Employment
Positions Available
Major Gifts Officer
Curator, Head of Department of Photographs
Internships
Major Gifts Officer
- Department: Development
- Reports To: Director of Strategic Planning and Resource Development
- Status: Full Time
- Start Date: Immediately
- Posting Dates: August 23, 2012 to Position Filled
Overview
Secure major gift support from individuals and coordinate major gift support from government sources, corporations and foundations for capital, endowment, and other needs of the Museum. Work with Board of Trustees, corporate executives and community leaders to identify, cultivate and solicit prospects.
Responsibilities:
- Direct and execute major gift solicitations to address the Museum’s most pressing capital, endowment and unrestricted needs:
- Create an overall plan that includes strategies, case for support, volunteer organization, systems and management structure for raising current and deferred major gifts.
- Offer strategic support to the Director, Director of Strategic Planning and Resource Development and senior curatorial and administrative staff in their roles with major gift prospects.
- Lead, manage and direct volunteer solicitors in raising major current and deferred gifts for endowment and facilities.
- Maintain reporting systems for management reports, milestones, prospect tracking, budget, etc.
- Collaborate with the marketing and communications departments on the content, design and publication of collateral materials.
- Advise on public relations and external communications.
- Develop key stewardship and cultivation events.
- Participate in Museum-wide event planning that advances the campaign or engagement of major gift prospects.
- Oversee major gifts stewardship and collaborate with staff on on-going stewardship for museum members and donor prospects.
- Create, plan and implement projects and programs that produce major gift support.
- Identify and track potential donors. Oversee an on-going system of prospect management, tracking and analysis.
- Create engagement strategies that will assist fundraisers when engaging top potential donors.
- Manage a portfolio of approximately 125 potential major gift donors, as well as those to be cultivated and solicited by the Director and Board of Trustees.
- Work as a positive team member to fulfill the Museum’s strategic plan.
- Other responsibilities/projects as assigned by the Director of Strategic Planning and Resource Development.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelors degree in related field or equivalent experience.
- 3-5 years of previous experience in a fund raising/development function.
- Must possess a proven record of successfully closing solicitations.
Please submit your resume with cover letter for consideration to Pamela Reed Sanchez, Director of Development at prsanchez@geh.org.
Curator, Head of Department of Photographs
GEORGE EASTMAN HOUSE is seeking an experienced professional to serve as Curator to lead its Department of Photographs. The Curator's roles will include developing and implementing strategic initiatives; managing the Department of Photographs; organizing and curating in house and traveling exhibitions; organizing and contributing to scholarly publications; collection building and stewardship; overseeing a major digitization initiative; collaborating and coordinating with other museum departments; developing relationships with photographers, collectors, donors, and other institutions; and collaborating with external curators and scholars. The Curator will report directly to the Director of George Eastman House.
Institutional Overview
George Eastman House comprises world-class collections of photographs, motion pictures, photographic and cinematic technology, and photographically illustrated books. The museum, established as an independent non-profit institution in 1947, is located at George Eastman's home and estate, a National Historic Landmark in Rochester, New York. The institution offers joint advanced degree programs in Film Preservation (with the University of Rochester) and in Photographic Preservation and Collection Management (with Ryerson University in Toronto). Eastman House has approximately 110 employees.
Institutional Missions
The three key missions of George Eastman House are: (1) preserving our collections in the fields of photography, cinema, photographic and cinematic technology, and photographically illustrated books; (2) leadership in advancing the appreciation and understanding of these fields, with an emphasis on collaborations with major U.S. and international museums; and (3) serving the greater Rochester community.
Department of Photographs
The current departmental staff consists of a Senior Curator (who is transitioning to the role of Curator-at-Large, as of July 1, 2013), two assistant curators, an archivist and assistant archivist, and a photographer. The Department of Photographs is responsible for a collection of over 500,000 photographs. The department is supported by separate departments of Conservation, Library, Exhibitions, Development and Marketing.
