Posting Details

Posting Number

F2879P

Working Title

Director of the Georgia Museum of Art

Department

UHR-HR Search Services

About the University of Georgia

Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state's flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University's main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,200 faculty and more than 7,900 full-time staff. The University's enrollment exceeds 44,000 students including over 33,000 undergraduates and over 11,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 20 schools and colleges, including the newly established School of Medicine and the Victoria Kay Investor School of Nursing.

About the College/Unit/Department

The Georgia Museum, established in 1945, is both an academic museum and, since 1982, the official art museum of the state of Georgia. The permanent collection consists of American paintings, primarily 19th and 20th century; American, European, and Asian works on paper; the Samuel H. Kress Study Collection of Italian Renaissance paintings; and extensive collections of Southern decorative arts, Asian art, Russian art, contemporary art, and photography. From the time of its public opening in 1948, the Museum has grown consistently in the size of both its collection and facilities, including a modern, 79,000 square foot museum building, opened with a holistic performing and visual arts complex that includes UGA's Performing Arts Center, and the university's Franklin College of Arts and Sciences' Lamar Dodd School of Art and Hugh Hodgson School of Music. The Museum houses nearly 20,000 objects in its permanent collection - a dramatic leap from the core of 100 paintings donated by the Museum's founder, Alfred Heber Holbrook. It also hosts a robust schedule of temporary rotating exhibitions which balance the academic study of art history and broader appeal to community audiences outside the university. The Georgia Museum's collection and programs have historically been supported by generous private donations and successful public grant funding. A highly engaged Directors Leadership Council supports the Museum's operations and strategic vision, along with the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art, a support group of more than 1,200 members, who, host fundraisers and sponsor exhibitions and educational programs at the Museum.

The Georgia Museum is a leader among university museums, as evidenced by its vibrant educational programs that engage both UGA's academic audiences and community audiences locally and statewide.

College/Unit/Department website

https://georgiamuseum.org/

Posting Type

External

Retirement Plan

Employment Type

Employee

Benefits Eligibility

Benefits Eligible

Underutilization

Advertised Salary

Commensurate with Experience

Anticipated Start Date

07/01/2027

Effective End Date (for Limited-Term postings)

Job Posting Date

11/10/2026

Job Closing Date

Open until filled

Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicant screening will begin immediately. Candidates are encouraged to submit their materials by Wednesday, January 20, 2027; however, screening will continue until the position is filled. The application packet should include a cover letter detailing how the applicant's credentials and experience meet the needs, responsibilities, and qualifications stated above; a current resume; and contact information for three references (who will not be contacted without further correspondence with the applicant).

To provide a nomination or seek additional information, please contact Zane Dockweiler, Primary Consultant with the UGA Search Group, 678-490-5660 or zane.dockweiler@uga.edu. Letters of recommendation or a simple nomination should include the name and contact information for the nominee.

Location of Vacancy

Athens Area

EEO Statement

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 08.02.18.01.02.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 06.05 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.

Position Details

Position Information

Classification Title

Department Chair/Head AC

FLSA

Faculty Rank

Administrative Faculty

Contract Type

Fiscal (12 mo.)

Tenure Status

Non-Tenure Track

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in art, art history, or a related field

Position Summary

The University of Georgia ( UGA ) invites applications and nominations for the position of the Director of the Georgia Museum of Art (Georgia Museum). Reporting to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs in the Office of the Provost, the Director will provide strong leadership, donor engagement, vision, and strategic direction for the Georgia Museum of Art, be a principled advocate for the University of Georgia's tripartite mission, "to teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things," and be a leader who can support the dual mission of the Georgia Museum of Art as an academic institution and as the official state Museum of Art. With attention to the day-to-day management of the Museum, and in support of the Museum's staff and their professional development, the Director will ideate, communicate, and benchmark what success looks like for the Georgia Museum of Art going forward.

The Director will have a deep understanding of fundraising principles and strategy with experience building philanthropic relationships. Additionally, the Director will be adept at cultivating new gifts from individual donors and foundations and stewarding the institution's past and current donors, while also engaging with potential new supporters, consistent with the University of Georgia's strong community engagement and fundraising goals.

The Director will drive excellence in the Museum's curatorial, educational, and programmatic endeavors while ensuring the alignment of financial resources and operational priorities, near and long term. In partnership with the Museum's curatorial and management team, and through dynamic thought-provoking exhibitions and collections, scholarship, educational activities, programs, and outreach, the Director will continue to enhance the Georgia Museum's relevance and position on the UGA campus, across the state of Georgia, and beyond.

