What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director Museum position at New Mexico State University?
- 504189
- Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
- Staff
- Staff Full-time
- Closing at: Nov 6 2026 - 23:55 MST
Department Contact: Enrico Pontelli, epontell@nmsu.edu, (575) 646-6239
Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants
Advertising Summary: The University Art Museum at New Mexico State University is seeking a Director.
Position Details
Position Title: Director Museum
College/Division: Arts and Sciences College
Department: 330110-UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM
Location: Las Cruces
Offsite Location (if applicable):
Target Hourly/Salary Rate: Commensurate with qualifications.
Appointment Full-time Equivalency: 1.0
FLSA Status: Exempt
Bargaining Unit Announcement: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable
Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)
If Not a Standard Work Schedule
Job Duties and Responsibilities: New Mexico State University (NMSU) seeks an engaging, dynamic, and qualified individual for the position of Director of the University Art Museum (UAM) to coordinate and realize exhibitions and programming that advance the mission of the UAM and the university, while heightening the UAM’s visibility in the region and nationally. The Director plans and manages the UAM’s rotating exhibitions (9 to 12 per year) with the support of the Art Museum Manager; raises, manages, and optimizes funding from diverse sources while building lasting donor relationships and ensuring responsible, sustainable stewardship of the organization’s resources; oversees financial, facility, technology, marketing, communications, and human resource functions within the UAM; and streamlines operations to best meet organizational needs. The Director also oversees the NMSU Permanent Art Collection, budgeting, and acquisitions with the support of the Collections Curator; trains undergraduate and graduate student employees; researches and prepares grant proposals; and serves as a liaison and resource for the NMSU campus and broader community.
NMSU is the state’s land-grant university, serving the educational needs of New Mexico’s diverse population through programs of education, research, extension education, and public service. The NMSU University Art Museum is housed on the main campus of NMSU in Las Cruces, NM in the El Paso del Norte Region which includes El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The director reports to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and maintains a close working relationship with various NMSU executive positions and the NMSU Foundation, and implements 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 UAM is the premier contemporary visual arts facility in Southern New Mexico and holds the world’s largest collection of 19th century Mexican retablos as well as modern & contemporary collections which include photographs, paintings, prints and graphics, book art, metals/jewelry, sculpture and ceramics.
Qualifications
Required Education and Experience:
Associate's Degree 10 years of relevant experience or a Bachelor's degree 8 years of relevant experience. Master's degree or higher preferred.
Equivalent Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications:
Resonance and or connection with the unique southwest and borderland region; identification with the mission and values of the UAM, including a deep appreciation for the full scope and breadth of its collections and assets; capacity to define, communicate, and execute clear priorities while operating within the framework of a public, state-funded institution; demonstrated administrative competency; experience in supervising staff; leadership within a collaborative environment; experience and success in grant writing; demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives, manage multiple priorities, and collaborate effectively across departments and areas of expertise; experience overseeing, training and teaching students in a wide range of museum areas and skills. Knowledge of museum and curatorial practices, including exhibit preparation required. Teaching experience is a plus.
Special Certification/Licensure
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.
Physical Effort: No or very limited physical effort required.
Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.
Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.
Recruitment Summary
We are New Mexico’s land-grant institution and a comprehensive research university dedicated to teaching, research public service and outreach at all levels. NMSU is a welcoming community of talented faculty, staff and students who are working together to make a difference. We are a NASA Space Grant College, a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), a minority-serving institution (MSI) and home to the first Honors College in New Mexico. We offer an accessible education that shapes bright futures.
NMSU provides learning opportunities to a diverse population of students and community members at four campuses, Cooperative Extension offices located in each of New Mexico’s 33 counties, 12 research and science centers, and through distance education.
NMSU Global Campus
Since 1888, NMSU has proudly embodied this tradition, building relationships that last a lifetime while serving students who want to earn their degree and grow in their field. Today, NMSU Global Campus provides flexible, career-focused online education that helps our students transform their lives – and the lives of the people they love – through over 70 degree and certificate programs, skill-building microlearning courses, and career and talent development.
NMSU Main Campus
Located in Las Cruces, NM, New Mexico State University's 900-acre main campus is located at the crossroads of I-10 and I-25 in the Southwestern United States. As a thriving center of higher education, deeply rooted in the regional tradition, its role as a comprehensive university is recognized throughout the state.
Doña Ana Community College
Founded in 1973 in collaboration with local school districts to support occupational education, DACC is now a leading community college that provides transformative educational opportunities that meet the workforce needs of Doña Ana County. With a focus on access, innovation and excellence, DACC offers over ninety degrees and certificates, adult education, specialized workforce training, and small business assistance.
Alamogordo Campus
Established in 1958 to serve the needs of the airmen and families stationed at Holloman Air Force Base located only 10 miles west of Alamogordo, NMSUA is a community college with a long history of excellence that is supported by a caring community of hard-working students and dedicated faculty and staff. The campus is situated “on the hill” above Alamogordo and provides inspiring views of the city and the Tularosa Basin, offering the perfect venue for creative and motivated learning.
Grants Campus
NMSU Grants was established as a branch of New Mexico State University in 1968 through the cooperative efforts of New Mexico State University and Grants Municipal Schools. As a two-year branch community college, NMSU Grants serves the local communities in Cibola and McKinley counties, including the Pueblos of Acoma, Laguna, and Zuni, as well as Tohajiilee, San Mateo, San Rafael, Cubero, the City of Grants, and the Village of Milan.
Special Instructions to Applicants
The electronic application is the *official* document that will be used to qualify applicants. Paper/email documents will not be accepted. Required documents must be attached to this application.
EEO Statement
New Mexico State University does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, military service, or other non-merit factor.
Requesting an Accommodation
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and New Mexico State University policy, if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply, interview, or complete onboarding for a position with New Mexico State University, or if you cannot use the online application system, please visit our Accessibility & Accommodations page to initiate an accommodation request