Manager of Installations and Packing

Philadelphia Museum of Art•Philadelphia, PA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we actively seek to employ a diverse group of people who embody our organizational values. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, especially those from marginalized and underrepresented groups in the museum field, who are inspired by our shared purpose and enjoy working collaboratively with others. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status. The Manager of Installations and Packing provides senior operational leadership for all art handling, packing, crating, transportation, and installation activities across exhibitions, the permanent collection, and offsite storage. The role oversees a large, highly skilled technical team and is responsible for planning, coordination, and execution of complex projects that require close collaboration with Curatorial, Registration, Conservation, Exhibition Design, Exhibition Planning, Facilities and Operations, and external partners. This position combines people leadership, technical judgment, scheduling oversight, and cross-departmental coordination to ensure that artworks are handled, installed, and transported safely and efficiently, in accordance with professional museum standards. Specifically, you will: Lead and manage a multidisciplinary team that includes an Installation Coordinator (responsible for calendar management and scheduling), Outgoing loan coordinator, mount fabricator, installation technicians, installation leads, and related staff. Provide clear operational direction, establish priorities, and coordinate work across multiple concurrent projects, including exhibitions, rotations, outgoing loans, and internal art movements. Oversee the planning and execution of installation and de-installation of exhibitions, working closely with curators, registrars, conservators, designers, and exhibition planners. Develop and implement packing, crating, and handling strategies that ensure the safety of artworks in transit, storage, and display. Coordinate staffing plans, schedules, and workflows in collaboration with the Installations Coordinator, Outgoing loans coordinator and other departmental partners. Manage relationships with outside contractors, shippers, fabricators, and vendors as required. Oversee departmental budgeting, purchasing, and resource allocation in coordination with the Director of Collections. Ensure compliance with Museum policies, safety standards, and collective bargaining agreements. Oversee TSA certification compliance and training for required staff Conduct site visits and object assessments to evaluate packing, transport, and installation requirements. Courier loans to other institutions, as assigned. Oversee art movements between all Museum facilities and offsite storage locations in coordination with Registration.

Requirements

Demonstrated ability to lead and coordinate large, skilled technical teams in complex institutional environments.
Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities and shifting timelines.
Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively across departments and disciplines.
Deep understanding of art handling principles, installation techniques, and conservation considerations.
Knowledge of engineering principles, structural systems, construction methods, building materials, and installation hardware.
Budget management and resource planning experience.
Strong problem-solving skills and sound technical judgment.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with museum collection and registration systems.
Minimum of 7–10 years of experience in museum installations, art handling, or related technical fields.
At least 3–5 years of experience in a leadership or supervisory role overseeing specialized technical staff.
Experience managing complex, high-risk projects involving sensitive and fragile works of art in a variety of mediums.

Nice To Haves

Experience working within unionized or similarly structured labor environments strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage a multidisciplinary team that includes an Installation Coordinator (responsible for calendar management and scheduling), Outgoing loan coordinator, mount fabricator, installation technicians, installation leads, and related staff.
Provide clear operational direction, establish priorities, and coordinate work across multiple concurrent projects, including exhibitions, rotations, outgoing loans, and internal art movements.
Oversee the planning and execution of installation and de-installation of exhibitions, working closely with curators, registrars, conservators, designers, and exhibition planners.
Develop and implement packing, crating, and handling strategies that ensure the safety of artworks in transit, storage, and display.
Coordinate staffing plans, schedules, and workflows in collaboration with the Installations Coordinator, Outgoing loans coordinator and other departmental partners.
Manage relationships with outside contractors, shippers, fabricators, and vendors as required.
Oversee departmental budgeting, purchasing, and resource allocation in coordination with the Director of Collections.
Ensure compliance with Museum policies, safety standards, and collective bargaining agreements.
Oversee TSA certification compliance and training for required staff
Conduct site visits and object assessments to evaluate packing, transport, and installation requirements.
Courier loans to other institutions, as assigned.
Oversee art movements between all Museum facilities and offsite storage locations in coordination with Registration.

Benefits

Free general admission to the museum for you and your immediate family
Discounted guest tickets for admission
Discounts on gift memberships
Special staff tours and presentations from our curatorial and conservation teams
Discounts at the museum restaurant, museum cafés, and museum retail and online stores
Medical, dental, and vision benefits
Fully paid short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, and life insurance
Health savings or flexible spending account program
Retirement savings program with museum match
Paid vacation, personal days, sick days, and holidays