Collections & Exhibitions ManagerSalary transparent

The AKC Museum of the Dog preserves, interprets, and celebrates the role of dogs in society and the extraordinary bond between people and dogs through art, exhibitions, education, and public programs. Located in New York City, the Museum presents a dynamic schedule of exhibitions and experiences for local, national, and international audiences while stewarding one of the world’s most significant collections of canine art.

Position Summary The AKC Museum of the Dog seeks a highly organized, collaborative, experienced and intellectually curious Collections & Exhibitions Manager to oversee the care, documentation, movement, and presentation of the Museum’s permanent collection and all objects entrusted to its care. This is a central, hands-on role within a small and ambitious museum.

The Manager will lead all aspects of collections management; administer incoming and outgoing loans, acquisitions, and deaccessions; and manage the physical and logistical execution of exhibitions from early planning through installation and deinstallation. The Manager will also be an active thought partner in shaping exhibition concepts, selecting and interpreting objects, developing labels and other gallery content, and ensuring that exhibitions are both rigorous and engaging.

The ideal candidate combines the precision of a registrar, the practical judgment of an experienced collections professional, and the curiosity and visual intelligence to contribute meaningfully to exhibition development. This position is especially well suited to someone who enjoys moving fluidly between long-range stewardship and hands-on implementation, and thrives in a collegial environment where ideas, initiative, and flexibility are valued.

Primary Responsibilities Collections Stewardship and Care Serve as the Museum’s lead staff member for the stewardship, documentation, security, accessibility, and physical care of the permanent collection and objects in the Museum’s custody. Maintain accurate and complete object records, accession files, provenance and ownership documentation, locations, valuations, condition histories, images, and related legal and administrative records. Administer the collections database and establish consistent standards for cataloging, data entry, recordkeeping, digitization, and file management.

Conduct and document inventories and regular spot checks; reconcile legacy records and identify priorities for cataloging, research, conservation, and rehousing. Monitor gallery and storage conditions, including temperature, relative humidity, light, pests, cleanliness, security, and object safety; coordinate corrective action with facilities staff and outside specialists. Develop and maintain appropriate storage, housing, handling, packing, and movement procedures for works in a range of media.

Arrange conservation assessments and treatments; maintain conservation records and help establish annual and long-term collections-care priorities and budgets. Maintain and periodically update the Museum’s Collections Management Policy, emergency-preparedness procedures, and other collections-related plans in accordance with professional and ethical standards. Support appropriate access to the collection for staff, scholars, lenders, donors, educators, and other approved researchers.

Acquisitions, Loans, and Collections Administration Manage the full lifecycle of acquisitions, including preliminary review, object research and documentation, provenance and title due diligence, condition assessment, accessioning, cataloging, donor communications, and presentation of materials for institutional approval. Coordinate potential gifts and purchases with the CEO, relevant committees, advisors, and donors; assess each proposed acquisition’s significance, condition, storage needs, costs, and relationship to the Museum’s mission and collecting priorities.

Administer incoming and outgoing loans, including loan agreements, facility reports, insurance, indemnity, valuations, condition reporting, packing, crating, shipping, courier arrangements, customs documentation, and schedules. Maintain an accurate calendar of loan expirations, renewals, insurance requirements, and other collections-related deadlines. Coordinate deaccessions and dispositions when appropriate, ensuring that all activity follows the Museum’s policies, governing approvals, legal obligations, donor restrictions, and field-wide ethical standards.

Serve as the primary liaison with lenders, borrowers, donors, appraisers, conservators, registrars, fine-art shippers, insurers, customs brokers, framers, mount makers, photographers, and other collections vendors. Assist with collections-related insurance renewals, claims, risk assessments, audits, grants, and institutional reporting. Exhibitions and Installations Manage the collections and production workflow for the Museum’s temporary exhibitions and permanent-collection displays, from initial concept and object list through installation, opening, deinstallation, and return of loans.

Build and maintain detailed exhibition schedules, object lists, loan trackers, budgets, installation plans, and responsibility matrices; proactively identify deadlines, dependencies, risks, and resource needs. Lead object movement and gallery installation logistics, including condition checks, handling, packing and unpacking, placement, mounting, framing, lighting coordination, and supervision of contractors and art handlers. Determine and document display requirements for each object, including environmental, security, conservation, mounting, and accessibility needs.

