About the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism:

An exciting addition to the New England museum landscape, the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism (WMAI) is being established in the seaside town of Westerly, Rhode Island with an anticipated opening date of the second half of 2023. The museum will be dedicated to the research and exhibition of American Impressionism, with its core permanent collection comprised of an extraordinary private collection of such works collected over the past three decades. With the full support of the donors and initial funding provided by their foundation, the inaugural Director will be able to design the research agenda, future collecting priorities, and exhibition calendar of the Westerly Museum of Art. Additionally, the selected candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate with the founders and with the architectural firm of Centerbrook Architects, based in Centerbrook, CT, on the design of the museum building and to envision the gallery installations..

About Westerly:
Located on the southwestern shoreline of Rhode Island, the town of Westerly maintains strong ties to its maritime and historical past. Incorporated as a municipality in 1661, Westerly consists of a number of small villages including Watch Hill, which gained popularity as a late 19th century resort and in which many of the Victorian “cottages” remain today. The area offers popular annual events such as the Pawcatuck Duck Race, Virtu Art Festival, Shakespeare in the Park, and the Summer Pops. Propelled by the granite mining and railroad economies of the 19th century, the Westerly region continues to foster an active economy, with corporate headquarters such as that of the Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc.  regional bank as well as a summer vacation destination. The Westerly community is ideally situated on the border between Connecticut and Rhode Island, with local Amtrak rail service and easy access to air travel via the T.F. Green International Airport in nearby Warwick, Rhode Island.

Key Priorities and Responsibilities:
• Leadership.
o Create, execute, and evaluate special projects and their financial implications.
o Consistently monitor financial activity and prepare reports as needed.
o Maintain vendor and contractor relationships to meet operational and exhibitions requirements.
o With Board of Trustees and founding donors, establish strategies and objectives for the successful launch of the WMAI.
o With Board of Trustees and founding donors, create future staffing structure and, as appropriate, hire and manage staff members.
o Take all appropriate actions to support the mission of the WMAI and promote its success.
• Permanent Collection.
o Create collections management plan, including accession and deaccession standards, housekeeping protocols, and conservation and care requirements.
o With approval of the Board of Trustees and founding donors, purchase and maintain collections management system.
o Oversee construction and maintenance of collections storage.
o Oversee loan requests of permanent collection works to vetted institutions, including administration of insurance documentation, facility reports, and transportation/courier requirements.
o Supervise research of permanent collections and respond to requests from scholars, professionals, and members of the general public.
• Exhibitions.
o Propose exhibitions to the Board of Directors and founding donors.
o Negotiate and maintain relevant contracts and budgets.
o Draft and manage loan requests on behalf of the WMAI, including administration of insurance documentation, facility reports, and transportation/courier requirements.
o Establish effective exhibition calendar of onsite and virtual exhibition projects.
o Supervise contracted exhibitions team, including exhibition curators, preparators, and others as needed and approved by the Board of Directors and founding donors.
• Collaborations and Partnerships.
o Cultivate relationships with potential donors, sponsors, and media partners to support and promote the WMAI.
o Maintain a membership and presence in relevant professional organizations such as the New England Museum Association, the American Alliance of Museums, the American Association of Museum Curators, or similar.
o Build relationships with peer arts organizations in the Westerly area and the New England region.
o Represent the WMAI and its interests in the local and regional business and civic communities.
o Foster an environment welcoming to researchers and to members of the general public.
• Additional responsibilities to be determined in partnership with the Foundation leadership.

Candidate Profile:
The Director will be a dedicated steward of the collections and a passionate advocate for the WMAI. Equipped with a strong work ethic and sense of self-direction, the successful candidate will be an individual who is ethical, values-driven, and trustworthy. Emotional intelligence, a collaborative spirit, and a sense of humor are welcome in addition to the following skills, qualities, and experience:
• Curatorial and Collections Management Expertise.
o 5-10 years of progressive experience with collections management and exhibitions.
o Confidence in lecturing, teaching, and leading group visits to exhibitions.
o Experience in designing a multi-year exhibition plan including timeline, human resources, and financial expectations.
o Experience contributing to grant applications and overseeing compliance with grant award funding stipulations.
o Scholarly expertise and/or curatorial experience with American Impressionism highly desirable.
• Excellence.
o Unwavering commitment to current best practices and standards as defined by the American Alliance of Museums.
o Knowledge of (and experience preferred) with the American Alliance of Museums Accreditation process.
o Knowledge of accessioning, deaccessioning, gift, and loan procedures and legal implications.
• Communication and Collaboration.
o Possesses excellent writing and speaking skills.
o Able to motivate staff and volunteers to consistently, productively, and positively contribute to the mission of the WMAI.
o Comfort with public speaking in order to share mission and messaging to various communities and constituent groups.
o Experience leading tours, lectures, and other programs to groups and in public.
o Proven track record of successful partnerships with peer institutions and community members.
• Integrity.
o Responsive to requests for information from Board of Directors and founding donors.
o Takes seriously the responsibility of the WMAI as beholden to the public trust, honoring financial transparency and accountability to the general public.
o Excellent attention to detail and accuracy of shared information.
o Commitment to discretion and ethical conduct in business dealings.
o Builds trust with Board of Directors, founding donors, potential donors, and the community at large.
• Education: Advanced degree in art history, American studies, related disciplines, or commensurate experience required. Ph.D. in American art preferred.

Compensation and Benefits: The target salary range for this role is $75,000 - $85,000 with a potential for incentive bonuses based on performance. The successful candidate will receive housing in close proximity to the site of the future Museum, which is newly renovated and includes three bedrooms and a home office space for remote work capabilities. The position includes health insurance, annual vacation, sick, and personal leave.

To Apply:

Please submit your cover letter, cv, and the names of three references to WMAIDirector@gmail.com. References will not be contacted without consent.

The Westerly Museum of American Impressionism is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1976, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other applicable employment laws. The WMAI does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of an individual’s race, color, gender, religion, creed, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. This policy applies to all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, placement, compensation, promotion, discipline, and termination.