Description

About Dia Art Foundation  

Dia Art Foundation was established in 1974 for the purpose of collecting, commissioning, and presenting major works of art made in the 1960s onward. Today it consists of nine permanent sites across the United States and Germany, as well as three changing exhibition spaces in New York State: Dia Chelsea in the city, Dia Beacon in the Hudson Valley, and Dia Bridgehampton on Long Island. Dia is taken from the Greek word for “through” and conveys the foundation’s role as a facilitator of meaningful artistic experiences that can be encountered in single and repeated visits.  

Thestaringsalary for this position is $145,000 per year. Consideration of a starting salary above $145,000 per year, but not to exceed $167,000 per year, will be reviewed at time of offer based on level of experience and qualifications for the role.  

Position Summary  

Based in Dia Beacon and reporting to the Deputy Director of Program, the Director of Collection is a key leader and collaborator for the Curatorial and Exhibitions departments. This role is responsible for the strategic oversight of all matters related to Dia’s Beacon-based collection and archive as well as the oversight of all exhibition implementation and installations at Dia Beacon. The position acts as the direct supervisor to the Director of Registration and Collection Management, Director of Exhibitions, and Archivist. The role also supervises and is supported by the Curatorial Associate and collaborates with Dia’s curators on the day-to-day administration of the Curatorial department.  

With guidance from the Deputy Director of Program, the Director of Collection is responsible for conceptualizing, developing, and delivering long-term presentations of Dia’s collection, both internally at Dia and externally with partnering institutions and venues. This position collaborates on the development of the collection strategy and new curatorial thinking, helping to advance Dia’s mission, as well as works closely with the Director of Registration and Collection Management and the Director of Exhibitions, contributing oversight for the display, growth, care, research, and storage of Dia’s collection. Further, the Director of Collection oversees the direction, department goals, and projects for Dia’s archive and is the primary on-site liaison at Dia Beacon for individual curators responsible for collection displays and projects at the location.   

As a member of the Program team, this role works closely with the Learning and Engagement and the Publications departments and is part of the Program Heads group that fosters cross-departmental collaboration. This position ensures thorough and appropriate communication and information-sharing with the Communications, Development, Marketing, and Visitor Experience departments and, for Development in particular, works closely on tours and introductions of Dia’s collection to visiting donors and prospects.  

The Director of Collection conceives and implements public programs, special projects, and internal initiatives, mainly, but not limited to, Dia’s collection. The Director of Collection is the curatorial representative at Dia Beacon and the primary curatorial liaison for its site-specific artworks.  

Essential job duties and responsibilities  

Collection displays and programs 

• Engage in progressive and collaborative research and approaches to develop existing and new concepts for long-term presentations of Dia’s collection of works, in any type of media, in monographic exhibitions or other displays 
• Lead discussions in shaping and strengthening the collection, including acquisitions strategy, with input from the curatorial team 
• Develop and maintain the collection strategy, recommend potential acquisitions, gather and track proposals from the curatorial team, and contribute curatorial and art-historical expertise through research, exhibition-making, and writing   
• With the curatorial team, manage relationships with artists, working closely with them to support the development of their work 
• With the Director and Deputy Director of Program, administratively support both the Board of Trustees’ Collection Committee and the Collection Sub-Committee, guiding critical understanding of collection directives; lead sub-committee as directed  
• In close collaboration with the Director and Deputy Director of Program, provide oversight for Dia’s touring collection exhibitions, initiate conversations and manage outreach with potential venues and partners, follow up and consolidate information about projects led by other curators, and lead all meetings regarding these initiatives  
• In close collaboration with the Archivist and Director of Registration and Collections Management, develop strategy for Dia’s archive, including its care and proper management, and help the process of applying for funding opportunities 
• With the Director of Registration and Collections Management and Director of Exhibitions, assess and develop conservation and art-storage approaches, collaborate on the planning and execution of sustainable solutions, and participate in funding initiatives to support collection care and research 
• Direct the collaborative efforts of staff responsible for the safety, condition, and maintenance of the collection and archive in accordance with the highest standards 
• In collaboration with the Curators and Deputy Director of Program, participate in all curatorial discussions, meetings, and other activities designed to ideate and manage exhibitions and related public programs at Dia across all sites as assigned 
• Lead tours and presentations of exhibitions for Dia staff, which might include guides, artists educators, and other members of Learning and Engagement as well as the Visitor Experience department as appropriate, providing imaginative and stimulating entry points to programs and exhibitions 
• Provide oversight of and work directly with the Director of Exhibitions to ensure healthy, functional planning, implementation, and evaluation of installation and production processes of collection displays and other exhibitions as needed   
• Act as point person in Curatorial for Dia Beacon, with regular collaboration and communication with the Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer on all Visitor Experience and Operational considerations intersecting with the exhibition program 
• Liaise as needed across the Communications, Marketing, Operations, Registration, Security, and Visitor Experience teams  

