Institute for Contemporary Art Exhibitions Project Manager

Advertising Summary

The Exhibitions Project Manager oversees the production, implementation, and operational execution of exhibitions and new commissions. Working closely with curatorial staff, artists, designers, registrars, preparators, fabricators, contractors, and external vendors, this role manages production workflows from finalized concepts through fabrication, installation, and project completion.

Unit: Institute for Contemporary Art MBU
Department: Institute for Contemporary Art

Department Summary

Designed by Steven Holl Architects and located at the corner of Broad and Belvidere, the Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) at VCU presents the art of our time and provides an open forum for dialogue and collaboration across the region and throughout the world. With free admission, the ICA is a major resource for VCU, Richmond, and beyond.

Duties & Responsibilities

The Exhibitions Project Manager oversees the production, implementation, and operational execution of exhibitions and new commissions. Working closely with curatorial staff, artists, designers, registrars, preparators, fabricators, contractors, and external vendors, this role manages production workflows from finalized concepts through fabrication, installation, and project completion.

Serving as the primary operational lead for exhibition production, the Exhibitions Project Manager ensures that timelines, contracts, procurement, vendor communications, budgets, and production schedules are executed efficiently and accurately. This position functions as the central coordination point between artists, the institution, fabricators, vendors, and project stakeholders to ensure successful realization of exhibitions and institutional initiatives.

While the Curatorial Assistant & Programs Manager oversees research, content development, interpretive materials, and artist coordination during project ideation phases, the Exhibitions Project Manager assumes responsibility for production execution, vendor oversight, logistical implementation, and production management.

This role also oversees the production management and execution of RESONATE, the ICA’s signature Community Media Center podcast festival, ensuring seamless coordination across artistic, institutional, technical, and production teams.

Key Responsibilities

Exhibition Production & Project Execution

• Manage the production and implementation of exhibitions, commissions and installations, from finalized concept through completion.
• Develop and maintain detailed production timelines, implementation schedules, and operational workflows across projects.
• Serve as the primary operational liaison between artists, curators, vendors, fabricators, preparators, installers, contractors, and institutional departments.
• Coordinate project logistics related to fabrication, printing, shipping, installation, deinstallation, and production scheduling.
• Ensure timely completion of production milestones and institutional deliverables across multiple concurrent projects.
• Oversee execution planning for exhibitions and institution-wide initiatives, ensuring alignment between creative vision, budget, and operational feasibility.

Vendor Relations & Production Management

• Manage relationships with fabricators, printers, installers, contractors, AV vendors, and external production partners.
• Deliver finalized production files, approved content, and technical specifications to vendors and fabrication partners.
• Oversee procurement workflows including bids, purchase orders, contracts, invoices, and payment tracking.
• Coordinate production estimates, fabrication schedules, vendor approvals, and implementation timelines.
• Track revisions, approvals, and deliverables throughout production and installation phases.
• Ensure accurate contract execution and compliance with institutional production timelines and operational procedures.

Program Production & Institutional Initiatives

• Serve as lead production manager for Resonate, the ICA’s signature CMC program, coordinating technical production, vendor management, scheduling, hospitality logistics, installation needs, and event execution.
• Coordinate closely with curatorial, communications, AV, facilities, visitor engagement, and operations teams to ensure seamless implementation of public-facing initiatives.
• Support production oversight for screenings, performances, lectures, interdisciplinary activations, and special institutional events as needed.

Administrative Oversight & Logistics

• Maintain organized production schedules, project calendars, contracts, budgets, and institutional records.
• Support coordination of shipping schedules, storage logistics, deliveries, and installation planning across projects with ICA’s registrar and preparators.
• Monitor project budgets and assist with expense tracking, payment processing, and financial reporting.
• Facilitate clear communication and coordination across departments and external stakeholders throughout implementation phases.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in art history, fine arts management, or related field or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in exhibition management, museum production, fabrication coordination, or project management within a cultural institution.
• Demonstrated organizational skills to plan, manage, prioritize, and complete multiple on-going projects to meet deadlines and goals.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in fast-paced production environments.
• Strong organizational, administrative, and operational management skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to identify challenges and opportunities, engage others in their resolution,and recommend appropriate course of action.
• Demonstrated experience with budget management including budget development and stewardship of resources and demonstrated fiscal responsibility to stay within budget.
• Must be able to establish and maintain professional, productive and courteous interactions that promote positive teamwork.
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with fabrication, printing, AV coordination, installation, and exhibition production workflows preferred.
• Knowledge of contemporary art and interdisciplinary cultural production strongly preferred.

Salary Range: $70,000 - $82,000

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
Hours per Week: 40
Restricted Position: No
ORP Eligible: Yes
Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid
University Job Title: 19221Y - Program Manager GA 1
Application Deadline: Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Contact Information

Contact Name: VCUarts HR
Contact Email: artshr@vcu.edu