Operational Show Manager & Industry Developer

Operational Show Manager & Industry Developer

ALG Fine Art is both a fine art gallery and working artist space in the Dallas Design District. We are recruiting for two part-time roles that together cover what was previously a single full-time Gallerist position.

Both roles work closely with and directly under the Gallery Director and the Business Development Director, as well as alongside and in collaboration with each other.

Role details

Hours 18 hours over three days, Monday to Wednesday, with additional hours during install and de-install weeks and on pre-planned event days and evenings

Salary $20,700 to $24,300 per year plus performance-based bonus opportunities (Full-time equivalent $46,000 to $54,000)

Employment basis - Part-time

Benefits Three weeks paid vacation after six months, pro-rata to contracted hours

Reports to Gallery Director, and the Business Development Director Works alongside The Gallerist (Sales and Client Developer), and our Resident Artists

What is the key purpose of this role

Driving traffic into the gallery while project managing and running in house show operations and private event rentals. You are one of our primary gallery representatives out in the community, meeting interior designers and other industry insiders and bringing them into the gallery primed and interested in purchasing/placing our art.

You are lead project managing our calendar and timeline in the gallery leading into our shows, coordinating and collating art for each hang, co-running the events themselves and co-maintaining the supporting paperwork, spreadsheets, and website entries with the Gallerist.

When a show or private event hits all its deadlines, looks the way it should and the room is full of art industry professionals warmed to purchase art, that is your work. Much of it happens before anyone else arrives, and all of it matters.

You will work closely with and directly under the Gallery Director and the Business Development Director.

You will also work alongside and often in collaboration with the Gallerist, particularly in show management details of event nights.

Responsibilities

NETWORKING

• Attend key industry events to network and build relationships within the industry, particularly interior designers and those placing/influencing art investments
• Represent ALG Fine Art while attending art fairs, collector events and industry gatherings across Dallas and beyond
• Attend at least 8 outside events each month, with a short written note back on who you met and what came of it
• Build, follow up, and maintain working relationships with other galleries, dealers, artists, interior designers, art advisors and industry professionals
• Keep contact records current and in the gallery system, so relationships belong to the gallery logs rather than to a phone
• Bring what you learn back into the room. Who is buying, what is moving, which artists are worth watching
• Plan where to focus your networking with the Business Development Director, and review activity and outstanding follow-ups at the weekly team meeting
• Stay informed about and notify leadership of any relevant industry events, especially in the Design District and on Dragon Street, noting other galleries’ approaches to presentation and events

SHOW PLANNING AND DELIVERY

• Assist Gallery Director with show design and arrangement layouts to maximize visual impact
• Coordinate with artists on the delivery, information on, and presentation of their work, ensuring a harmonious and cohesive display
• Manage the logistics of installing and de-installing shows with precision
• Hold the show timeline set forth by leadership team from first planning meeting through to de-install, and flag any slippage early
• Coordinate art handlers, installers, contractors, etc. for the gallery
• Maintain artwork records and handle work with care at every stage

EVENTS

• Coordinate event details including timeline, catering, staffing and day-of activities as the event requires
• Create, send and manage invitations on paper and digitally, across email, social platforms and Eventbrite, working to the plan set with the Business Development Director
• Manage registrations, guest lists and arrivals on the night
• Be on site and running the room on event days
• Debrief after each event with the Gallery Director and the Business Development Director, and record what to carry into the next one

CAPTURING CONTENT FOR SOCIAL & INDUSTRY OUTREACH

• Capture artwork and event install, de-install and behind-the-scenes photo and video, following the shot brief issued by the business development team
• Cover the moments the public never sees, including crates opening, art being created, work going up and the room coming together
• Capture event footage on the night alongside the Gallerist
• Deliver content to the business development team on the agreed schedule, sorted and ready to use
• Respect the gallery rule that no finished artwork appears online publicly before opening night
• Review the content plan, implement prior to, and receive feedback at the weekly team meeting
• Send weekly ALG Vault Edit to Industry Insiders and oversee/reply to responses

GALLERY OPERATIONS

• Oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring the gallery runs efficiently
• Coordinate gallery staff, sales associates, repairmen, contract workers, etc. as they are used
• Keep the gallery clean, presentable and ready for visitors at all times
• Manage supplier relationships, ordering stock of gallery materials
• Maintain the building, lighting and hanging systems in good order

RECORDS, CONTRACTS AND FINANCIAL CONTROL

• Handle contracts, agreements, and certificates of authenticity with artists
• Manage paperwork including inventory records and sales documentation
• Conduct budgeting and financial management with a focus on profitability, reporting to the Business Development Director
• Maintain stringent financial controls and follow internal processes without exception
• Ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations
• Work with highly confidential and sensitive information and keep it secure

EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING

• Organize artist talks, workshops and educational events
• Provide educational materials and information to visitors, building a deeper understanding of the work on show

How the two roles work together

These are two roles, not one job cut in half. Each has its own identity and its own accountability.

The Gallerist owns Client revenue. Sales, collectors, and the gallery’s day-to-day operations during open hours.

Operational Show Manager & Industry Developer. Industry networking, representing our presence in the wider art community, and show management.

WORKING PATTERN

• Wednesday is the shared day. Both roles are in the gallery.
• A shared handover process, kept current by both, covers live inquiries, collector follow-ups, show status and anything needing attention/information during the other’s part of the week
• Both roles flex around opening nights, install weeks and fairs. These are agreed in advance according to the show calendar
• Both roles attend the weekly team meeting with the Gallery Director and the Business Development Director, where networking activity, content delivery, show and gallery progress are reviewed

WHAT STAYS WITH THE GALLERY DIRECTOR

• Curatorial direction and the final selection of work for each show
• Artist representation and the resident artist program decisions
• The show calendar dates and the overall artistic vision of the gallery

WHAT STAYS WITH THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

• The commercial plan, sales targets and how performance is measured
• The social and content strategy, and the content instructions both roles capture
• Marketing campaigns, the email program and the wider growth plan

Person specification

Shared across both roles

Education

B.A. or M.A. or other qualification in Art History

or B.A. or M.A. in Arts Management, Interdisciplinary Arts and Design Management

or B.A. or M.A. in Business Management

Equivalent professional experience will be considered in place of a degree

Personal qualities

Great team player and communicator

Proactive and highly self-motivated

Quick learner

Friendly, outgoing and approachable

Passionate about creating great experiences for artists and buyers

Flexible and adaptable

Trustworthy, able to work with confidential and sensitive information and keep it secure

Practical

Comfortable, in front of and behind a camera, capturing photo and video content on a phone according to leadership instructions

Confident with email, shared calendars, spreadsheets, basic gallery SOPs, and supporting Apps and IT programs

Two satisfactory letters of business references

Right to Work in the USA

Specific to this role

Experience

Strong networking experience with evidence of existing industry contacts

Proven experience in gallery operations, exhibition production, art handling or a similar role

Experience running events from planning through to delivery

Experience managing budgets, records or inventory

Skills

Exceptional organizational ability and attention to detail

Practical and hands-on, comfortable with tools, hanging systems and physical installation

Able to hold a timeline and keep team accountable to it

Able to keep accurate paperwork, numbers and records

Calm under pressure, particularly in the final weeks before an opening

Pay: $20,700.00 - $24,300.00 per year

Application Question(s):

• At least 2 years of sales and client relationship experience.

Experience:

• Customer relationship management: 1 year (Required)

Language:

• English (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Dallas, TX 75207 (Required)

Work Location: In person