Manager Art Handling

About the Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago shares its singular collections with our city and the world. We collect, care for, and interpret works of art across time, cultures, geographies, and identities. We are a place of gathering and learning, committed to fostering an inclusive understanding of human creativity.

About the Department

The department of Collections and Loans (C+L) oversees the management of the collection and loaned objects, defining processes that ensure compliance with the museum’s policies as well as legal obligations to borrowers, lenders, donors, and sellers. In four distinct areas––collections, loans, art preparation and logistics, and collections systems––C+L implements policies that govern the day-to-day application of museum best practices regarding documentation and recordkeeping; inventory and audit procedures; collection database and metadata management; logistics and shipping; art handling and packing; storage; insurance; and risk management. Through strategic and innovative applications of data and new technologies, the C+L team supports the growth of the museum and the modernization of collection care best practices.

Position Summary

The Manager, Art Handling schedules, coordinates, and supervises the art handling and packing teams within the C+L department. Partnering closely with the Director, Loans and Exhibitions, this role oversees the safe physical movement, installation, deinstallation, packing, and storage of permanent collection and loan objects across the museum campus. The Manager ensures projects are executed safely, on schedule, and in alignment with museum best practices and conservation standards.

Responsibilities

• Plans and schedules the art handling of the collection, exhibitions, and stored objects, including deinstallation, unpacking, transportation, unloading, and art storage based on work priorities and efficient workflows.
• Supervises the packing, wrapping, and crating of permanent collection objects and exhibition loans, ensuring custom housing meets conservation standards and air transit requirements.
• Ensures specialists, technicians, and contractors adhere strictly to institutional art handling and packing guidelines at all times.
• Develops and maintains detailed project schedules, including tasks, milestones, resource allocation, and risk/issue logs.
• Monitors progress, analyzes project status, and adjusts scope and schedules as needed to keep projects on track.
• Closes completed projects and captures key operational outcomes and metrics.
• Coordinates and communicates with the Manager of Art Packing, Manager of Art Storage, and other internal departments to ensure projects are completed on schedule.
• Attends, leads, and participates in exhibition planning, installation, and departmental meetings, both on-site and virtually.
• Assigns and supervises the day-to-day work of specialists, technicians, freelance art handlers, and contractors to ensure tasks are performed safely, effectively, and on time.
• Communicates job expectations, evaluates performance, and provides managerial guidance, coaching, and progressive corrective action as needed.
• Reviews applicant materials for regular and contracted staff, conducts interviews, and provides hiring recommendations.
• Schedules and implements specialized training programs—including rigging, mountmaking, time-based media, and heavy equipment operation—to advance team capabilities in alignment with museum needs.
• Executes administrative duties, including approving timesheets, monitoring payroll, reviewing PTO requests, and documenting incident reports.
• Ensures a safe work environment by monitoring the proper use of safety equipment, PPE, tools, and supplies according to best practices and OSHA standards.
• Maintains operator certifications and training logs, while coordinating equipment maintenance contracts and routine repairs.
• Establishes and maintains emergency preparedness protocols for art-related incidents and delivers emergency response when required.
• Maintains operational compliance with TSA standards, including crate inspection protocols, secure chain-of-custody documentation, and required clearances.
• Enhances and implements the use of technology to improve work assignments, time allocation, workflows, and movement tracking, utilizing systems such as CITI, Reporting Services, Jira, and NetX.
• Researches new equipment applications and identifies aesthetic and logistical solutions to challenges in art handling, packing, and display.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required. Bachelor’s degree in a related field, vocational training, or an equivalent combination of education and hands-on museum/exhibition project management experience preferred.
• 5+ years of progressively responsible museum, gallery, or fine-art handling experience, including direct supervisory or team-lead experience.
• Demonstrated proficiency in museum-standard packing, crating, rigging, mountmaking, and specialized art-handling equipment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a proven ability to lead cross-functional collaborations, resolve conflicts, foster an inclusive team culture, and partner effectively with external vendors and contractors.
• Demonstrated track record of managing multi-phase exhibition schedules, allocating labor resources, and managing budgets and contractors.
• Solid analytical and problem‑solving abilities, with attention to detail and deadlines.
• Proficiency with museum collection database systems (CITI, TMS, or similar), project tracking tools (Jira), and digital asset management platforms (NetX); strong working knowledge of Google Suite preferred.
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to drive a museum vehicle preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to move about the museum campus and actively assist with art handling and packing operations when necessary.
• Color perception and physical coordination sufficient to perform TSA-mandated cargo screening duties.

Compensation & Benefits

Please click on the links below to view our competitive, comprehensive benefits package:

• Hiring Range: $60,000-$74,000

The expected hiring range is an estimated amount for positions based on the grade. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, qualifications and other job-related reasons.

• Benefits (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lXoRp-Na9GIG866vPauAI1vzijNlDKpBNKR8dtjyiWs/edit?tab=t.0)
• PTO Overview (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GubVe-8SeAE6MkMcCx6EWbYTQyUlOyiw_L8q4bRUOtg/edit?tab=t.0)
• Job Classification: Exempt
• Employment Category: Full time staff
• Grade Level: 8

If you are accessing this listing from a third party, not all links to salary and benefits information may work. Please visit our career page at saic/ artic.edu/employment (http://artic.edu/employment) for complete information

Application Instructions

Please submit your resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.

Accessibility

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following page:

Accessibility Accommodation for Applicants (https://recruiting2.ultipro.com/ART1010AICH/JobBoard/d263cd2b-c4ef-4e10-8876-a2896406a573/Accessibility)

Equal Opportunity Statement

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.