Job Opportunities

Current Job Openings at Columbus Museum of Art

Thank you for your interest in employment at Columbus Museum of Art. See below for current job position openings at Columbus Museum of Art. Please check back frequently for jobs at Columbus Museum of Art, an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs

Position Summary:
The Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs at the Columbus Museum of Art is responsible for leading the Curatorial Department in the development and implementation of the Museum’s artistic program, including its collections, exhibitions, publications, and related efforts. As a member of the Museum’s senior leadership team, the Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs must work collaboratively with other departments and stakeholders to advance the Museum’s mission, foster community engagement, and build support for the institution’s activities.

The Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs is an integral part of shaping the artistic vision, strategic priorities, and mission of the organization. Through leadership and collaboration, the Deputy Director supports acquisitions and develops an exhibition program that centers artists’ voices, elevates marginalized histories, and explores new narratives. The Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs leads CMA’s exhibition development plan with a focus on the visitor experience. They support CMA’s continued efforts to foster meaningful relationships and open dialogue with our diverse community, bringing relevant exhibitions to Columbus that further the Museum’s mission to create connection and inspire wonder. The Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs works with the Executive Director and CEO, their colleagues, and other external partners to develop high quality exhibitions that travel from Columbus and across the nation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership and Management Acumen
The Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs will be skilled at building and leading high-performing, diverse teams with the highest degree of professionalism and an eye toward guiding team members’ growth and development. They must have the ability to set clear priorities, delegate, and guide investment in people and systems. The ideal candidate will cultivate a productive work environment that matches the skill set and abilities of staff members and provides professional growth opportunities that result in team cohesion and camaraderie. The Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs will foster a culture of collaboration, mutual respect, and teamwork within the department and across other departments. Further, they will manage the department’s operations and finances with focus and balance and will make decisions based on a clear understanding of the strategic objectives of the museum.

Curatorial Affairs Leadership
The Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs will have a sophisticated understanding of and passion for art and art history, as well as the materials, techniques, and condition of art objects; they will bring a robust record of exhibitions, digital innovation, and scholarly publications. This individual will bring demonstrated experience with project management related to the care, conservation, display, and interpretation of objects in a museum setting. The Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs will have demonstrable success conceptualizing, designing, and implementing compelling and visitor-centered curatorial and collection strategies and will be adept at working with the staff to bring them to life.

Successful candidates will be comfortable in the broader arts and cultural community to advance the mission of the Columbus Museum of Art locally, nationally, and internationally. They will have a familiarity with or working knowledge of best practices in collections management and a commitment to legal, professional, and ethical considerations about all acquisitions. They will possess a high level of cross-cultural competency and embrace the value found in our differences in all forms. This leader will have excellent presentation, verbal, and written communication skills.

Relationship Building and Ambassadorship
The Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs will be a gifted leader who will serve as an ambassador for the museum, locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. A charismatic spokesperson, the Deputy Director should be able to originate and inspire enthusiastic relationships with fellow curators, artists, scholars, art historians, civic and community members, and others, to broaden and deepen interest in and support for the museum’s collections and exhibitions.

Passion for the Mission
Fully embracing the mission of the Columbus Museum of Art, its relationship to the communities of the city and region, and its commitment to its various constituents, the Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs will be someone who understands how historic collections intersect with our contemporary world, and who will be passionate about working in partnership with staff, donors, and other partners to advance the mission of the museum. The ideal candidate will possess and promote a deep appreciation for the museum’s collections, history, research, and scholarship and will demonstrate a commitment to public engagement and the visitor experience. Working alongside the senior leadership team, trustees, staff, and volunteers, the Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs will help expand the museum’s brand and reach globally. This individual will have a strong work ethic, emotional intelligence, a sense of humor, and evidence of a commitment to lifelong learning and professional growth. Additionally, this leader will be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics and values: someone who can be trusted without reservation.

Interested candidates may apply here

Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations

Position Summary:
Reporting to the Deputy Director for Advancement, the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations is responsible for identifying and managing an active corporate and foundation portfolio of donors and prospective donors that will result in new and retained support for the organization in accordance with annual and capital goals. Responsible for all aspects of portfolio management including development of corporate and foundation strategies, proposal preparation, donor cultivation and solicitation, grant writing and reporting, and stewardship.

