JOB SUMMARYThe Museum Supervisor provides strategic, operational, and curatorial leadership for all museum functions, including exhibitions, collections, tours, conservation, and visitor experience. Reporting to senior leadership, this role oversees exhibition planning, collection stewardship, research, and public engagement while ensuring the highest professional museum standards.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: A successful Museum Supervisor satisfactorily performs these general categories of duties. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Leadership & Museum Operations
Provide overall leadership and direction for museum operations, tours, exhibitions, and collection management.Establish policies, procedures, and standards to ensure consistent museum operations and visitor experience.Manages staff, vendors, and external partners and is accountable for museum operations, compliance, and continuous improvement.Serve as the primary point of contact for VIP guests, special events, and executive tours.
Research, Acquisitions & Auction Coordination
Oversee Western and Chinese contemporary art research and auction monitoring.Experience and knowledge in Chinese art and antiquitiesProvide strategic recommendations to the Owner on acquisitions, sales, consignments, and appraisals.Responsible for the arrangement of art sales under the direction of the owners.Manage relationships with auction houses, galleries, and external institutions.
Exhibitions & Curatorial Oversight
Direct the planning, design, and execution of museum exhibitions and special projects.Oversee exhibition logistics, including installation, deinstallation, lighting, security, signage, and gallery preparation.Ensure best practices for artwork display, storage, and preservation.Coordinate exhibition planning with international partners, including the Hong Kong office.
Collection Management & Conservation
Provide strategic oversight of artwork documentation, inventory, and condition reporting.Establish conservation standards and oversee restoration and preservation efforts.Manage environmental controls, disaster-preparedness, and risk-mitigation programs.Direct vault operations, storage planning, and archival systems.Select, manage, and supervise conservators, mount makers, and specialized vendors.
Tours, Public Engagement & Special Events
Establish museum tour policies, standards, and training programs.Oversee tour operations, visitor experience strategy, and educational programming.Lead VIP tours, donor visits, and executive-level engagements.Direct public relations activities, special events, and museum-hosted functions.
Administrative & Budget Management
Oversee museum budgets, purchasing, vendor contracts, and inventory.Manage office operations, facilities coordination, and equipment needs.Ensure accurate documentation, reporting, and compliance with internal standards.
Supervisory Responsibilities
Directly supervises museum staff Provides leadership, training, coaching, and performance management.
Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education & Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Museum Studies, Art History, Fine Arts, or a related field required.Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive museum, curatorial, or collection management experience.Experience in curating Chinese art and antiquities exhibitions and special projects. Prior supervisory or leadership experience is strongly preferred.
Skills & Abilities
Strong leadership, organizational, and decision-making skills.Excellent interpersonal, presentation, and communication abilities.High degree of integrity and professionalism when handling confidential and high-value materials.Strong project management, budgeting, and administrative skills.Ability to multitask, prioritize, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.Proficient in Microsoft Office; familiarity with museum databases, documentation systems, and photo editing software preferred.English fluency required; Chinese language skills a plus.