Organizer Information
The Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (moCa) is a contemporary art museum in Cleveland, Ohio, focused on connecting audiences with contemporary art and artists. The museum describes its workplace as collaborative, inclusive, fast-paced, and engaged with both the local Cleveland community and the broader global cultural ecosystem.
Title & Description
Public Programs & Exhibitions Manager
moCa is seeking a full-time Public Programs & Exhibitions Manager within its Exhibitions & Engagement department. The position combines public programming, artist engagement, exhibition support, and project management. Approximately 65% of the role focuses on public engagement programs—including artist talks, performances, tours, lectures, and special interpretation experiences—while approximately 35% supports exhibitions and artist projects.
The role is designed for an experienced arts professional who can develop audience-facing projects, manage multiple partnerships and deadlines, communicate effectively with artists and colleagues, and contribute to exhibition planning and production.
The Role Overview
- Position: Public Programs & Exhibitions Manager
- Department: Exhibitions & Engagement
- Status: Full-time, exempt
- Salary: $50,000–$60,000
- Reports to: Deputy Director & Senior Curator (DDSC)
- Direct reports: Interns or volunteers, as assigned
- Contract type: Employment position; contract duration not specified
- Work arrangement: Eligible for a hybrid schedule under moCa's RWA policy
- Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits; 403(b) Savings Plan; two weeks paid vacation; 13 paid holidays
Position & Tasks
Public Programs
The manager serves as moCa's primary contact for public engagement programs and oversees budgets, goals, content development, scheduling, logistics, execution, and evaluation. Responsibilities include coordinating artist events, receptions, lectures, tours, trainings, and exhibition-related programs; working with curatorial, marketing, development, and operations teams; presenting talks and tours; supporting donor and community relations; and contributing content to digital and editorial platforms.
Exhibitions
The position supports exhibition and artist-project development through research, checklist preparation, loan requests, image rights, production and layout assistance, catalog support, interpretive texts, and archival materials. The manager acts as a liaison between artists, curators, vendors, contractors, and other partners, while assisting with budgets, schedules, procurement, exhibition design, production, installation, openings, receptions, and special events.
Departmental Support
Additional responsibilities include researching artists and exhibitions, maintaining artist and exhibition options for leadership consideration, preparing presentations for staff and the Board, visiting local artist studios, participating in regional arts events, and coordinating multiple departmental projects.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Contemporary Art
- Curatorial
- Museum & Exhibition Practice
- Public Programs
- Arts Administration
- Exhibition Design
- Artist Engagement
Eligibility
Applicants should have:
- At least 5 years of progressive, directly demonstrated experience, preferably overseeing audience or public engagement functions in a nonprofit setting.
- Demonstrated experience supporting exhibition or artist-project development, design, production, or execution.
- Experience managing budgets, schedules, vendors, contractors, and cross-departmental projects.
- Experience developing and maintaining community or professional partnerships.
- Working knowledge of museum exhibition standards, art handling, environmental requirements, and installation practices.
- Strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, writing, and project-management skills.
A bachelor's degree in Art, Art History, Arts Administration, Museum Studies, Exhibition Design, or a related field is strongly preferred. Candidates with unrelated degrees or without a college degree must demonstrate three years of direct field experience in addition to the required experience.
Proficiency in SketchUp and Adobe Creative Suite is preferred, particularly Illustrator, AutoCAD, or comparable software. Reliable local transportation and a valid driver's license are required.
Program Benefits
This is a salaried museum employment position rather than a grant, residency, or competition. Benefits include:
- $50,000–$60,000 annual salary
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits
- 403(b) savings plan
- Paid vacation
- 13 paid holidays
- Hybrid-work eligibility under moCa policy
- Professional involvement with contemporary art exhibitions, artists, public programs, and community partnerships
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: Ongoing
Location
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Additional Details
The position requires advanced written and verbal English communication skills, including the ability to moderate panels and present to diverse audiences. Candidates are also expected to demonstrate knowledge of contemporary art and culture, inclusive and accessible practices, fundraising awareness, independent decision-making, team management, and strong use of workplace technology.
Physical requirements include prolonged sitting, occasional lifting of up to 30 pounds, frequent stair use, and movement between areas of the museum. The schedule may regularly include evenings and weekends.
moCa states that it is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.