Manager of Technical and Design Services

Job Summary

The Manager of Technical and Design Services is responsible for the design and production management of exhibitions and other visual presentations at the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery and its off-site locations including two and three dimensional and audio visual exhibits. This includes working directly with curators and artists to prepare exhibition plans drawings and to create and manage the technical planning and production process of approved exhibition concepts, and to prepare and manage related budgets and schedules. In addition, the position manages the facility requirements of the Gallery’s building including environmental conditions, maintenance, IT and security systems, liaising with appropriate UBC units to support museum-standard operations, and contributes to facility planning. The position works in consultation with Gallery leadership and works collaboratively with Gallery staff and a variety of UBC departments to create a safe, secure and accessible facility for visitors, staff and collections, that operates to institutional and museum standards.

The Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery at UBC is mandated to research, exhibit, collect, publish, educate and develop programs in the field of contemporary art. The Gallery is situated on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) People. The Gallery promotes understanding and discussion of contemporary art and contemporary issues in art history, criticism and curating, with a focus on our region in an international context. The Gallery is an internationally recognized Category A institution and houses the University’s art collection of over 5,000 objects, one of the largest public collections of art in British Columbia. The Gallery also holds one of the largest artists’ archives in Canada and oversees the University’s outdoor art collection on the Vancouver campus which includes twenty-five works. Through a program of exhibitions, publications, loans and special projects, the Belkin participates in the national and international community of institutions concerned with contemporary art. The Gallery operates as a unit in the Faculty of Arts and participates in the training of student curators through the Critical and Curatorial Studies Program in the Department of Art History, Visual and Theory.

Organizational Status
The position reports to the Associate Director/Curator, works in conjunction with all Gallery staff, students and volunteers, and contributes directly to the policies and priorities of the Gallery. Manages CUPE 116 technicians including the Preparator, Graphics and Media Technician, Exhibitions and Collections Assistant, weekend Gallery Assistant and auxiliary technicians. Communicates directly with artists, curators, conservators, technicians, and other institutions from all over the world. The position liaises with a variety of UBC departments and units including Building Operations, Campus Security, IT Services, and the Library, as well as faculty members and various internal stakeholders across campus. The position works with multiple vendors, suppliers and external agencies. Trains and mentors graduate students and student employees.

Work Performed
Design and Production Management

• Responsible for leading the technical design, planning, scheduling and production of exhibitions on site and at satellite locations, working directly with curators and artists to realize approved exhibition concepts.

• Researches and conceptualizes technical ideas and solutions, develops work plans, methods and schedules, prepares cost estimates, drawings, and specifications, manages assigned staff and contract technicians, and resolves implementation issues for two and three-dimensional exhibitions and visual presentations, including multi-media installations.

• Leads the production team during preparation, installation and maintenance of exhibitions.

• Provides technical design and production direction for Gallery related programming such as conferences, lectures, concerts, etc.

• Oversees design quality, accessibility and consistency of exhibition signage, labels and didactic materials.

• Develops and manages budgets for exhibition installations, supplies and equipment, and negotiates contracts for services in relation to exhibitions in accordance with UBC purchasing policies and project budgets; ensures that costs are in line with overall exhibition budget.

• Researches, sources and procures technical services and materials, and ensures they meet conservation requirements.

• Ensures that all fabrication is done in accordance with national and international museum standards.

• Provides training and guidance to Gallery staff, contract technicians and students on the handling and installation of artworks to museum standards.

• Works with the Curator of Outdoor Art, providing technical advice for fabrication, installation, security, signage and maintenance of outdoor artworks in the University's collection.

• Contributes to planning and creates installation documentation for outgoing touring exhibitions and co-productions.

Facility Management

• Manages the physical functioning of the Gallery by overseeing the building’s maintenance, repairs, environmental conditions, lighting, IT and security systems, and liaising with UBC facilities managers, mechanical engineers, campus security and contractors to ensure the building is maintained at museum standards.

• With collections staff, manages storage, security and safety of the University's art collections including developing and implementing storage systems and contributing to related policies and procedures.

• Manages building and equipment inspections and ensures safe work procedures are implemented and followed by employees.

• Ensures all areas of the Gallery and exhibition installations adhere to public safety and accessibility standards and procedures (public and private areas).

• Acts as a project manager during building renovations and future expansion, including making recommendations, conceptual design and preparation of Gallery specifications, reports, drawings, etc., and liaising with architects, University contacts, and contractors.