Strategic Role
As head of the Department of Photographs and one of the members of the museum's senior staff, the Curator's essential roles will include working closely with the museum's Director and staff to envision, develop and implement strategies to advance the following objectives:
- Advance -- through independent and collaborative projects --our institution's position of leadership among museums in the field of photography
- Enhance the understanding, appreciation, profile, and accessibility of our photograph collection through exhibitions, publications, and the internet
- Develop a visionary plan to build our collection of contemporary photographs, particularly works that some curators, scholars, or collectors may categorize within the field of contemporary art
- Enhance and our collection of photographs from the nineteenth-century and first half of the twentieth-century
- Broaden our base of support among individuals, non-profit institutions, and governmental agencies
Operational Responsibilities
- Coordinate with Director and other departments to ensure alignment of Department of Photographs with goals of museum
- Identify, recruit, hire, train, manage, supervise, and evaluate departmental staff members to achieve the goals of the department and museum
- Plan, develop, implement, and manage approved departmental budgets and allocation of departmental resources
- Represent the museum in the media, at professional conferences, in professional organizations, and on expert panels
- Develop productive relationships with peer professionals and institutions
- 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
- Develop, oversee, and individually contribute to book and exhibition projects that advance scholarship and are engaging to a broader audience
- Collaborate with outside curators and scholars on exhibitions and book projects
- Collaborate with Manager of Exhibitions and with Creative Services team on design and installation of in-house exhibitions
- Oversee research and writing of interpretative materials (e.g., exhibition labels, didactic content, gallery guides, videos) for exhibitions
- Collaborate with Director and with Manager of Traveling Exhibitions on the placement of traveling exhibitions at museum venues
- Collaborate with Conservation Department (including conservators and conservation scientists) and Facilities Manager to identify, implement, and monitor best practices
- Coordinated with Collections Management Department on outgoing loans of collection photographs and on borrowing of photographs from outside lenders
- Provide leadership, research, and expert advice to Photography Acquisitions Committee in proposing and evaluating acquisitions and gifts
- Collaborate with Development Department in developing relationships with collectors and donors and in fundraising activities
- Collaborate with Development Department to identify, apply for, and secure grants and other funding for exhibitions, publications, collection research, and other projects
- Oversee joint Master's degree program in Photograph Preservation and Collections Management (PPCM)
- May participate in teaching graduate courses in PPCM program
- Train, oversee and mentor interns, graduate students and junior staff
- Participate in the design, oversight, and implementation of future projects for comprehensive digitization of photograph collection
Minimum Qualifications
Education, Training, and Traits
- Master's degree in relevant field required; Ph.D. or equivalent preferred
- Must be well-versed in the intellectual discourse, history, and practice of photography
- Knowledge of research tools and methodology
- Self-directed and highly motivated
- Team player with leadership ability
- Proficiency in foreign language(s) preferred
Work Experience
- Minimum of six years' curatorial experience in photography
- Experience with professional museum principles, practices, and procedures
- Demonstrated accomplishments in scholarly research and writing
- Management and budgeting experience
- Teaching undergraduate or graduate courses preferred (but not required)
Skills and Abilities
- Exemplary writing, speaking, and listening skills in English
- Ability to think rigorously and to communicate clearly and professionally
- Well-developed public speaking skills
- Strong administrative, managerial, and mentoring skills
- Collegiality, diplomacy, and constructive interpersonal approach
- Demonstrated organizational planning, problem-solving, and teamwork
- Demonstrated ability to complete projects within deadlines and budgets
- Ability to conceive, research, develop, and complete exhibitions and publications
- Ability to present and interpret photographs in a manner relevant to the general public
- Willingness and ability to develop productive relationships with living photographers and their representatives, and with photographers' heirs, estates, and foundations
- Demonstrated ability to develop productive relationships with photograph collectors and with current and prospective donors
- Ability to develop and successfully manage annual, project, and grant budgets
- Experience developing grant proposals for foundation and government funding
- Experience in digitizing photographs and managing digital assets (highly-valued)
- Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Experience with The Museum System software (preferred) and other databases
- Maintain highest levels of confidentiality and discretion
- Understand and uphold highest ethical standards
Licenses and Certifications
- Valid Driver's License
- Valid Passport
Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform successfully the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, stand; reach, lift/carry collection materials, push/pull carts of collection materials; balance, stoop, kneel, crouch; speak and hear both in person and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and ability to adjust focus. The employee is required to travel independently, both domestically and internationally, and in the communities served. The position occasionally requires speaking for an extended period of time.
- Work Environment: Work will be performed in an office environment, but work within the archives will require work in high places and exposure to unusually cold conditions because of the climate requirements for the photograph collection. Some overnight travel is required. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.
How to Apply/Contact
To be considered for this position, please e-mail a cover letter and current curriculum vitae to Dr. Bruce Barnes, Ron and Donna Fielding Director, via e-mail to curatorsearch@geh.org. Submission of application and other communication via e mail is preferred.
Internships
Graduate Internships - Department of Photographs
The Department of Photographs at George Eastman House is currently accepting applications for summer internships, scheduled to run between May and August. These internships are designed to give graduate students an advanced practicum in photographic collections management and contemporary museum practice. A background in the history of photography, art history, studio photography, or library and information sciences is strongly encouraged.
Course credit must be negotiated in advance of the internship and requires approval of the intern's academic institution. Interns are expected to work a minimum of 10 hours per week for 8 weeks, with select full-time internships offered to qualified graduate students. Please mention any requirements of a for-credit internship in your cover letter. There is no remuneration available.
For more information, please contact photographs@geh.org. Applications should be made by or on April 15, 2013. All applications should be mailed to:
Emily McKibbon
Department of Photographs
George Eastman House
900 East Ave
Rochester, NY 14607
or emailed to photographs@geh.org.
Application packages must include all of the following to receive consideration:
- 2 letters of recommendation, either sealed or separately emailed from referee
- Current CV
- Cover letter
- Handwriting sample
Undergraduate Internship - Department of Photographs
The Department of Photographs at George Eastman House is currently accepting applications for a summer internship, scheduled to run between May and August. This internship is designed to give an undergraduate student an introductory practicum in photographic collections management and contemporary museum practice. A background in the history of photography, art history, or studio photograph is strongly encouraged.
Course credit must be negotiated in advance of the internship and requires approval of the intern's academic institution. Interns are expected to work 10 hours per week for 8 weeks. There is no remuneration available.
For more information, please contact photographs@geh.org. Applications should be made by or on April 15, 2013. All applications should be mailed to:
Emily McKibbon
Department of Photographs
George Eastman House
900 East Ave
Rochester, NY 14607
or emailed to photographs@geh.org.
Application packages must include all of the following to receive consideration:
- 2 letters of recommendation, either sealed or separately emailed from referee
- Current CV
- Cover letter
- Handwriting sample
George Eastman House is an Equal Opportunity Employer