Administration and budgets 

• Collaborate with the Curators in managing administrative-related tasks and projects, including but not limited to project archiving, maintaining files, tracking expenses, submitting forms, drafting presentations, and creating budgets as required; ensure that administrative practices within Curatorial are efficient and clear, and that roles and responsibilities are appropriately and effectively delegated; consult with Deputy Director of Program as needed 
• Work closely with the Deputy Director of Program, Manager of Exhibitions, and individual curators to plan exhibition timelines, implementation meetings, and installation calendars; control expenditures, within approved limits, to obtain best value without compromising high standards of presentation 
• Support fiscally responsible management of Curatorial department budget  

Publications 

• Work closely with the Director of Publications in conceptualizing collection-specific publications, including tables of contents and lists of contributors, as well as new series and projects 
• For books produced in conjunction with a collection exhibition, ideate content, review the manuscript and layouts, oversee fact-checking, manage artist relations, and participate in collaborative discussions about design  
• Provide guidance and written contributions to create accessible gallery laminates, brochures, publications, and other curatorial texts; review and provide feedback as needed  

Communications, Marketing, and Development 

• Act as a Dia spokesperson for inquiries, press interviews, and talks as required and receive special visitors 
• Work closely with the Communications and Marketing departments regarding publicity and marketing campaigns for individual exhibitions and programs and with the Assistant Editor for the preparation and review of copy 
• Work closely with the Director, Senior Deputy Director, and Development department regarding sponsorship and fundraising strategies for individual exhibitions and programs, write narratives for grants, and take on aspects of fundraising as appropriate 
• Develop relationships with funders and potential funders 
• Provide guidance and written contributions with respect to accessible exhibition-related texts, press releases, tour-guide trainings, and other printed and digital materials 

 Leadership 

• Mentor and provide ongoing feedback to direct reports, including comprehensive annual performance appraisals and mid-year reviews; ensure management approaches and standards across areas support an inclusive environment 
• Foster a productive, positive team environment driven by collaboration, open communication, and positive team dynamics 
• Ensure that Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusivity (DEAI) principles are essential considerations across all work  
• Maintain visibility both internally and externally by attending Dia events across departments and teams 
• Attend exhibition openings both at Dia and externally as assigned, as well as lectures and other public programs; develop relationships with artists  

Other responsibilities and duties 

• Maintain complex knowledge of contemporary art and demonstrate critical thinking with particular emphasis on emerging artists across the globe; demonstrate willingness and availability to travel internationally   
• Maintain and develop an appropriate network of contacts among artists, artists’ estates, gallerists, critics, scholars, and authors 
• Represent Dia as necessary in external meetings and functions 

Dia provides a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package with significant employer contributions towards the cost of healthcare premiums. The 401(k) plan provides 100% employer match up to 4% of the employee’s deferral and immediate vesting. Paid timeoff benefits include three weeks of vacation, ten days of sick leave, thirteen holidays, and a generous parental leave program. Work-related travel expenses are fully covered. Additionally, staff ID badges gain reduced or free admission to most American museums and arts organizations. 

Qualified candidates are invited to apply by completing the online job application, linked here and attaching a resume and letter of interest. 
Dia Art Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, national origin, ethnic origin, citizenship status, disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law in its employment policies. In addition, Dia will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and supports a neurodiverse workplace. Candidates with nontraditional learning or career paths and/or applicants whose qualifications differ from those listed above are encouraged to apply. 

Requirements

Education, certification, and experience  

• M.A. in art history or other relevant subject desired or an equivalent 
• At least 10 years prior art-museum experience in a relevant capacity required  
• Significant and demonstrable experience with institutional collection building, strategy, and management required 
• Minimum 5 years of progressive management and supervisory experience with demonstrated ability to mentor staff and lead teams effectively 
• Demonstrable knowledge of and involvement in international contemporary art  

Knowledge, skills, and abilities  

• High competency in leadership, staff management, and mentorship 
• Follows and engages in debates about contemporary art, culture, and society 
• Excellent organization, planning, and administrative skills, with ability to prioritize and coordinate multiple activities to meet deadlines 
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, with the flexibility to work well within a team and collaboratively across Dia’s departments 
• Excellent written communication skills, including the capacity to write authoritative texts for a specialist readership as well as accessible texts for the general public 
• Awareness of issues of equality and cultural diversity and their impact on art institutions  
• A well-developed visual sense and understanding of issues involved in the display of works of art 
• Experience with the processes involved in mounting collection exhibitions, including but not limited to ideating and implementing shows, managing budgets, overseeing installations, and developing and presenting public programs 
• Skilled negotiator with aptitude for managing different types of relationships 
• Ability and willingness to travel and attend out-of-hours functions, as required, to meet Dia’s objectives 
• Proficiency in Spanish, German, Korean, or French a plus 
• Established network of contacts in the field of contemporary art 
• Experience with grant writing or other forms of fundraising 
• Knowledge of computer databases and MS Office software