This position requires strong organizational and management skills and effective oral and written skills. Candidates must be able to identify and solve problems, be willing to increase knowledge and skills through ongoing training, work independently with minimal direction, and communicate effectively with people at all levels of the organization, including staff, trustees, donors, volunteers, and members. This individual must be professional, diplomatic, and discrete in handling sensitive and confidential information.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute strategies for discovery and engagement, present opportunities for support, and complete solicitations for mission critical projects across the museum.
• Maintain and expand a pipeline of corporations and foundations with the capacity to fund museum initiatives across departments.
• Lead the development, writing, and submission of compelling grant and sponsorship proposals to secure funding from corporations, foundations, and government entities, ensuring alignment with museum goals and funding priorities.
• Demonstrate strong understanding of museum priorities and giving vehicles with an ability to apply knowledge in the creation of proposals that balance corporate and foundation and museum goals; ensuring proposals are vetted with leadership, appropriately scoped, and well crafted.
• Steward new and current corporate and foundation prospects by recognizing, tailoring, and communicating news and updates that are relevant and interesting.
• Navigate complex situations with a variety of stakeholders.
• Steward donors and stakeholders, providing timely, compelling, and consistent engagement and recognition.
• Diligently track portfolio activity in donor database.

Interested candidates may apply here

Shackelford Family Assistant/Associate Curator of American Art

Position Summary:
The Shackelford Assistant/Associate Curator of American Art will lead the museum’s efforts to steward, expand, and reinterpret its American collection, while building a rigorous and dynamic program of exhibitions relating to American art. Spanning the colonial era to the present, and bordering a host of related collections (including art of the ancient Americas and indigenous American art), the museum’s American holdings form a key part of its overall collection, with a particular strength in the early 20th century.

Reporting to the Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs, the Shackelford Assistant/Associate Curator of American Art will take responsibility for all facets related to American art, bringing to this work connoisseurship skills, scholarly expertise, experience in collections development, and a strong ability to develop major exhibition projects and publications. Candidates with expertise in Asian American, African American, Native American, and/or Latinx art (or, other specializations) are encouraged to apply. The Assistant/Associate Curator of American Art will work effectively with colleagues in overlapping areas of interest and expertise, especially modern art and photography.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• With the Executive Director and Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs and in alignment with CMA’s mission and strategic goals, propose and implement dynamic and scholarly gallery rotations and special exhibitions in the field of American art.
• Identify and recommend works to be acquired for the collection and provide supporting documentation to justify their acquisition by gift or purchase.
• In accordance with CMA’s collection policy, and under the direction of the department head, make recommendations for the deaccession of artworks as necessary.
• Conduct and publish scholarly research of the collection and the field of American art, including essays, catalogues, gallery didactics, guided tours, etc.
• Assist members of the registrarial team in maintaining accurate information on works in the permanent collection.
• Conceptualize, develop, and organize a broad range of engaging and ambitious exhibitions related to American art and adjacent fields.
• Actively seek tour venues and partners for CMA organized exhibitions.
• In collaboration with the curatorial department, oversee exhibition budgets, installation design and publications; coordinate exhibition details including correspondence, checklists, documentary materials, text panels and extended label copy as well as facilitating marketing and communications materials.
• Serve as the museum’s primary liaison for exhibitions related to American art organized by guest curators or outside exhibition partners.
• Work with members of the learning and engagement department on various methods for interpreting works in the permanent collection and exhibitions.
• Provide training for docents and select staff.
• Lecture and lead formal and informal tours of the museum’s collections.
• Cultivate and steward collectors, artists, members, potential donors, and members of the community to help grow the collection.
• Represent the museum in professional organizations, conferences and other public forums.
• Create and maintain professional relationships with colleagues in the field; attend conferences and symposia within areas of professional expertise.
• Keep abreast of trends within the art market as well as exhibitions and major acquisitions made nationally and internationally as they relate to the museum’s collection and exhibitions.
• Attend meetings related to the museum’s American collection and exhibition program including board of trustee meetings, committee and staff meetings as needed.
• Serve as courier to oversee works of art loaned to national and international exhibitions, as needed.

