Reed College invites applications for the position of Art Gallery Director to lead the Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Art Gallery, a renowned academic museum located at one of the country’s most distinctive liberal arts colleges.
The Cooley Gallery is internationally respected for its ambitious exhibitions of contemporary and historical art, its intimate scale, and its ability to foster deep intellectual and artistic exchange. It has hosted major solo and group exhibitions by renowned artists, curators, and thinkers from around the globe, and has served as an active site of interdisciplinary dialogue on Reed’s intellectually rigorous campus. This is an extraordinary opportunity for a visionary curator and arts leader who is excited by creative experimentation, academic collaboration, and museum best practices.
Learn more about the Cooley’s history and mission at reed.edu/cooley. This is an on-site position reporting to the Dean of the Faculty, Reed’s Chief Academic Officer.
Reed College offers an exceptional benefits package, including a comprehensive and cost-free medical and dental insurance option for you (Reed pays 60% on medical and dental insurance premiums for your dependent), 403(b) retirement plan with 10% employer contribution (after one year of service), educational assistance for employees and their children, 22 days of paid vacation, paid holidays, half-day Fridays in the summer, and many other campus amenities. This is a full-time role with typical work hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a one hour unpaid lunch. Additionally there are times when work is required during evenings and weekends.
The starting salary for this position is $88,000-$94,000. Pay offers are contingent upon experience and are determined through an internal pay assessment. This is an exempt position on grade 8.
Who You Are
- You are an ambitious curator, a thoughtful collaborator, and a skilled arts administrator.
- You believe art can transform the way people think about and relate to the world.
- You are committed to equity and inclusion, and this commitment informs your curatorial practice, leadership, and personal ethos.
- You are highly organized and deadline-driven, and you are comfortable overseeing everything from conceptual visioning, behind-the-scenes logistics, and managing a team.
- You naturally build strong relationships—both within your team and with partners, artists, and community members.
- You’re passionate about connecting people to the arts and shaping curatorial experiences that resonate and inspire.
- You bring hands-on experience managing museum-quality collections and care deeply about preservation and access.
- You can develop and clearly articulate a compelling vision for a collection’s future, aligning it with institutional goals.
- You’re excited about fostering educational partnerships and exploring collaborative approaches to teaching with both contemporary and historical works.
- You have a track record of scholarly writing, curatorial publications, or successful grant proposals that demonstrate your depth and engagement with the field.
- You’ve led or supervised staff, supporting their growth while moving projects forward effectively.
- You make smart, thoughtful budget decisions—balancing creativity with strategy to make the most of available resources.
What You’ll Do
- Curate Exhibitions of Impact: Conceive, plan, and produce innovative exhibitions that engage students and faculty and attract attention from the broader art world. Manage all phases of exhibition development, including research, artist relationships, writing, installation, and promotion.
- · Steward the Collection: Oversee the care, conservation, documentation, and display of the Reed College Art Collection in line with best practices from the American Alliance of Museums.
- · Support Teaching & Learning: Partner with faculty to align exhibitions with Reed’s curriculum, foster student engagement, and provide opportunities for research and learning.
- · Expand Public Engagement: Build programs that welcome the Portland community and national/international visitors into conversation with the gallery’s work. Champion the gallery locally and beyond.
- · Lead with Vision & Accountability: Set annual goals, manage budgets and reporting, and steward external funding. Write compelling grants and cultivate partnerships that support the gallery’s growth and ambition.
Minimum Qualifications
- 5 years of directly related experience
- Masters degree in related field
More Info
https://jobs.reed.edu/
Salary
$88,000-$94,000 to start
Location
Portland, OR
Opportunity Region
Local
Commitment
fulltime