• Acts as an emergency contact for the Gallery and works collaboratively with collections staff on disaster planning; reacts in the event of a building malfunction, security issue, or disaster to manage correction of problem and ensure safety of staff and collections.

• Liaises with external agencies including Fire Department, Police and RCMP.

• Manages project budgets and purchasing for supplies and equipment, and negotiates contracts for services in relation to facility management in accordance with UBC purchasing policies and project budgets.

Leadership, Reporting and Technical Direction

• Recruits, trains, supervises, manages and evaluates staff technicians and auxiliary technicians.

• Researches and analyzes trends and new developments in technical production, information technologies, and museum facility planning and attends relevant seminars and conferences.

• Contributes to the Gallery's strategic and long term planning, facility planning and other Gallery activities and policies, including equity, diversity and inclusion and sustainability priorities.

• Evaluates and recommends change in areas of responsibility.

• Prepares a variety of proposals, budgets, memos, reports in relation to building maintenance, exhibition design, security, IT projects, etc.

• Complies with current Work Safe regulations and policies to ensure the health and safety of employees.

• Trains and mentors graduate students in exhibition production and installation and provides advice and museum expertise to other UBC departments/units and external contacts as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

The Manager of Technical & Design Services works closely with the Gallery Director and Associate Director/Curator and is expected to make decisions in the assigned areas of responsibility. Consequences of error rest with the incumbent who is expected to rectify their own errors. Inappropriate judgment in planning resulting in failure to complete a project on time could have a negative impact on the Gallery’s and the University’s reputation and relationships with artists, other institutions, lenders, funders, etc. Failure to complete a project within the estimated budget would result in shortfalls in other areas of the Gallery’s budget. Failure of building and security systems and inadequate handling and storage of the collections and loans could endanger priceless and irreplaceable works of art. Failure of IT systems could result in loss of important information of financial, personnel, and research value.

Supervision Received
The position is directly responsible to the Associate Director/Curator and works autonomously within a general professional and administrative framework. Considerable personal initiative is expected and a wide-latitude of decision-making is required. Work is reviewed in terms of professional standards and achievement of general goals.

Supervision Given
Selects, trains, supervises, schedules, manages and evaluates CUPE 116 staff technicians, auxiliary technicians, contractors and student employees.

Minimum Qualifications
Master’s degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of five years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in a relevant discipline such as Fine Arts or Art History. Extensive knowledge of contemporary art, issues related to contemporary art, issues related to the display of art and artifacts, and knowledge of art production processes is required. Training and experience are required in the production of artworks and exhibitions and in general construction. Working knowledge of the National Building Code of Canada and British Columbia Building Code is required.

Professional experience in exhibition design and production, including conceptualizing, designing, planning, scheduling of a variety of contemporary art exhibitions and projects in a museum or gallery. Demonstrated experience in museum facilities management and the care and handling of museum collections. Demonstrated experience managing computer networks. Managerial and project management experience, including experience tendering, selecting, and monitoring contracts, preparing cost estimates and managing budgets.

• Ability to effectively use a variety of Computer Aided Design (CAD) software, such as SketchUp, at an advanced level.

• Ability to handle artworks delicately in accordance with conservation standards.

• Ability to work with and coordinate the work of Gallery staff, artists, curators, trades people, contractors, students, and people of varied cultural backgrounds.

• Considerable knowledge and understanding of two and three-dimensional media, video and other analog and digital technologies. Knowledge of current audio-visual developments and their application in relation to exhibition display.

• Considerable knowledge in the practices, methods, materials and equipment used in a variety of trades applicable to contemporary art and contemporary art exhibits.

• Considerable knowledge and understanding of computer networks and related computer systems.

• General knowledge of the hazards and proper safety procedures relevant to the work performed.

• Good understanding of contemporary conservation policies and practices as applied to art exhibitions and art collections.

• Working knowledge of National Building Code of Canada and British Columbia Building Code.

• Ability to coordinate and oversee work processes and manage several projects simultaneously.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of internal and external contacts.

• Ability to resolve technical problems in an innovative manner.

• Ability to effectively work under deadline pressures and with changing work environments.

• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

• Ability to use sensitive communication, discretion and good judgment in all interactions.

• Ability to work effectively independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

• Physical ability to perform the duties of the job (e.g. lifting, standing, working at heights, operating lift).

• Must be able to work flexible hours and be able to travel occasionally.

• Valid B.C. driver's licence required.