Manager of Installations and Packing

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.

Qualifications and Skills

• 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.

Your background and experience include:

• 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.

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

Position and Compensation Details

• The salary for this position is $75,900- $90,000
• This position is Full-Time, Exempt, and 35 hours per week.
• This position reports to Director of Registration
• This position is required to be performed fully onsite at Philadelphia Museum of Art locations.
• Physical requirements:
  • Able to remain stationary for extended periods of time, to utilize computers and other office equipment required of this job, to perform physically administrative duties in a typical interior office environment, gallery, or exhibit space, and to access most public and staff areas of the museum campus
  • Job-specific physical requirements
• Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

Institutional Requirements

• Upholds the professional standards of the field, always acts in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of the museum and protects and enhances its reputation and standing within the community of museums.
• Adheres to the museum’s code of ethics and Employee Handbook and avoids any real or perceived conflicts of interest.
• Shows respect for co-workers and visitors and an understanding of and appreciation for the diversity of the museum’s staff, volunteers, and audiences.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Adheres to all museum protocols, procedures, rules, and policies.

Application Timeline

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage candidates to apply early as the position will close once we have a robust applicant pool or a candidate has been selected.

What We Offer

Our employees are at the center of the museum. As an employee, you will have access to numerous museum perks including, but not limited to:

• 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

We offer a comprehensive benefits package for employees including:

• 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

*Eligibility for certain benefits is based on a variety of factors including the employee’s regular schedule and tenure.