Director Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum en Svsu

Job Title:

Full or Part Time:

Hours:

Exempt:

Supervisory Org:

Job Description:

ABOUT THE MARSHALL M. FREDERICKS SCULPTURE MUSEUM

The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum is a free and open-to-the-public art museum featuring a unique collection of more than two thousand objects that span the 70-year career of Detroit-based public sculptor Marshall M. Fredericks (1908-1998). He is known nationally and internationally for his impressive monumental figurative sculpture, public memorials, fountains, portraits, and medals.

The mission of the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum is to celebrate the artistic legacy of Marshall M. Fredericks through collecting, preserving, presenting, and interpreting his life's work for the educational and cultural enrichment of Saginaw Valley State University and the broadest possible audience. Through the Marshall Fredericks objects collection and archives, temporary exhibitions, publications, and education programs, the Museum contributes to scholarly discourse and serves diverse audiences.

More information on the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum can be found at marshallfredericks.org.

JOB SUMMARY: The Director of the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum exercises overall responsibility for planning, organizing, supervising, and controlling operations of the Museum, the Jo Anne and Donald Petersen Sculpture Garden, and the Spirit of Detroit Sculpture Studio initiative, with the advice and counsel of the Museum Board of Advisors in consultation with university administration.

The director reports to the Vice President for Development of Saginaw Valley State University and maintains a close working relationship with the Museum Board, providing support for the functions of the Board as outlined in the Museum by-laws, and implementing policies and procedures established in accordance with the provisions in the by-laws and in accordance with American Alliance of Museums (AAM) National Standards and Best Practices. The Museum Board reports to the University President.

The director of the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum serves as part of the SVSU Development leadership team, making advancements toward the SVSU's strategic plan and the Museum's strategic plan.

Supervisory responsibility includes leading a staff that includes a senior secretary, art  education curator, marketing and community relations manager, curator of collections and exhibitions, and part-time student staff, ensuring operations within the AAM Code of Ethics and Professional Practices.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Collections and Exhibitions:

• Supervise day-to-day operations of the Museum to maintain high standards of collections care and visitor satisfaction. This includes long-term care, appropriate display, storage and transport, installation/deinstallation, oversight for descriptive signage, interpretive labels, and/or other written or printed materials, and as appropriate, the arrangement of qualified conservators to restore or recondition sculptures, drawings, and photographs.

• Create policies that ensure appropriate care of the Museum collection and archives, and that govern researching, cataloging, and interpreting the collection and archives.

• Supervise the digitization of the Museum collection and archives.

• Maintain and implement procedures essential to safeguarding the quality and condition of the Museum collections, including those in the Jo Anne and Donald Petersen Sculpture Garden and on campus in collaboration with SVSU public safety, grounds, and museum staff.

• Provide the vision for and facilitate all aspects of temporary exhibitions in accordance with national museum standards, including the creation of an exhibition schedule two years in advance, occasionally curating temporary exhibitions, and seeking out national traveling art and humanities exhibitions appropriate for the Museum.

• Oversee the publication of Museum-produced catalogs for exhibitions, such as the Regional Biennial Juried Sculpture Exhibition.

• Maintain AAM Accreditation and submit the updated reaccreditation documents every ten years. 

Budget and Fundraising

• Serve as the lead fundraiser for the museum, working in collaboration with SVSU Development staff to identify, cultivate and solicit annual, major and planned gifts for the museum.

• Participate and/or oversee grant-writing by museum, SVSU, or contract staff.

• Work with the SVSU Controller’s office and the Museum secretary to oversee preparation of an annual financial plan for the Museum Board of Advisors’ approval at the Spring board meeting.

• Serve as account manager for the assigned operating budget for the Museum

• Foster donor support and oversee fundraising efforts in coordination with the SVSU Foundation, including the successful execution of annual fundraising events.

Marketing and Public Relations

• Oversee development of appropriate informational brochures and materials about the museum, programs, and tours for in-house use and for public distribution in collaboration with SVSU's Communications Department. This includes web-based materials as well as the promotion of events and programs connecting SVSU and the Museum with Metro Detroit where Fredericks lived and worked from 1931-1998.

• Work with the SVSU staff to document temporary exhibitions and conduct artists’ interviews for inclusion on the museum’s website.

• Represent the Museum and SVSU through lectures and presentations to various community groups and academic organizations.

• Oversee development of author press releases regarding temporary exhibitions, board members, events, and special projects.

• Supervise the selection and marketing of merchandise in the Museum Store.

• Serve as liaison between the Fredericks family, Museum Board and staff, and the SVSU Foundation and Administration.

• Serve as the liaison between the Museum and the SVSU offices of Controller, Communications and External Affairs, Campus Facilities, Foundation, Campus Police, and Information Technology Services.

• Participate in University committee work as assigned or requested.

Research and Education

• Expand youth and adult audiences through increased educational programming and marketing efforts.

• Promote research, education, and publications about the collection and about the artistic legacy of Marshall M. Fredericks. Relatedly, serve on the selection committee and oversee the Fredericks fellow (Fredericks-Follet-Roethke Graduate Fellowship in the Arts and Humanities at SVSU), when in residence. 

• Oversee the production of educational and historical materials concerning the collection and the life and work of Marshall Fredericks.

• Regularly assess the Museum’s role in the Great Lakes Bay Region and broader museum field via in-person visitor experience surveys and online survey tools, including the AAM Museum-goers survey.

• Continue to maintain and enhance educational training partnerships with SVSU departments.

• Other related duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

General supervision is received from the Vice President for Development.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Functional supervision is exercised over museum staff.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in arts management, art history, or comparable art-based field.

• Five years of progressively responsible managerial experience in an art museum, arts administrative position, or equivalent art-based training and experience.

• Demonstrated experience in non-profit fundraising and philanthropy, marketing, and public relations.

• Demonstrated knowledge of effective management policies and procedures, including expertise in strategic planning, budgeting, grant proposal writing, communications, and personnel management.

• Prior experience in educational and/or community event planning and assessment.

• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Initiative, independence and leadership skills are essential.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and ability to learn new software quickly.

• Experience and ability to positively interact with all members of the campus community.

• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without accommodations.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Duties are generally performed inside and not exposed to adverse conditions.

• All work associated with this role must be performed within the state of Michigan.

The above reflects the general details considered necessary to describe the essential functions of the job. It shall not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements that may be inherent in the job.  It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision.  The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.

About SVSU:

Saginaw Valley State University is a comprehensive university with more than 100 programs of study for its roughly 7,000 students. Located on a suburban campus in Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region, SVSU is committed to a supportive and empowering environment for students, faculty and staff. SVSU was recognized as a “Great College to Work For” for 9 consecutive years (2016-2024).

SVSU emphasizes undergraduate teaching and learning, and community-based research. SVSU earned the Community Engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, a distinction achieved by only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities. By their senior year, 84 percent of students have engaged with community employers and agencies in internships, field placements or some other component of their academic preparation.

SVSU is establishing itself as a leader in STEAM education for the Great Lakes Bay Region, partnering with businesses, foundations and school districts to improve students’ performance in math, science and the arts at the middle school, high school and university levels.  SVSU is constructing the first university research facility on Lake Huron to improve public health and the economy in the Saginaw Bay watershed.
 
More than 70 percent of SVSU freshmen live on campus in student housing that has been rated No. 1 among public universities in the U.S. (2018-2025). SVSU fields 20 varsity sports at the NCAA Division II level. The average class size is 23 students. For more information, please visit our website, http://www.svsu.edu.