexibility is required for evening, weekend, holiday, and onsite project oversight as needed. The Manager must also be available to respond to emergency work assignments during critical situations.
Key responsibilities include overseeing complex capital and operational projects, such as the renovation and repurposing of the Market Street facility into a multifunctional space for collections housing, research, exhibit design, and fabrication operations. The Manager works collaboratively with various internal teams, county departments, contractors, and consultants to ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and meet all quality standards. This position also acts as the onsite operations manager for the Market Street campus, coordinating daily facility and operational needs to support exhibitions and collections care.
The Museum Manager of Exhibitions is also charged with providing strategic leadership by developing long-range goals, strategic priorities, operational plans, and budgets to achieve museum objectives. Supervising staff within the Exhibitions Unit includes assigning work, conducting performance evaluations, facilitating staff training and professional development, and managing hiring and disciplinary processes.
Moreover, the role involves extensive collaboration across the museum and community. The Manager supports exhibition development by working with scholars, community partners, donors, and contractors to create engaging, high-quality exhibitions that align with the museum's mission. Financial and administrative duties include budget management, procurement coordination, grant writing, and contract administration to sustain the unit's projects and initiatives.
Furthermore, the Manager is responsible for disaster preparedness and emergency response policies relating to collections, exhibitions, and facility operations, ensuring staff are trained and that the museum maintains high standards of safety and preservation.
Overall, this is a leadership role that blends strategic management, project oversight, operational coordination, and community engagement, making it ideal for a highly organized, passionate, and experienced museum professional. Candidates with strong project management skills, a background in museum operations, and the ability to navigate complex capital projects are strongly encouraged to apply.
As part of New Hanover County government, the museum operates under a commitment to public service, equity, innovation, and stewardship, providing a diverse and inclusive environment for both employees and visitors. The team is passionate about creating meaningful experiences for all visitors while maintaining the highest museum standards in collections care, exhibitions, and facility operations.
The Museum Manager of Exhibitions is a critical leadership role within the museum, reporting directly to the Museum Director. This position serves as the lead project manager for all traveling exhibitions, onsite exhibition development, and major initiatives related to the Market Street campus. The role requires strategic leadership and operational coordination to manage the Research, Collections, Design & Fabrication team, ensuring their work complies with professional museum standards and supports the overall mission and goals of the Exhibitions unit.
This full-time, exempt position offers a competitive salary range between $68,495 and $92,468 annually, commensurate with experience, along with an attractive benefits package. The typical work schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, but flexibility is required for evening, weekend, holiday, and onsite project oversight as needed. The Manager must also be available to respond to emergency work assignments during critical situations.
Key responsibilities include overseeing complex capital and operational projects, such as the renovation and repurposing of the Market Street facility into a multifunctional space for collections housing, research, exhibit design, and fabrication operations. The Manager works collaboratively with various internal teams, county departments, contractors, and consultants to ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and meet all quality standards. This position also acts as the onsite operations manager for the Market Street campus, coordinating daily facility and operational needs to support exhibitions and collections care.
The Museum Manager of Exhibitions is also charged with providing strategic leadership by developing long-range goals, strategic priorities, operational plans, and budgets to achieve museum objectives. Supervising staff within the Exhibitions Unit includes assigning work, conducting performance evaluations, facilitating staff training and professional development, and managing hiring and disciplinary processes.
Moreover, the role involves extensive collaboration across the museum and community. The Manager supports exhibition development by working with scholars, community partners, donors, and contractors to create engaging, high-quality exhibitions that align with the museum's mission. Financial and administrative duties include budget management, procurement coordination, grant writing, and contract administration to sustain the unit's projects and initiatives.
Furthermore, the Manager is responsible for disaster preparedness and emergency response policies relating to collections, exhibitions, and facility operations, ensuring staff are trained and that the museum maintains high standards of safety and preservation.
Overall, this is a leadership role that blends strategic management, project oversight, operational coordination, and community engagement, making it ideal for a highly organized, passionate, and experienced museum professional. Candidates with strong project management skills, a background in museum operations, and the ability to navigate complex capital projects are strongly encouraged to apply.
Job Requirements
- Master's degree in project management, museum administration, public administration or related field
- Seven years of progressively responsible experience in project management, exhibitions management, facility operations, collections management or related museum leadership work
- Valid driver's license from any state at time of application
- Valid North Carolina driver's license with good driving record by first date of employment
- Ability to perform physical work including lifting, climbing, standing, walking, and bending
- Availability to work evenings, weekends, holidays and report for emergency work assignments
- Ability to work in various environments including museum office, galleries, collections storage, fabrication, and construction sites.
Job Qualifications
- Master's Degree in Project Management, Museum Administration, Public Administration or related field
- Seven years of progressively responsible experience in project management, exhibitions management, facility operations, collections management, or related museum leadership work
- Experience managing complex museum capital projects, facility renovations, or major operational transitions preferred
- Experience working with County or municipal facilities management processes preferred
- Experience administering contracts, procurement processes, and project budgets preferred
- Knowledge of American Alliance of Museums (AAM) standards, collections care, and museum facility requirements preferred
- Grant writing and project funding experience preferred
- Strong project management, organizational leadership, budgeting, and operational planning skills
- Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously and establish strategic priorities
- Ability to supervise, mentor, and support staff in a collaborative environment
- Excellent communication skills with County staff, contractors, consultants, donors, scholars, and community partners
- Skilled in preparing reports, project documentation, and grant materials
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Job Duties
- Provide leadership and strategic management for the Exhibitions Unit
- Serve as the primary manager supervising Research, Collections, and Design & Fabrication teams
- Facilitate museum-wide communication regarding Exhibition unit mission, priorities, and project timelines
- Serve as lead project manager for in-house exhibition development, traveling exhibitions, and facility renovation projects
- Coordinate planning, scheduling, implementation, and operational oversight for exhibition and facility projects
- Collaborate with County Facilities Management, Parks and Gardens, contractors, and consultants on capital improvement projects
- Oversee project timelines, budgets, procurement, contractor performance, and operational readiness
- Manage exhibition planning process, establish priorities, schedules, and resource allocation
- Support research, development, production, installation, maintenance, and evaluation of exhibitions
- Develop and manage departmental and grant budgets, review invoices, approve expenditures
- Work with donors, scholars, community partners, and colleagues to support exhibitions and public engagement
- Develop and maintain disaster preparedness and emergency response policies
- Serve as onsite operations manager for Market Street facility and coordinate daily operational needs
- Serve as weekend Staff Duty and Manager on Call on assigned rotations
- Support Museum educational programming and development events as needed.
Job Criteria
Experience
Expert Level (7+ years)
Job Location
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