Associate Director of Audio-Visual Services

Associate Director of Audio-Visual Services Associate Director of Audio-Visual Services leads the Museum's Audio-Visual Department in delivering exceptional technical support for exhibitions, performances, events, and venue rentals across all museum locations. This role requires a strong leader who can effectively manage day-to-day operations while maintaining the highest standards of service delivery for both internal stakeholders and external clients. Responsibilities Leadership & Operations Management Build, lead, and mentor a high‑performing audio‑visual team, establishing clear performance expectations and fostering accountability through regular feedback and professional development opportunities. Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans for all AV installations and events, implementing tracking systems to ensure on‑time delivery and proactive communication with stakeholders. Create and enforce standard operating procedures, technical documentation, and training programs to ensure consistent service quality across all team members and contractors. Manage departmental budget, vendor relationships, and resource allocation while delegating appropriately within team members' defined responsibilities. Technical Service Delivery Oversee AV support for the museum's diverse programming including exhibitions, performances, lectures, corporate rentals, and special events across all locations. Partner with curatorial and installation teams from concept through deinstallation, collaborating with artists to translate their visions into executable technical solutions. Design, specify, and maintain AV systems for both permanent installations and temporary exhibitions, ensuring reliable operation and optimal visitor experience. Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external production partners to deliver seamless technical execution for high‑profile events while maintaining flexibility for last‑minute requests. Develop maintenance protocols, contingency plans, and rapid response capabilities to ensure consistent system operation and minimize service disruptions. Stay current with emerging technologies and museum best practices, recommending innovations that enhance artistic presentation and audience engagement. Implement and enforce safety standards. FLSA STATUS: Full Time, Exempt REPORTS TO: Director of Technology COMPENSATION: $95,600 - $106,200 Work Schedule This role is typically scheduled to work Monday – Friday at SAM’s downtown location, with days spent at the Seattle Asian Art Museum and Olympic Sculpture Park locations as appropriate. The role requires flexibility to support evening and weekend events as needed. Regular presence during standard business hours is essential for team management and stakeholder coordination. Benefits Benefits include a fully employer‑paid HMP medical plan or an employee‑contribution PPO plan, dental, vision, and basic life insurance/LTD/AD&D, Flexible Spending Account, Short‑Term Disability, Supplemental Dental Insurance and participation in SAM’s 403b retirement plan. Following 1 year of service and 1,000 hours worked SAM makes a guaranteed 3% employer contribution regardless of participation and provides an employer match program. Additional benefits include paid time off for vacation, PSST, bereavement leave and jury duty, 11 scheduled holidays, 1 paid floating holiday, a subsidized unlimited Orca card, onsite fitness facility, and an EAP. FT Staff also receive a Patron level membership to SAM, a Tier III membership to the American Alliance of Museums and discounts to museum shop and programming. About Seattle Art Museum Seattle Art Museum’s vision is to be the museum for all of Seattle—a bold, dynamic hub of creativity, belonging, and cultural leadership, shaping the future of art and community. To create a welcoming community where people find inspiration and discover our common humanity through exceptional art and dynamic, engaging programs. Art is always at the start and heart of what we do. Collecting, conserving, and displaying extraordinary works of art is the governing motivation of our museum. So too is fostering a vigorous exchange of ideas while cultivating connection with the broad array of communities we serve. As the leading visual arts institution in the Pacific Northwest, SAM shares its global connections, powerful exhibitions, and dynamic programs to engage, educate, and inspire. SAM is a vibrant, three‑site organization that is supported by 365 employees, 10 executive leaders, and more than 200 volunteers. Celebrating Difference At Seattle Art Museum, our members, visitors, and local community come from all walks of life, and so do our employees, volunteers, and interns. The plurality of our identities and experiences strengthens our mission: connecting art to life. Our mission and vision call us to be responsive to a multitude of cultural contexts and lived experiences, and as such, our Strategic Plan directly addresses the role art plays in empowering and elevating social justice movements, and promoting structural change to further equity in our society. SAM is particularly dedicated to racial equity in the workplace, because we know that people of color are the most impacted when it comes to both historical and present inequities. We know equity is not a single fixed destination, it’s ongoing reckoning. As SAM continually strives to be a more inclusive and equitable workplace, we are particularly interested in engaging with those who have been historically under‑represented in the museum field. We are dedicated to building a diverse workplace, and a sense of belonging for each and every employee, because we know our organization is at its best when we celebrate difference. Equal Opportunity Employer SAM is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, sensory, physical, or mental disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship or immigration status, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. If you need assistance applying for a role due to a disability or additional need, please let us know at hr@seattleartmuseum.org. The Seattle Art Museum will consider reasonable accommodations for all employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions/duties of the role. If you need an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact hr@seattleartmuseum.org. For candidates, we ask that, if possible, you wait until you’re invited to a screen, online technical assessment or interview before requesting an accommodation. We Encourage You to Apply We are dedicated to building a diverse workplace, and a sense of belonging for each and every employee, because we know our organization is at its best when we include, celebrate and embrace difference. We encourage you to submit an application, even if your experience doesn’t feel like a 100% match with the position. We know applying for a job can be intimidating, and research tells us that womxn and folks of color are less likely to apply if they don’t see themselves meeting or exceeding every single qualification listed. We encourage you to apply, even if you feel unsure about whether you meet every requirement in this job post. You could very well be a great fit for this role or others. Requirements for Employment In order to be employed by the Seattle Art Museum, you must reside in the state of Washington. Employment at SAM is contingent upon successful clearing and maintenance of clearance in both a federal and state criminal background check. Want to Learn More? Check out our Careers page for more on working at SAM. #J-18808-Ljbffr