Gallery photographer job description

This post includes 3 parts: duties list, job qualification and job description writing tips for Gallery photographer in details. A complete job description concludes Gallery photographer key duties/responsibilities, Gallery photographer job qualifications (knowledge, education, skills, abilities, experience…KSA model) and other ones such as daily tasks, key activities, key/core competencies, job functions/purpose…

I. List of Gallery photographer duties:

1. Coordinate with Director and other departments to ensure alignment of Department of Photographs with goals of museum
2. Identify, recruit, hire, train, manage, supervise, and evaluate departmental staff members to achieve the goals of the department and museum
3. Plan, develop, implement, and manage approved departmental budgets and allocation of departmental resources
4. Represent the museum in the media, at professional conferences, in professional organizations, and on expert panels
5. Develop productive relationships with peer professionals and institutions
6. Collaborate with Director and Exhibition Committee on the development of a long-term pipeline of future exhibitions, with an emphasis on exhibitions that will travel to major museum venues within the United States and internationally
7. Develop, oversee, and individually contribute to book and exhibition projects that advance scholarship and are engaging to a broader audience
8. Collaborate with outside curators and scholars on exhibitions and book projects
9. Collaborate with Manager of Exhibitions and with Creative Services team on design and installation of in-house exhibitions
10. Oversee research and writing of interpretative materials (e.g., exhibition labels, didactic content, gallery guides, videos) for exhibitions
11. Collaborate with Director and with Manager of Traveling Exhibitions on the placement of traveling exhibitions at museum venues
12. Collaborate with Conservation Department (including conservators and conservation scientists) and Facilities Manager to identify, implement, and monitor best practices
13. Coordinate with Collections Management Department on outgoing loans of collection photographs and on borrowing of photographs from outside lenders
14. Provide leadership, research, and expert advice to Photography Acquisitions Committee in proposing and evaluating acquisitions and gifts
15. Collaborate with Development Department in developing relationships with collectors and donors and in fundraising activities
16. Collaborate with Development Department to identify, apply for, and secure grants and other funding for exhibitions, publications, collection research, and other projects
17. Oversee joint Master’s degree program in Photograph Preservation and Collections Management (PPCM)
18. May participate in teaching graduate courses in PPCM program
19. Train, oversee and mentor interns, graduate students and junior staff
20. Participate in the design, oversight, and implementation of future projects for comprehensive digitization of photograph collection

II. List of Gallery photographer qualifications

1. Master’s degree in relevant field required; Ph.D. or equivalent preferred
2. Must be well-versed in the intellectual discourse, history, and practice of photography
3. Knowledge of research tools and methodology
4. Self-directed and highly motivated
5. Team player with leadership ability
6. Proficiency in foreign language(s) preferred
7. Minimum of six years’ curatorial experience in photography
8. Experience with professional museum principles, practices, and procedures
9. Demonstrated accomplishments in scholarly research and writing
10. Management and budgeting experience
11. Teaching undergraduate or graduate courses preferred (but not required)
12. Exemplary writing, speaking, and listening skills in English
13. Ability to think rigorously and to communicate clearly and professionally
14. Well-developed public speaking skills
15. Strong administrative, managerial, and mentoring skills
16. Collegiality, diplomacy, and constructive interpersonal approach
17. Demonstrated organizational planning, problem-solving, and teamwork
18. Demonstrated ability to complete projects within deadlines and budgets
19. Ability to conceive, research, develop, and complete exhibitions and publications
20. Ability to present and interpret photographs in a manner relevant to the general public
21. Willingness and ability to develop productive relationships with living photographers and their representatives, and with photographers’ heirs, estates, and foundations
22. Demonstrated ability to develop productive relationships with photograph collectors and with current and prospective donors
23. Ability to develop and successfully manage annual, project, and grant budgets
24. Experience developing grant proposals for foundation and government funding
25. Experience in digitizing photographs and managing digital assets (highly-valued)
26. Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
27. Experience with The Museum System software (preferred) and other databases
28. Maintain highest levels of confidentiality and discretion
29. Understand and uphold highest ethical standards

III. Tips to write job description

1. Too-long job description:

Looking at a too-long job description can frighten the candidates off and drive the away. A job description, no matter how important the job is, should not be included in more than 3 pages. If one focuses on too many things at a time, he shall definitely lose focus on the main items and get overwhelmed by the remaining; So, keep it concisely.

2. Too-short job description:

While too-long can be a problem, too-short is more a problem. It will ruin the meaning of the job description. A too-short one means it lacks necessary details and therefore, the candidate will not be able to understand while reading it.

3. Listing unnecessary functions or job duties:

Just classifying these into the “others” category will save you a lot of effort and space. On the other hand, the job description will become more dilute and easy to be neglected.

4. Key functions

Not listing key functions as required for the job can be a fatal mistake to a job description.

5. Grammar and spelling

Poor grammar and having spelling errors can ruin the job description, too. Never think that as you are the employer, you may have the right to make grammar or spelling errors while requires other not to. A job description with such errors is easily to be mistaken as a fake or ghost ads; as a result, the candidate will turn away from it.

6. Not specific enough:

Be specific and concise; if you don’t address the specific, then what the job description is for. It is for the candidate to understand just exactly what he needs to do or needs to have. Lacking details can confuse the candidates very well.

7. Not having the job description reviewed by others:

This is also a common mistake. One may be subject to bias, but more than one, especially with the help of those external advisor, the job description can be more perfect.

8. Using buzzwords or abbreviations:

In fact, it is not necessary at all to use such in a job description.

9. Using slang or legal words:

Just use common wording to communicate with others and don’t do anything extraordinarily.

10. Not updating the job description:

The same job may require different duties and responsibilities in different times, so, you cannot use the same job description for 2 different times.

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