Interested candidates may apply here

Senior Exhibition Designer

Position Summary:
The Columbus Museum of Art seeks an experienced and innovative Senior Exhibition Designer (SED) to shape the design and presentation of the museum’s ambitious and dynamic exhibition program. The Senior Exhibition Designer is integral to developing compelling temporary exhibitions and permanent collection displays that engage diverse audiences and advance the museum’s mission. The SED will lead all aspects of the exhibition design process at both the Columbus Museum of Art and The Pizzuti, working collaboratively across departments and with external partners to deliver exceptional visitor experiences while upholding high standards of safety, accessibility, and sustainability.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Design & Presentation:

• Conceptualize, develop, and execute exhibition elements for both on-site and off-site installations, including permanent collection galleries and temporary exhibitions.
• Develop detailed to-scale drawings for layouts, casework, and graphic identities using VectorWorks, AutoCAD, SketchUp, InDesign, and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Create 3D renderings, presentation models, and material research to support design proposals and project execution.

Graphic Design Coordination:

• Design and produce exhibition graphics, including vinyl text, wall labels, and interpretative elements, ensuring alignment with overall exhibition aesthetics.
• Work closely with graphic designers (in-house and external/contractual) to maintain consistency with the museum’s brand identity and style guide.

Technical Expertise:

• Provide comprehensive construction drawings and technical specifications for exhibition furniture, architectural details, and display techniques.
• Develop and maintain a library of design resources, including paint and fabric samples, and material specifications.

Project Management:

• Collaborate with the chief preparator and chief registrar to plan and implement production schedules for exhibitions and gallery installations.
• Ensure adherence to project budgets, timelines, and CMA’s quality standards.
• Oversee the procurement and installation of exhibition elements, coordinating with external contractors and vendors as necessary.

Collaboration & Communication:

• Maintain clear communication with the Director of Collections and Exhibitions and other stakeholders throughout the design, construction, and installation processes.
• Consult with curators, conservators, registrars, and security personnel to ensure safe and secure presentation of artworks.

Accessibility & Compliance:

• Ensure that designs meet or exceed ADA standards for accessibility and comply with all relevant laws and ordinances.
• Stay informed about emerging trends and best practices in museum design to continually improve accessibility and visitor engagement.

External Collaboration:

• Provide layouts and details to tour venues, artists, and guest designers as needed.
• Manage relationships with contracted designers and vendors.

Sustainability:

• Collaborate with preparators to maximize the use of existing exhibition resources, reducing environmental and financial impacts.

Professional Development:

• Stay current with advancements in exhibition design, materials, and technologies.
• Integrate innovative solutions and industry best practices to enhance the museum’s exhibition program.

Interested candidates may apply here

Gallery Associate

Position Summary:
The primary focus of this role is to support the Visitor Experience Department by interacting with guests in a unique environment. Gallery Associates monitor CMA’s galleries to ensure a positive visitor experience while maintaining the wellbeing of people and art. Gallery Associates greet guests, share information, answer questions, provide directions, uphold policies, protect art, and work together to make CMA a fun and safe place to visit. Candidates must be able to uphold a variety of policies while providing a positive experience.

Candidates must possess a flexible schedule, including a combination of weekday, weekend, and evening hours. Regular museum hours are 10am to 5pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and 10am to 9pm Thursdays. Hours are subject to change based on events and holidays. Special events may begin as early as 6am or may end as late as 1am.

Each associate is asked to submit their personal availability, but availability on Thursday evenings from 4:45pm-9:15pm and Sundays from 9:30am to 5:15pm is a must. Associates are expected to work at both CMA locations (the Columbus Museum of Art at 480 East Broad St. and the Pizzuti Collection of the Columbus Museum of Art at 632 North Park St.)

