Director of Operations

Position Summary

Virginia MOCA is at a pivotal moment as we prepare to relocate to a state-of-the-art museum facility on the campus of Virginia Wesleyan University in early 2026. The Director of Operations will play a critical role in reimagining museum operations, ensuring a seamless transition while maintaining excellence in our current space.

The Director of Operations oversees the building operations including security, housekeeping, visitor services, facility rentals, IT, and emergency preparedness and risk management, with a strong focus on visitor experience and internal logistics. This role also holds key financial responsibilities including budget development, expense tracking, and merchandise reconciliation.

This role requires a strategic leader to oversee the final construction phases, coordinate logistics for the move, and develop operational plans for the expanded facility. Collaborating with university partners, city officials, and museum leadership, this position will shape the museum's operational framework to support Virginia MOCA's mission, visitor experience, and long-term sustainability.

This is a unique opportunity for an operations professional to lead a transformational moment in a museum's evolution, providing key leadership in both the transition to a new facility and the optimization of current operations.

Key Responsibilities

Facilities & Event Logistics

• Oversee Virginia MOCA's building calendar, ensuring seamless coordination of facility rentals, internal museum events, and operational logistics.
• Collaborate with internal teams to streamline event processes, ensuring smooth setup, breakdown, and staffing support for museum programs and rentals.
• Oversee security, housekeeping, rental, and facilities management, ensuring high operational standards and an exceptional visitor experience.
• Manage and maintain Virginia MOCA's outdoor grounds, ensuring proper care, maintenance, and usability of exterior spaces.
• Provide internal organization and communication regarding administrative spaces, ensuring a well-structured and functional working environment.
• Oversee office supply inventory and procurement, ensuring staff have the necessary materials while managing costs efficiently.

Visitor Services & Customer Experience

• Oversee the Visitor Services, ensuring that all front-of-house operations are welcoming, accessible, and responsive to guest needs.
• Foster a customer service culture that aligns with Virginia MOCA's values, prioritizing hospitality, professionalism, and inclusive engagement across all public-facing staff.
• Ensure consistent training, evaluation, and support for Visitor Services team members to maintain a high standard of service and safety.
• Collaborate with colleagues across departments to ensure that exhibitions, programs, and events are supported by well-informed and guest-ready front-of-house staff.
• Monitor visitor feedback and work proactively to resolve challenges, improve processes, and enhance the overall museum experience.

IT & Staff Onboarding

• Serve as primary IT liaison, acting as the museum's point of contact for its external IT service provider while providing basic troubleshooting and support for staff.
• Oversee technology onboarding for new staff, ensuring access to necessary devices, software, and systems.
• Develop and maintain institutional onboarding materials, ensuring new employees are integrated smoothly into Virginia MOCA's operational framework.
• Act as the lead communicator working alongside Virginia MOCA's HR contractor, ensuring smooth operational support for HR-related matters.

Emergency Preparedness & Risk Management

• Develop and lead emergency response training for staff, including fire safety, severe weather procedures, and active threat preparedness.
• Maintain and update emergency procedures, ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
• Oversee security operations and risk management, ensuring a safe environment for visitors, staff, and artwork.
• Manage and maintain the museum's insurance policies, ensuring appropriate coverage, documentation, and coordination with providers as needed.

Collaboration & Cross-Departmental Coordination

• Serve as the primary operational liaison with university partners, ensuring Virginia MOCA's operational needs align with the campus environment.
• Work with city officials, external partners, and funders regarding the museum's current and future facility needs.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and senior leadership team on museum-wide planning, problem-solving, and strategic initiatives that support strong institutional leadership and alignment.

Strategic Museum Transition & Future Operations

• Lead the planning and execution of Virginia MOCA's relocation, with a focus on logistics and operational readiness for the new facility.
• Develop new operational policies and procedures that reflect Virginia MOCA's evolving needs.
• Play an integral role in shaping long-term operational strategies for Virginia MOCA's new facility, ensuring efficiency, sustainability, and alignment with the museum's mission.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree required; degree in a related field such as operations, business administration, museum studies, or facilities management preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in museum operations, project management, facilities management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of supervisory experience, with a demonstrated ability to lead and support staff effectively.
• Experience overseeing large-scale capital projects, relocations, or major facility transitions preferred.
• Proven project management skills, with the ability to juggle multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and communicate effectively.
• Strong knowledge of building operations, security, event logistics, emergency preparedness, and IT coordination.
• Experience with budget development, financial tracking, and general financial management for operational departments.
• Familiarity with software systems such as QuickBooks, point-of-sale platforms, and building management systems preferred.
• A visitor-experience-driven mindset, ensuring front-of-house operations prioritize customer service and hospitality.
• Demonstrated ability to be a strong leader and advocate for their team, fostering a positive and solution-oriented workplace culture.
• Experience working in partnership with external institutions (such as universities or government entities) is a plus.
• A leadership mindset with the ability to think strategically while managing hands-on operational needs.

Virginia MOCA strives for an inclusive work environment and actively embraces a diversity of people, ideas, talents, and experiences. We highly encourage black, indigenous, people of color, individuals with disabilities, and other historically underrepresented groups to apply.

No phone calls or walk-ins, please. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews will be held thereafter.