Department Administrator

The Walker Art Center empowers people to experience the transformative possibilities of the art and ideas of our time and to imagine the world in new ways. In our over 125-year history, we have become one of the most celebrated art museums in the country and we are known for our innovative presentations and acclaimed collections of contemporary art across the spectrum of the visual, performing, and media arts.

The Department Administrator, Visual Arts, is a key role ensuring the effective administration of a busy curatorial department. In addition to overseeing daily operations, departmental finances, and contracts related the work of the Visual Arts Department, the Visual Arts Department Administrator has several key areas of ongoing responsibility, including events management for exhibition openings; administration of exhibition opening-day public programs; key support for the Permanent Collection Acquisitions process;

and co‑project management of the institution’s annual benefit auction, which has direct impact on the financial success of the Walker’s artistic and educational programs. This role reports to the Senior Curator & Director of Visual Arts; works directly with members of the curatorial team on management of departmental activities; and partners with the Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs in overseeing the Visual Arts departmental budget and exhibition‑related travel and event budgets.

This role should ideally have 2‑3 years of experience coordinating curatorial department activities within the art museum field and possess a thorough understanding of the acquisitions and exhibition development process and institutional budgets. This role requires excellent communication skills, including the ability to independently negotiate vendor contracts, and communicate with numerous stakeholders, from staff collaborators to artists, speakers, galleries, high‑level donors, and external partners.

This role requires extensive knowledge of Walker protocols and personnel; discretion; the ability to make independent decisions; and capacity to juggle multiple projects with competing timelines.

Visual Arts Departmental Administration

• Financial Management
  • Draft and manage Visual Arts departmental budget, which encompasses department events, hosting, discretionary travel, artist site visits, and other departmental activity.
  • Manage all artist, independent contractor, and visitor payments (artist fees, contractor fees, per diems, transportation, reimbursements, etc.)
  • Manage use of the department credit card, including making and monitoring purchases, reconciling appropriate expenditures, and working with Accounting to prepare for special circumstances, additional cards, and credit limit changes
• Contracts
  • Draft and execute contracts and agreements for exhibition and collection‑related artists, opening‑day public program speakers, independent contractors, and estates
  • Negotiate contracts with external vendors for exhibition related offsite dinners and opening events, Visual Arts‑sponsored convenings, and other events.
• Travel Arrangements
  • Organize travel and lodging for artists, independent contractors, estates, and other VIPs
  • Manage contract payment schedules and travel/lodging/payment records
  • Provide itineraries, administrative support, and resources to visitors throughout travel and visit
  • Assist with travel logistics for Senior Curator & Director of Visual Arts and other curators as requested by Senior Curator & Director of Visual Arts
• General Departmental Communication and Administration
  • Serve as main point of contact in department for institutional needs including Visual Arts contributions to institutional and fundraising documents, including the Annual Report, Vital Signs, Long Range Acquisitions Plan, Institutional and Departmental Priorities; and other initiatives
  • Manage departmental calendar, oversee the scheduling and agendas for departmental meetings and curatorial retreats
  • Organize departmental hospitality for meetings, celebrations, and events
  • Organize staff tours for Visual Arts exhibitions
  • Support meeting and calendar management for Senior Curator and Director of Visual Arts
  • Route…