Museum Building Manager

Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA) is seeking a technically skilled leader and highly collaborative team member as a Museum Building Manager to lead the start‑up and operational excellence of the first purpose‑built art museum for Williams College, designed by Solid Objectives Idenburg Liu and currently under construction. This pivotal role is responsible for the care of a highly specialized building and is a guardian and interpreter of architectural excellence and integrity, holding and documenting the primary knowledge base for the physical facility.

They are a partner in programmatic functioning who ensures the day to day safety and smooth function of the building for our students, staff, visitors, and valuable collections.

The ideal candidate possesses hands‑on expertise in building systems and experience managing vendors. Onboarding during the final phase of construction, the Museum Building Manager will be an active participant with the design and construction team in building commissioning, punch list, and start‑up of operations anticipated in the fall of 2027. They will become deeply informed about the advanced sustainability features of the museum design in order to monitor and report on activities and data required to achieve WCMA's ambitious sustainability goals.

They will be passionate about participating with museum staff in teaching the sustainable building and site features to students, many of whom will become the museum leaders of the future.

This job description is intended to describe the basic responsibilities of the role and the work being performed. Given the evolving nature of operations planning for a new building and expanded museum program, it is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. Other responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

Williams is deeply committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The successful candidate will work effectively and respectfully with faculty, staff, students, and vendors from a variety of diverse backgrounds in a collaborative setting.

Serve as the expert on the museum's physical facilities

While still under construction, you represent WCMA when participating with the design and construction team during commissioning, punch list and move‑in activities; participates in Owner‑Architect‑Contractor meetings (2026-27)

• With Deputy Director for Operations and Art Services, manage procurements, develop the operations manual for the new building, maintain as‑built construction documents, manuals and warranties
• Work closely with Office of Planning, Design & Construction to facilitate any warranty actions post project turnover and collect, assess and report data required for sustainability goals
• Collect and interpret building data as needed for grant reporting and start‑up facilities report for future loans of art, insurance, accreditation, and other purposes
• Play an active role in the physical move of staff and physical assets from Lawrence Hall to the new building
• Partners with museum colleagues, College partners and contractors critical to building functions

As a primary caretaker of the museum building, you share on‑call responsibilities for emergencies and incidents 24/7. You bring your experience and expertise to monitor the Building Management System, identify risks to the systems and operations, proactively identify and address potential maintenance issues to prevent service disruptions.

• Act as primary point‑person to facilitate work orders with Williams College Facilities for general building repair and maintenance support
• Work closely with the Security Manager and the Manager of Museum Experience and Events for the front line, day‑to‑day building needs and event set‑up; foster a positive and flexible work environment
• Oversee and project manage specialized contracts to ensure the signature building materials are maintained in a manner fitting for an art museum: examples include periodic curtain wall washing, cyclical refinishing of the mass timber structure, and cleaning the aluminum‑shingled roof and staggered masonry exterior.
• Manage the budget for contracts relying on restricted endowment fund for…