The Chinati Foundation seeks a Facilities/Master Planning Manager to supervise and facilitate day-to-day management of the museum’s complex of 34 buildings situated on 340 acres. The position will also be instrumental in the development and subsequent implementation of a master plan for the conservation, restoration, maintenance, and development of the entire museum collection including artworks, buildings, and grounds.

Successful candidates will be highly organized, diligent and committed, excellent at creative problem solving and follow-through, and enjoy working in fast-paced, dynamic, and unique environments. This position reports directly to the Executive Director.

Job Requirements

Responsibilities:

Facilities

  • Manage and participate with building maintenance and repairs
  • Manage and participate with grounds maintenance and recuperation
  • Manage and participate in special projects planning and implementation
  • Daily walkthrough of all areas, interior and exterior
  • Manage after-hours security checks and protocol
  • Undertake weekly, monthly and annual schedule of routine buildings, grounds, collections, equipment and tools maintenance
  • Manage all maintenance functions including winterizing, plumbing, carpentry, and electrical systems to ensure prompt response and proper diagnosis of equipment failure
  • Establish and monitor annual goals and budgets (capital and expense budgets) for the department
  • Maintain active communication with all departments, directing or assisting with varying types of special projects or improvement programs for buildings, grounds, collections and visitors experience
  • Be an effective, accessible, respectful and motivating manager of facilities staff and grounds crew
  • Maintain well-organized workshop and storage areas
  • Must have strong desire to get along well with people and constantly strive to provide outstanding service to the museum, other staff and visitors
  • Utilize advanced level of troubleshooting skills for the resolution of technical and mechanical issues

Master Plan

  • Coordinate and complete the work of researching and developing components of the Master Plan in partnership with Executive Director. With senior staff across all departments, develop the vision and set goals and priorities that support the Master Plan and align with Chinati’s strategic plan
  • Assist the Executive Director in assessing differing strategies and options, by identifying and gathering data necessary for decision-making from a variety of internal and external sources and stakeholders
  • Work extensively with outside consultants and contractors, including a preservation architect, structural engineer, land preservationist, landscape architect, civil engineer and conservators. Act as a liaison between contracted / construction team and museum, ensuring clear communication and efficient decision-making
  • Organize and coordinate all outside contracts, bid documents and associated deadlines with vendors and subcontractors
  • In concert with Chinati’s CFO, manage the planning, execution, monitoring and reporting of Master Planning budgets including hard and soft costs; ensure that budgets and schedules are met
  • Serve as the museum’s single point of communication and dissemination of master project information. Serve on planning committees and act as liaison between committees and staff working groups; develop agenda items for planning meetings; and, distribute meeting notes to staff and stakeholders when appropriate. Prepare presentations for staff and external parties

Skills Required

  • Bachelor’s Degree in engineering, architecture, construction management or related discipline, or equivalent work experience required. Advanced degree preferred
  • Minimum of five (5) years of progressive responsibility and experience managing facilities complex and/or leading design and construction of capital construction and/or major renovation projects
  • Proven ability to manage and deliver complex projects on time and to budget with high quality and widely accepted results
  • Proven experience working with executives, management staff, employees, guests, visiting museum professionals/scholars and others with solid problem solving, conflict resolution and planning skills
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain collegial and professional relationships with consultants and co-workers across a variety of departments and areas of expertise with a diverse range of skills and experience
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and cultivate business relationships with existing and prospective design and construction professionals
  • Sensitivity to a museum environment in which the art, architecture and land are inextricably linked
  • Strong organizational, interpersonal, finance, communication, and planning skills
  • Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Strong ability with MS Office tools—Word, Excel, and Outlook. Basic drafting skills, proficiency with AUTO CAD software, and ability reading construction plans
  • Flexible availability including nights, weekends and holidays
  • Some carpentry, electrical, and construction skills
  • Must be able to bend, balance, climb, crouch, reach, and twist. Must exhibit mobility in order to monitor and maintain systems organization wide and to meet the daily physical demands of the position
  • Actively contributes to a work environment that embraces building relationships and partnerships with key stakeholders, recognizing the value of cultural, ethnic, gender and other differences

Must have a valid drivers license as some travel required (approx. 20%)

The position is based in Marfa, Texas.

Compensation

  • Commensurate with experience
  • Benefits: employer-provided health insurance, flexible work environment, and generous time off

The Chinati Foundation

The Chinati Foundation is an art museum based on the ideas of its founder, artist Donald Judd. It is located primarily at the site of former US Army Fort D.A. Russell, on the outskirts of Marfa, Texas. Chinati opened to the public in 1986 as an independent, non-profit, publicly funded institution.  Marfa, the seat of Presidio County, is located 200 miles southeast of El Paso, 60 miles from the Mexican border, close to Big Bend National Park and the Davis Mountains.

Judd’s specific intention was to create permanent installations of contemporary art, insulated from the visual and programmatic distractions of most art museums. He sought a unified experience in which art, architecture and the surrounding natural environment would be inextricably linked. The remote location he chose reinforces the impact of some of the late 20th century’s most extraordinary works of art. The museum, which has a total of 34 buildings, is situated on 340 acres of land in the high Chihuahuan desert, 4,685 feet above sea level. The permanent collection includes works by Carl Andre, Ingólfur Arnarsson, John Chamberlain, Dan Flavin, Roni Horn, Donald Judd, Ilya Kabakov, Richard Long, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, David Rabinowitch and John Wesley. A large-scale installation by artist Robert Irwin will be added to the permanent collection and open to the public in 2016.

The Chinati Foundation organizes annual special exhibitions, related public programs, artists’ residencies, college and university internships, art classes for students and adults, international symposia (the proceedings of which are published), seminars, performances, lectures, concerts and other annual celebrations — setting a standard for artistic excellence while continuing to engage the community and visitors and deepen their appreciation of contemporary art. The museum publishes an award-winning annual newsletter that chronicles its activities and has become one of the most respected publications of its kind in America.

Chinati has a long-range plan that affirms its commitment to preserving its installations, buildings, and land and expanding the collection according to Donald Judd’s vision.  The operation of the museum is supported by earned and contributed income, including the proceeds of a growing endowment currently valued at approximately $14 million.   It is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of 20 voting directors.

Procedure for Application

Applicants should submit a resume, a cover letter describing interest and experience, and the names of three references.

Send resume and accompanying materials to:

Email: hr@chinati.org

Subject: Facilities/ Master Planning Manager