Duties and Responsibilities:
Creating an environment of welcome and warmth for all visitors. This includes:

• Greeting all guests that enter your section.
• Approaching situations with a willingness to help and the assumption of good intentions.
• Answering questions knowledgably and with patience.
• Maintaining a polite tone and body language even in stressful situations.
• Initiating conversations with guests to provide necessary information and an engaging gallery experience.
• Treating all guests regardless of race, religion, political affiliation, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other personal characteristic with openness and respect.

 
Maintaining the wellbeing of people and art in the museum. This includes:

• Being knowledgeable of all museum policies and able to explain those policies to others.
• Circulating through your designated space being attentive and situationally aware.
• Being aware of guests in your space and proactively communicating policies to those guests directly, friendly, and respectfully.
• Approaching and correcting visitors who are not following museum policies respectfully and professionally.
• Approaching situations with a willingness to help and offering solutions that maintain a positive visitor experience while complying with museum policies.
• Being self-aware and maintaining a polite tone and body language even in stressful situations.

 
Communicating and collaborating regularly with colleagues within Visitor Experience and in other departments. This includes:

• Being respectful and professional, approaching situations with a willingness to help.
• Having a team-focused attitude, working with others toward common goals, and supporting a cooperative environment.
• Using good listening skills and asking questions to understand museum policies, procedures, operations, and how various departments interact and support each other.
• Being observant of people, spaces and proactively communicating as instructed any issues that may arise.
• Using a two-way radio (walkie-talkie) as instructed to relay information.
• Participating in meetings and trainings as scheduled; understanding and using the information communicated in those meetings and trainings.
• Answering a multi-extension telephone system respectfully and professionally.
• Responding efficiently and correctly to a wide variety of museum-related questions and requests for information.
• Maintaining knowledge of museum departments and staff to connect callers and guests as required.
• Maintaining confidential information or restricted gallery access.
• Handling cash transactions appropriately and efficiently.
• Using a computer-based ticketing system to properly process transactions.
• Entering and tracking information accurately.

Interested candidates may apply here

Maintenance Technician

Position Summary:
Operate and maintains the building heating, cooling, ventilating, electrical, plumbing systems and structure in an efficient manner. Perform carpentry, painting, drywall repairs, snow removal and landscaping duties as required. Please note that this position is a bargaining unit position represented by a labor union and a collective bargaining agreement.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conducts inspections and makes necessary repairs to roofs, exterior and interior structures, lighting and fixtures, hot and cold-water piping, lavatory fixtures and refrigeration.
• Perform maintenance duties under the supervision of Facilities Director for HVAC, electrical and plumbing equipment in order to assure reliable, efficient and long-term results.
• Perform general maintenance such as carpentry, painting, drywall repairs, snow removal and landscape duties as required.
• Travel between multiple local locations as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Interested candidates may apply here

Dish Washer

Position Summary:
Responsible for washing all dishes, silverware, glasses, and cooking utensils used in daily production. Will also assist with prep food tasks as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Operate dish machine, wash dishes, and daily cleaning of machine.
• Responsible for the orderliness, cleanliness and sanitation of work area including putting away stock, organizing storage areas, cleaning equipment and shelves.
• Communicate and cooperate with Chef, Assistant Manager, and co-workers.
• Maintains a clean kitchen, properly washes and sorts soiled dishes, and preps foods as needed. Keeps dish area free of clutter and organized.
• Sets up dish stations, including dish machines and sinks.
• Maintains clean / dry floors throughout the shift.
• Properly washes, stacks, and stores china, glassware, silverware, cookware, and storage containers.
• Changes water of machines and sinks every two hours, or more often as required by business levels, and properly uses chemical dilutions set by Autochlor.
• Assists in the timely storing of food deliveries.
• Maintains trash cans throughout shift and removes full trashcans and boxes at the end of each shift.
• Maintains the dry storage area and the organization of storage shelves.
• Follows the posted daily dish cleaning duties.
• Assists in food prep and any other duties set forth or requested by the chef as needed.
• Accomplishes all job duties while adhering to all safety guidelines and practices throughout the shift.
• Reports any unsafe condition, unsafe act, accidents and/or injuries to the manager on duty.
• Sweeps, mops and takes out trash at the end of the evening.

Interested candidates may apply here

Internship Opportunities

Please check back for future opportunities.