The Museum

Founded in 1842 with a vision for infusing art into the American experience, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is home to a collection of over 55,000 works of art, spanning 5,000 years and encompassing European art from antiquity to contemporary as well as the art of the Americas from Pre-Columbian through today. The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is the oldest continuously-operating public art museum in the United States, opening its doors to the public in 1844.

• Advance an innovative vision for museum operations and management by bringing new philosophies, ideas, and approaches.
• Lead and manage with the Director strategic planning, operational priorities, and long-term institutional vision.
• Act as the primary liaison to the Board of Trustees; build strong relationships and instill confidence through transparency, presence, and a demonstrated ability to manage governance relationships.
• Partner with internal leadership (e.g., Director of Finance, Director, Development Director) to sustain momentum in financial restructuring, fundraising, and infrastructure improvement.
• Prioritize and systematize ongoing deferred maintenance issues—spanning facilities, staffing, HR, and collection care—with a triage-to-strategy mindset.
• Help manage and support the new Director of Development in meeting the organization’s philanthropic and engagement goals.
• Spearhead reaccreditation efforts and rebranding initiatives.
• Lead Board and staff in development and execution of strategic plans with clearly defined priorities, goals, funding expectations, and measures of success and galvanize and coalesce staff, Board, community and other stakeholders in ensuring successful implementation of such plans.
• Oversee the organization’s financial structure, ensuring adequate and sound funding for the purpose, mission and goals of the museum.
• Ensure the museum’s compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and standards.
• Serve as an inspiring, accessible, and supportive leader, promoting an organizational culture that attracts, retains, and motivates a highly talented work force who bring a broad range of lived experiences by reinforcing rigor, quality, clarity, and transparency of communication and decision-making, promoting constructive and collegial collaboration among departments, and working closely with the management team to develop effective hiring, training, performance management and compensation plans
• Develop a management structure and hire and lead a diverse leadership/management team that embraces and fosters the museum’s desired organizational culture.
• Work in partnership with the Director in the development, implementation and oversight of the museum’s artistic, curatorial and interpretive strategies.
• Provide leadership and oversight for the construction, revitalization, and maintenance of the Wadsworth’s physical plant including the prioritization of capital projects plus development of capital spending and maintenance budgets.
• Assure the museum’s technology infrastructure, connectivity and equipment is up-to-date and supports the institution’s operational needs and strategic goals.
• Actively work to build strong positive working relationships with Trustees to foster Board member participation and engagement in various aspects of the Museum’s operations, goals and objectives.
• Build positive relationships with community stakeholders, collectors, donors, artists, art institutions and public officials to ensure that the museum is responsive to community needs.
• Oversee the planning, development and execution of the museum's marketing and advertising initiatives, public relations and all internal and external communications.
• Represent the Museum as a thought leader and advocate for the arts on a local, national and international level.
• Continue to acquire professional knowledge of current developments in the artworld by attending seminars, workshops or professional meetings, and by conducting research.
• Performs related duties as needed or required.

• Enhanced reputation and recognition of the museum locally, nationally and internationally as a first-rate quality art museum and destination among the general public, art aficionados, and the art world.
• Positive, collaborative, collegial organizational culture and work environment, where employees feel valued, and achievements are recognized.
• Open communication, transparency and clearly defined roles and responsibilities throughout the organization.
• Leadership team that is aligned and accountable.
• Successful implementation of a strategic plan, museum goals, and objectives.
• Sound fiscal and budgetary management practices.
• Increased public awareness of museum offerings and exhibitions.
• Increased engagement with diverse audiences and community stakeholders.
• Increased public attendance at museum and participation in museum-sponsored events (in-person and virtual) among all community demographic groups.
• Patron enjoyment and satisfaction with museum offerings, inspiring “moments of beauty” experiences into the lives of the community and visitors.
• Enhanced relationship with the communities the museum serves as well as outside entities (e.g., State and local entities, nonprofit organizations).
• Identification of the museum as aligned with, and relevant to, the social fabric of the times.
• Opportunities for museum innovation are identified and activated.
• Strong and positive Board member relationships.
• Welcoming physical space in and around the Museum.

• Reports To: Board Chair; accountable to the Board of Trustees
• Direct Reports: Director; Director of Learning & Engagement; Director of Advancement; Director of Facilities; Director of Finance; Director of Marketing & Communications
• Key Internal Contacts: Staff, visitors, and volunteers
• Key External Contacts: Individual donors, foundations, government officials, artists, art historians, professional colleagues, VIP guests, community stakeholders and members of the public.

• Bachelor’s degree in the Humanities or Social Sciences, Art Administration, Museum studies, or related field.
• Graduate study or Master’s Degree in art-related, business management, or other related field.
• Strong track record of innovative leadership in museum administration, nonprofit or other organization.
• Successful supervisory experience.
• Successful experience overseeing and managing the fiscal and budgetary responsibilities for a multi-million dollar business operation.
• Proven track record of fostering a positive, collaborative and inclusive work environment.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) a plus.

• Knowledge of Wadsworth history and art collections.
• Knowledge of all applicable federal, state and local laws covering museum operations.
• Knowledge of principals of sound fiscal management, budget preparation, and fiduciary obligations.
• Understanding of the value of diversity and inclusion and how to foster it in an organization.
• Emotional intelligence skills, including the ability to adapt to unforeseen situations, the ability to influence key stakeholders, and the ability to negotiate to achieve a desired outcome.
• Excellent organization and time management skills, including the ability to manage multiple simultaneous projects and conflicting time constraints.
• Positive public relations and customer service skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including active listening skills.
• Proficiency with collection/exhibition management software and experience with Google and Windows Office applications required (including Gmail, Google Docs, Word, and Excel), as well as a working knowledge of Skype, Zoom, and other virtual video communications programs.
• Demonstrated understanding of the strategic role of technology in advancing institutional goals, including audience engagement, digital content delivery, and operational efficiency.
• Ability to lead others, supervise, motivate and evaluate staff.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to maintain composure under stressful situations.
• Ability to approach issues and problems with flexibility and unique approaches, openness to different perspectives and a solution orientation.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information.
• Ability to work as part of a team and with a diverse group of individuals
• Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to leadership, performance and professional growth.
• Ability to read, write and speak English fluently.

• The normal work week generally is Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A flexible work schedule or additional work hours may be necessary in order to meet the requirements of this job position, which could encompass evening hours and weekend work.

• Local, regional and international travel as required to successfully perform essential functions.

• Standard climate-controlled art museum building with office, art display and public spaces as well as storage areas. Work is performed primarily indoors and occasionally outdoors. Compliance with Museum health and safety-related protocols.
• Note: Also see the Summary of Physical, Mental, Sensory and Environmental Requirements Needed to Perform Essential Functions for this position.