Interim Museum Manager

The Choice is facilitating an upcoming contract for our client, a small DC-based museum with a focus on historic preservation and architecture. This is an interim employment opportunity due to a staff member on family leave.

Estimated Timeframe: Nov 2025 – February 2026 with potential extension

Hours/Location: approximately 40 hours weekly, including on-site for public tours 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Thursday through Sunday, the remaining hours may be worked from home during the week.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in museum studies, public history, arts administration, architecture/design, or related field (or equivalent experience) required. Master’s degree in museum studies, public history, arts administration, architecture/design, or related field preferred.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience managing operations, exhibitions, or facilities in a museum, historic site, or cultural venue.
• Demonstrated success producing exhibitions and writing/editing interpretive content (submit two short writing samples).
• Strong project management skills: budgets, schedules, vendor/fabricator coordination, and risk tracking across multiple concurrent projects.
• Proficiency with collections/CRM and office tools (e.g., PastPerfect or equivalent; MS/Google suite; basic PM software).
• Excellent interpersonal skills; consistent, welcoming public presence; commitment to inclusive, accessible experiences.
• Experience with event/rental operations; first-aid/CPR or incident management training preferred
• Familiarity with ADA/inclusive-design standards and plain-language editorial practices preferred

Job Duties:

This role will manage the stewardship, maintenance, exhibitions, and public programs of the museum as well as programming coordination. Duties will include:

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the museum, ensuring a safe, welcoming, and engaging experience for all visitors.
• Daily site operations: Open/close procedures; front-of-house readiness; visitor services; ticketing/check-in; gallery standards.
• Safety & compliance: Life-safety checks; incident reporting; first-response coordination; adherence to policies/procedures; authority to pause operations for safety and initiate incident command protocols until relieved.
• Environment & collections care: Monitor temperature, humidity, and light; uphold housekeeping standards; conduct integrated pest management checks; coordinate with collections consultants for handling and preventive care; maintain logs.
• Docent & volunteer oversight: Schedule and oversee docents, temps, and volunteers.
• Exhibitions: Build production calendars; coordinate fabrication, installation, and deinstallation; proof and approve labels and room text for accuracy, tone, and accessibility (including ADA and inclusive-design practices).
• Programs & rentals: Serve as day-of on-site lead for tours, programs, partner events, and rentals; coordinate facilities and vendors; manage run-of-show and post-event resets.
• Project management & risk: Keep to budgets and schedules for the museum operations and exhibits; track deliverables, risks, and mitigations; maintain dashboards and compliance records.
• Support the design and delivery of exhibitions and public programs that introduce audiences to the Global Campus and its vision for design literacy.
• Exhibition content: Research, draft, and edit interpretive materials (object labels, section/room text, handouts, family activities) in collaboration with leadership and designers.
• Production coordination: Maintain content calendars and milestones; route proofs; coordinate with fabricators and vendors; support installation days as assigned; manage credit lines and acknowledgments.
• Public programming: Coordinate with programming and operations on logistics, staffing plans, run-of-show, and audience experience; assist on-site for select events.
• Stakeholder alignment: Liaise with partners, educators, and community groups to ensure mission alignment, audience accessibility, and brand consistency.
• Capital project liaison: Serve as liaison to the Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) for capital projects including HVAC modernization, roof replacement, and accessibility upgrades—key steps toward making the museum the oldest LEED-certified building in the United States.
• Procurement: Draft project scopes; solicit quotes and RFPs for museum operations and maintenance.
• Vendor coordination: Act as the primary point of contact for associated external vendors, contractors, and consultants.
• Facilities maintenance: Liaise with JLL engineering services for oversight of the physical plant; coordinate maintenance vendors and service providers for ongoing facility needs.
• Planning & reporting: Maintain workplans, calendars, and outcome dashboards for exhibits, programs, rentals, donations, maintenance, and capital projects.