Work closely with the CEO, staff, guest curators, designers, lenders, and outside partners to develop exhibitions that are visually compelling, responsible, mission-driven, and achievable within budget and schedule. Contribute strong, informed perspectives on exhibition concepts, narratives, object selection, layout, visitor experience, and interpretation. Research, draft, edit, fact-check, and coordinate production of object labels, introductory panels, checklists, credits, and other interpretive materials, ensuring accuracy, clarity, consistency, and an engaging institutional voice.

Coordinate image permissions, reproduction rights, photography, credit lines, and exhibition acknowledgments. Maintain installation documentation, final checklists, label files, photography, and archival exhibition records. Help assess potential traveling exhibitions and partnerships and, when applicable, coordinate the logistics and documentation necessary to tour Museum-organized exhibitions. Research, Interpretation, and Institutional Collaboration Conduct and support research on objects, artists, breeds, donors, and themes represented in the collection and exhibition program.

Partner with Education and Visitor Experience staff to provide accurate, accessible content for tours, programs, training, and educational resources. Collaborate with Marketing and Development colleagues on collection and exhibition content for press materials, digital platforms, publications, fundraising proposals, donor stewardship, and public communications. Participate in exhibition planning meetings and help develop a balanced, distinctive, and feasible exhibition pipeline.

Represent the Museum with professionalism in interactions with collectors, lenders, donors, scholars, peer institutions, breed communities, and the public. Lead occasional gallery talks, collection visits, donor presentations, or other public-facing activities related to the collection and exhibitions. Supervise interns, fellows, temporary staff, art handlers, or project-based contractors as assigned.

Planning, Policy, and Administration Develop and manage collections and exhibition budgets in partnership with the CEO; obtain estimates, track expenses, review invoices, and identify practical solutions that protect both collections standards and institutional resources. Establish clear workflows, templates, and calendars for collections and exhibition activity across the Museum. Advise senior leadership on collections risks, priorities, opportunities, and resource needs. Support planning for future storage, gallery, and facility needs, including any Museum expansion or relocation.

Keep current with legal, ethical, and professional standards related to collections stewardship, provenance, copyright, cultural property, accessibility, and museum practice. Perform other related duties as needed in support of the Museum’s mission and a collaborative, all-hands institutional culture. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in museum studies, art history, decorative arts, history, conservation, or a related field required; advanced degree or equivalent combination of education and substantial professional experience preferred.

At least four years of progressively responsible experience in museum collections management, registration, or a closely related area, including direct responsibility for art objects and exhibition installations. Demonstrated knowledge of professional standards and ethical practices governing acquisitions, accessioning, deaccessioning, loans, provenance, documentation, storage, handling, conservation, and risk management. Strong experience with collections-management databases and digital recordkeeping; familiarity with Veevart/Salesforce preferred.

Proven ability to prepare and review loan agreements, condition reports, insurance and shipping documentation, facility reports, object lists, and installation plans. Excellent project-management skills and the ability to manage multiple exhibitions, loans, and collections priorities simultaneously with accuracy and calm. Strong research, writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with the ability to translate specialized information into clear and engaging interpretation for broad audiences.

Sound visual judgment and the confidence to contribute constructively to exhibition concepts, object selection, layout, and storytelling. Demonstrated skill in handling and installing works of art safely; knowledge of museum environmental standards, integrated pest management, preventive conservation, and emergency preparedness. Exceptional attention to detail, discretion, diplomacy, and follow-through. Collaborative and service-oriented working style, with the flexibility and resourcefulness required in a small museum.

Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, trustees, donors, lenders, vendors, contractors, scholars, and members of the public. Interest in canine art, cultural history, or the relationship between people and dogs is welcome; prior subject-matter specialization is not required. Physical and Scheduling Requirements Ability to work on-site in New York City and to work occasional evenings and weekends during installations, openings, special programs, and other Museum activities. Ability to travel occasionally for couriers, lender visits, acquisitions, or Museum programs.

Ability to move safely through galleries and collections areas; climb ladders or step stools; work at a computer for extended periods; and lift and carry objects or supplies weighing up to 50 pounds, with reasonable accommodation and appropriate team-lifting and art-handling practices.