Director of Research and Interpretation

The Director of Collections Research and Interpretation oversees the Barnes’s efforts to produce and disseminate new knowledge about its art collection and history. Reporting to the Deputy Director for Research, Interpretation and Education, the position shapes the overall research agenda for the institution, working in concert with the curatorial department to determine appropriate areas of focus. Bringing cutting-edge methodologies to the interpretation of visual culture, s/he thinks creatively about new ways to frame collections-related content and to engage audiences onsite and online.

The Director of Collections Research and Interpretation manages a small team of art historians conducting research on the collection. An established scholar, the Director also produces his/ her own research on the institution’s history and holdings, sharing this work through publications (both internal and external), public talks and other academic programs, and teaching courses in the adult education program. This position will also be key to the design and launch of a Center for Global Modernism, working in collaboration with the Deputy Director for Research and Interpretation, and will help forge relationships with the broader academic community.

Established as an educational institution, the Barnes Foundation carries out its mission by promoting appreciation of the arts and horticultural science, through the preservation, presentation, and interpretation of the collections of Albert C. and Laura L. Barnes.

Celebrated for its exceptional breadth, depth, and quality, the Barnes Foundation’s art collection has exceptional holdings of Impressionist, post-impressionist, and Modern art, and encompasses African Material Culture, Native American pottery and textiles, antiquities, Pennsylvania German decorative arts, metalwork, and more.

The Foundation engages diverse audiences through high-quality programs, including numerous special exhibitions and commissions, that reflect the range of the collection and our founders’ innovative educational vision. Recent initiatives have included the first US exhibition of the French painter Suzanne Valadon, a show that explored the enduring significance of our Native American collections, and a commission from Sir Isaac Julien that invites reflection on colonialism and the display of African material culture in museums in Europe and America.

Responsibilities:

Job Specific Competencies:

• Conceptualizes and designs research projects focused on the art collection and on the history of the Barnes Foundation.
• Conducts his/her own scholarly research on the Barnes collection and history.
• Oversees a small team of scholars who conduct research on the collection and produce interpretive content for the web and for gallery talks.
• Reviews scholarly reports on individual objects, interpretive texts for the website and gallery app, collections-related content for social media, and the small Research Notes publication.
• Thinks creatively about new ways to frame collections-related content and to engage visitors onsite and online.
• Conceptualizes academic programs such as lectures and symposia.
• Gives public talks and teaches two short courses per year in the adult education program
• Forges partnerships with the academic community in Philadelphia and beyond.
• Actively participates in the academic community by giving talks, attending conferences, and publishing his/her research.

Managerial Competencies:

• Demonstrates the ability to supervise and hold accountable all employees in the areas of attendance, completion of documentation, ADP and implementation of all company policies, procedures and protocols.
• Supervises and meets regularly with all direct reports to provide ongoing guidance; documents constructive feedback regarding job specific functions, responsibilities and competencies.
• Demonstrates the ability to maintain a stable, productive team environment through effective communication, staff appreciation and other activities that yield a high level of employee engagement.

Skills and Knowledge:

• PhD in art history with a focus on American art plus 3-5 years museum experience.
• Expertise on the history and politics of museum display.
• Knowledge of the history and significance of the Barnes Foundation a plus.
• Knowledge of contemporary theories of global modernism.
• A strong record of publications; excellent public speaking skills.
• Experience teaching at the university level.
• Outstanding organizational and written/verbal communications skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to departmental collaboration and collegiality.

Competitive Benefits Include: Group health, dental and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; short- and long-term disability and group life insurance; 403(b) with matching contributions; Employee Assistance Program; voluntary benefits; as well as paid vacation, personal time, sick time and holidays.

Please include a cover letter and an updated resume with your application, along with salary expectations.

The Barnes Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we’re committed to diversity and equal opportunity in our recruitment and hiring. Qualified candidates of all backgrounds are welcome and encouraged to apply for this position. Employees have rights under other laws including, but not limited to, the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Employee Polygraph Protection Act. We participate in E-Verify. Successful applicants for employment with the Barnes Foundation must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the date of hire as a condition of employment, subject to requests for accommodation.