Additional Requirements

• 10 years of professional experience working in a museum, art school, academic environment, or similar non-profit organization to include 3 years in a leadership role

Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, and/or Certification

• Terminal degree (PhD, MFA , etc.) in art, art history, or a related field
• 5 or more years of experience in an R1 research institution and/or university museum
• Demonstrated history of success in fundraising and donor relations
• Significant strategic leadership and managerial expertise in a museum, art school, or academic environment or similar non-profit organization; proficiency in working within the context of an academic environment with faculty and students across disciplines in a university setting;

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• A facility with establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with a variety of representatives of public and private organizations, members of boards, foundations, commissions and support groups, civic and government officials, and the public;
• Knowledge of American Alliance of Museum ( AAM ) standards and practices; knowledge of and networks in the art world and its key participants; the ability to evaluate and select works of art relevant to the Museum's mission; an understanding of and commitment to teaching collections and an ability to translate that into meaningful collaborations and exhibitions;
• Knowledge of and demonstrated commitment to arts education, educational outreach, networking, and thought-provoking programming that attracts and engages students and faculty, as well as local, regional, and statewide constituents;
• Administrative skills with a collaborative working style; demonstrated ability to organize, lead, and support a professional staff, including an established record of managing operations and budgets; demonstrated record of defining and executing strategic initiatives;
• A proven ability to serve as a trusted leader with ethics above reproach, to define and refine institutional culture through actions and best practices, and to build consensus and generate enthusiasm among stakeholders; demonstrated understanding of the subtleties of motivating, directing, delegating, handling, and prioritizing multiple activities and responsibilities;
• A proven ability to articulate needs and champion the interests of the Georgia Museum, while working effectively and cooperatively with campus partners; soft skills that align with an ability to build and nurture relationships with a range of people

Physical Demands

Is this a Position of Trust?

Yes

Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?

Yes

Does this position require a P-Card?

No

Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position?

No

Is driving a responsibility of this position?

Yes

Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?

No

Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications)

Yes

Credit and P-Card policy

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Background Investigation Policy

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Duties/Responsibilities

Duties/Responsibilities

With a mandate to elevate the Georgia Museum on the UGA campus, locally, and statewide, the Director has the following priorities and ongoing responsibilities:

• Working in partnership with the provost's office, faculty, Georgia Museum staff and other stakeholders, advance the museum's mission by fully articulating and implementing the museum's strategic plan, in alignment with the university's 2031 Strategic Plan, defining the scope and direction of exhibitions and programming to attract new and varied attendances. Provide stable leadership to ensure institutional clarity around the plan's key initiatives;
• Work with the University of Georgia Foundation to steward existing donor relationships and to identify new prospects for major and other impactful gifts. Provide leadership for the museum's development team to maximize annual giving, seek grants and awards for special projects, and encourage ongoing donor and patron engagement;
• Lead a robust and collaborative budget-planning process driven by sound fiscal management and strategic priorities with guidance from the Deputy Director of Business Operations; become familiar with the museum's current grants and endowments, and appropriate uses thereof, as well as unrestricted sources of support, and resource allocation; exemplify and instill a sense of financial ownership, clarity, and discipline at all levels.
• Foster synergy and collaboration, and deepen connections within the performing, visual, and literary arts across the university, including but not limited to: arts complex neighboring units, the UGA Performing Arts Center, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Lamar Dodd School of Art, and the Hugh Hodgson School of Music; participate in the University's Arts Council under the direction of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs;
• Build upon and expand relationships with non-arts-related academic departments and encourage continued and new uses of the museum as an extension of the classroom;
• Enthusiastically support the academic mission of UGA and its commitment to experiential, object-based learning and cultural enrichment; support and enhance the Georgia Museum's commitment to teaching and education for schools, youth, and families, the community, and the University; ensure the integration of exhibition and educational objectives;
• Engage the Georgia Museum's Director's Leadership Council and activate Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art; understand each group's strengths and capabilities and bring forth their best contributions, efforts, resources, and contacts; develop effective communications; redefine or clarify roles as needed;
• Assess and strengthen the museum's collection through careful acquisitions and deaccessions; establish and foster relationships with the stakeholders who support the museum's collection-building efforts;
• Review the museum's organizational and financial structure, including faculty and staff positions; evaluate roles, responsibilities, and salaries; provide transparency regarding key strategic and operational decisions, including updating policies and procedures as necessary;
• Supervise a team of three deputy directors overseeing the areas of business operations, curatorial affairs, and collections and exhibitions. With the deputy directors, regularly evaluate the museum's priorities and strategic plan; supervise the Director of Development, Director of Learning and Engagement, and the Director of Communications; provide transparent communication, attentive oversight, and professional development for all faculty and staff at the Museum;
• Work with the museum's leadership team and Director of Communications to effectively and appropriately communicate with the staff, university administration, university partners and colleagues, UGA students and faculty, museum patrons and donors, and the public. Serve as the "face" of the museum, representing it and the University in a professional manner.

Percentage Of Time

100

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Cover Letter
2. Resume/CV
3. List of References with Contact Information

Optional Documents

1. Other Documents #1