CAREERS & INTERNSHIPS

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Manager of Development and Marketing 

The Manager of Development and Marketing will serve as an active front-line fundraiser, overseeing the membership program and working closely with staff and board members to cultivate giving from individual donors, foundations, corporations, and government sources in support of the Museum’s operating and campaign goals. The candidate is responsible for raising regional and global awareness of the Museum’s brand, building followers and engagement online, and driving virtual and in-person visitation to the Museum. The candidate, who should be fully familiar with the latest technologies, develops annual plans to identify and target key audiences with compelling marketing communications, and identifies key calendar opportunities to attract visitors. This position supervises the Museum’s Marketing Coordinator.

The Museum of Russian Icons, founded in 2006 by the American entrepreneur Gordon Lankton, holds the most comprehensive collection of Russian icons in the US, as well as a growing collection of Greek, Veneto-Cretan, and Ethiopian icons. These collections offer unparalleled opportunities to situate Eastern Christian art within a global context and to explore its connection to contemporary concerns and ideas. The Museum is currently in the last phase of a reorientation and rebranding project, and its new plans will be shared with the public in the second half of 2023.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

  • Develop and implement a comprehensive and effective advancement strategy that increases financial support and visibility for the Museum.
  • Manage the overall development activities and take a strategic approach to initiating and managing major gifts, planned giving, annual appeals, special events, grants and sponsorships, marketing and PR, and other activities.
  • Staff the Development Committee of the Board and leverage their expertise and goodwill to further fundraising efforts.
  • Identify and write government, foundation, and private fundraising proposals and grants in collaboration with the Manager of Administration.
  • Plan and implement all Museum events, including exhibition opening receptions, donor events, and community events.
  • Oversee and grow the Museum’s membership program of 500+ members, related benefits, and events, including recruitment of new and renewing individual and corporate members and member communications.
  • Coordinate gift processing and data entry and provide analysis to support and evaluate the effectiveness of development and membership efforts.
  • Oversee and update the Museum’s website, social media, and advertising in collaboration with the Marketing Coordinator.
  • Act as staff liaison to Museum’s printing and design vendors and members of the press.
  • Manage and maintain the Veevart constituent database in collaboration with the Marketing Coordinator.
  • Train and oversee staff on Veevart use and serve as the point person for staff on questions about the database in collaboration with the Marketing Coordinator.
  • Participate in special projects and other Museum-related tasks requested by the Executive Director.

Required Skills/Abilities:

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Excellent skills in promoting an institution and reaching audiences through all forms of print, online, and social media.
  • Demonstrable experience in running successful marketing and development campaigns.
  • Proficient with Word, Excel, and other Microsoft products.
  • Ability to prioritize, stay organized, and independently manage competing projects.
  • Ability to function efficiently and remain cheerful under pressure.
  • Ability to speak effectively before groups of people.

Education/Experience:
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with a minimum of three years of fundraising experience in a management role is preferred.

Personal Qualities:

  • Result-driven
  • Emotionally intelligent
  • Creative and innovative
  • Inspirational, passionate, curious
  • Generous and collaborative team worker
  • Superior judgment, discretion, tact, and diplomacy

Staff Position:
Full Time, 35 hours per week (part-time may be considered)

Working Conditions:
Hybrid (at the Museum in Clinton MA and remote). Flexible hours.

Salary Range
$60,000–$65,000 (with extensive benefits)

How to Apply:
Please send your application incl. a letter of interest and a résumé directly to Melanie Trottier, Manager of Administration at jobs@museumofrussianicons.org with Manager of Development and Marketing as the subject. No phone calls please. Consideration of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

At the Museum of Russian Icons, we value all types of experience. For us, a successful candidate has many of the qualities listed in our job postings, and the desire and capacity to learn the rest on the job. So if much, but not all, of a job posting describes you, we welcome your application.

Curator 

The Museum of Russian Icons offers a unique opportunity to play an important role in shaping a leading institute for icons and Eastern Christian art in the USA. The Museum is currently in the last phase of a reorientation and rebranding project, and its new plans will be shared with the public in the second half of 2023. The curator will also spearhead the Study Center, which will be an essential part of the new Museum.  

The Museum seeks a dynamic and highly motivated individual who is excited by this challenge. The ideal candidate will be an experienced, published scholar passionately interested in the arts of the Eastern Christian world and deeply committed to the Museum’s mission. The ideal candidate should be fully able to employ the latest technologies to connect to global audiences. The candidate reports to and works closely with the Executive Director. 

The Museum of Russian Icons, founded in 2006 by the American entrepreneur Gordon Lankton, holds the most comprehensive collection of Russian icons in the US, as well as a growing collection of Greek, Veneto-Cretan, and Ethiopian icons. The Museum serves as a place for contemplation and for experiencing the beauty and spirituality of icons. The permanent collection and temporary exhibitions offer unparalleled opportunities to situate Eastern Christian art within a global context and to explore its connection to contemporary concerns and ideas. The Museum’s Study Center stimulates object-based learning and multidisciplinary research and aims to share its research in the field of Eastern Christian art with wide audiences through an active slate of academic and public programs.  

Essential Functions and Responsibilities: 

  • Maintain and care for the collections. 
  • Research, propose, and organize high-level exhibitions.  
  • Develop and lead the Study Center, including the library, in collaboration with the Executive Director.
  • Organize and moderate conferences and lectures, online and in person.
  • Publish proceedings of conferences on the website and act as key author for online content.
  • Collaborate with Executive Director to refine collections through acquisitions and de-accessioning.
  • Maintain extensive contacts with curators, scholars, donors, collectors, dealers, and consultants.
  • Work closely with Registrar, restorers, contractors, and others participating in art installations.
  • Work with marketing staff to generate publicity for exhibitions and initiatives.  
  • Oversee the galleries, including related signage, labels, and printed and online museum publications. 
  • Deliver talks on the permanent collection and special projects or exhibitions. 

Experience and Skills: 

  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. 
  • Minimum of three years of museum or institutional experience.   
  • Proven record of scholarly research and publishing in area(s) of specialty. 
  • Proven ability to execute complex projects, preferably exhibitions or other public-facing initiatives. 
  • Strong computer skills and an interest in contributing to the Museum’s social media platforms. 
  • Superior ability to present ideas and projects.  
  • Strong planning and project management skills.   
  • Able to directly engage with diversity, equity, access, and inclusion (DEAI) initiatives at the Museum. 

Education: 

PhD in art history or equivalent through publications with a focus on icons and Eastern Christian art.  

Personal Qualities: 

  • Result-driven 
  • Intellectually rigorous
  • Creative and innovative
  • Inspirational, passionate, curious
  • Generous and collaborative team worker
  • Possessing superior judgment, discretion, tact, and diplomacy 

Staff Position:
Full Time, 40 hours per week (part-time may be considered)  

Salary Range:
$80,000–$95,000 (with extensive benefits) 

Working conditions:
Hybrid (at the Museum in Clinton MA and remote). Flexible hours. 

How to Apply:
Please send your application incl. a letter of interest, a resume, and names of 3 references to Simon Morsink, Executive Director: jobs@museumofrussianicons.org. No phone calls, please. 

Consideration of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. 

 

INTERNSHIPS

Each year, the Museum of Russian Icons hosts interns who contribute their talents to the organization while gaining professional skills. Past interns have worked on substantial projects such as curating small exhibitions, creating marketing material, planning programs, and designing products for the Museum Shop. Tasks vary depending on Museum needs and students’ interests. One of the benefits of being at a small organization is that interns can observe all staff and departments while specializing in one particular area. The Museum currently offers in-person, virtual, and hybrid internships.

There are no internships available at this time. 

What our interns are saying:

“The opportunity to intern at the Museum of Russian Icons allowed me to do research in a unique environment where I could explore the museum’s extensive collection and pair my findings with texts from their library, not to mention consult with the experts on staff who were open and willing to talk about anything icon and/or museum-related. All in all it was an enormously rewarding and intellectually invigorating experience.”

– Natasha Zinos, Boston College, 2019 intern

“My Curatorial Internship with the Museum of Russian Icons was invaluable. Throughout the summer, I researched lacquer boxes, which involved translating inscriptions, researching production centers and folktales, and collaboration with the Registrar. My summer culminated in a presentation on my research and a discussion of the commonalities between lacquer box design and Orthodox icons. Even after my internship ended, the museum presented me with many professional development opportunities, such as returning for a gallery talk. The MoRI’s internship program is an excellent opportunity for students of all academic backgrounds to expand their skills.”

– Erik Livingston, The College of Wooster, 2020 remote intern

“Interning at the Museum of Russian Icons was a truly enriching and amazing experience. As a Russian Studies Major, it was incredible to have access to the museum’s wealth of resources and artwork as I conducted independent research on the connections between icons and Russian literature. My internship culminated in a detailed presentation of my research paper to staff members and professors. Overall, I had an unforgettable and fulfilling experience interning at the museum.”

– Clement Doucette, Vassar College, 2020 hybrid intern

VOLUNTEER EDUCATOR

Volunteer Educators are our tour guides who work with the public to enhance the visitor experience through formal guided tours and informal one-on-one conversations. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about icons, Russian culture, and art history while working closely with a dedicated volunteer group. The program consists of a six-month training period and continuing education opportunities, including lectures, workshops, local trips, and special events.

All training is provided at no cost. New docents are asked to make a one-year commitment. The time requirement is roughly eight to twelve hours per month. In addition, docents must be available to attend meetings on two Wednesday mornings per month from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM.

Currently, the Museum is not accepting new docents into the program. Please watch this space for future opportunities.