Chief Operating Officer

About MoMA PS1 

MoMA PS1 champions how art and artists are at the intersection of the social, cultural, and political issues of their time. Providing audiences with the agency to ask questions, access to knowledge, and a forum for public debate, PS1 has offered insight into artists’ diverse worldviews for more than 45 years. Founded in 1976 by Alanna Heiss, the institution was a defining force in the alternative space movement in New York, transforming a 19th-century public schoolhouse in Long Island City into a site for artistic experimentation and creativity. 

The Museum has an annual operating budget of $13M, a staff of 53 fulltime, 17 part-time, and 38 seasonal employees, and operates within a 100,000 square foot campus, including an outdoor courtyard. PS1 has been a member of New York City’s Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) since 1982, and an affiliate of The Museum of Modern Art since 2000.

We recognize that a successful candidate will meet many of the requirements listed on this job description, but may not meet 100% of the qualifications. If much of this job description describes you, we encourage you to apply for this role.

Summary

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of MoMA PS1 plays a critical leadership role in advancing the museum’s mission by overseeing human resources, operations, finance, security, administration, and visitor engagement. The COO ensures the institution’s financial stability, infrastructure, compliance, and capacity are aligned with current and future operational and programming needs, particularly with regard to zoning, capital projects, and regulatory obligations tied to its participation in the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs’ (DCLA) Cultural Institutions Group (CIG).

As part of MoMA PS1's executive leadership, the COO partners with The Agnes Gund Director and senior staff from MoMA PS1 and The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) to support institutional goals and ensure operational and regulatory readiness. The COO is also a key liaison to City stakeholders, including DCLA and elected officials, and ensures adherence to applicable policies to mitigate risk for the Museum.

Supervision

The COO reports to the Museum Director and works closely with MoMA PS1’s Board Treasurer and functions as the lead staff member for the Finance, and Audit Committees. They serve as the museum’s senior liaison with MoMA departments—Finance, HR, Legal, Security, and Technology—and directly supervise the Chief Financial Officer, Director of Human Resources, Director of Building Operations, Assistant Director of Security and Safety and Assistant Director of Visitor Engagement.

Responsibilities

Operations & City Coordination

●      In collaboration with both the Assistant Director of Security and Safety, and Director of Building Operations, oversee MoMA PS1’s building and grounds, as well as security and safety operations to ensure a secure, compliant, and welcoming environment for staff, and visitors, during daily operation, large-scale programmed events and private rentals.

●      Coordinate with Director of Building Operations, to lead planning and management of capital projects funded by the City of New York, ensuring compliance with City procurement and construction protocols, and NYC Department of Design and Construction oversight standards.

●      Align operational planning with fire, safety, and ADA standards, and proactively manage risk in accordance with all regulatory frameworks.

●      Experience with Building Management Systems and working knowledge of maintaining temperature and humidity standards within a climatized environment.

●      In collaboration with MoMA’s IT and Security departments, ensure technological and safety infrastructure supports operational continuity, regulatory compliance, and institutional growth.

Finance and Budget

●      Leads the preparation and management of multi-year financial strategies with the Chief Financial Officer to ensure financial sustainability and alignment with institutional goals. In coordination with CFO, oversee financial reporting, tax filings, and audits, ensuring accuracy and compliance to GAAP standards.

●      Align with the Board Finance Committee and Buildings Committee to proactively plan for both short and long-term fiscal needs and address deferred maintenance capital schedule, while ensuring financial stability and alignment with organizational goals.

●      Manage existing City capital funds, and submit annual appeal requests.

●      Lead lobbying efforts with elected officials to ensure support for capital and supplemental funding requests.

Administration & Regulatory Compliance

●      Strengthen the museum’s administrative infrastructure with particular attention to compliance with MoMA practices, DCLA mandates, and incorporating ties to public ownership.

●      Oversee legal and contractual matters in partnership with MoMA’s Legal team, ensuring all agreements/contracts are properly executed. Including: vendor, co-org, traveling and partner agreements for major public programs and events including NYABF, Neighbor Night, Warm Up, and Family Festival.

●      Collaborate with the Director of Human Resources to assess/review risk management, benefits, policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with City employee relations protocols and CIG standards.

●      Serve as the primary liaison for all union-related matters, including negotiating and administering collective bargaining agreements, resolving grievances and arbitrations, and ensuring ongoing compliance.

●      Oversee all insurance policies and annual renewals: General Liability, Workers Compensation, Fine Arts, and D&O insurance, securing competitive proposals during annual renewal.

●      Serve as the primary holder for the Museum’s Liquor License, overseeing State Liquor Authority compliance, promptly addressing vendor payment issues and managing the bi-annual renewal process.

Visitor Engagement & Public Interface

●      Oversee and provide guidance to the Assistant Director of Visitor Engagement in delivering a safe, inclusive, and accessible museum experience, throughout daily operation and during large-scale events, and rentals.

●      In collaboration with the Assistant Director of Visitor Engagement, monitor daily attendance against projections, and create annual attendance forecasts for daily, and large-scale programmed events.

●      Oversee operations of the museum’s retail concessions and food service vendors, ensuring that contracts and insurance requirements are met and comply with City lease and licensing conditions.

Experience

●      Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in arts administration, public administration, urban planning, business, or related field.

●      Strategic thinker with a minimum of 7 –10 years of senior leadership experience, with direct experience in managing the daily operation of a museum (or similar setting), supervising and coaching senior managers, and engaging with high-profile board of directors.

●      Demonstrated experience in being flexible, with the ability to handle rapid and frequent shifts in priorities, without losing sight of the overall big picture, with the ability to remain calm during high-pressure and emergency situations.

●      Extensive knowledge of working with a range of city agencies, to function within a city owned facility, with experience in land use regulations, and the roles and responsibilities of the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG).

●      Demonstrated success managing City-funded capital projects and navigating NYC government procedures, from front-end planning, to design and construction. 

●      Experience managing multi-departmental teams, budgets, legal matters, human resources, and facilities in a complex and fast-paced environment.

●      Demonstrates excellent judgment, negotiation skills, and discretion in managing internal and external relationships as well as highly confidential matters,

●      Effective communicator with strong written and verbal skills, with the ability to present complicated policy, legal, and financial content to a wide range of audiences.

●      Experience in managing operating budgets of more than $11M--including forecasting revenue projections and cash flow management.

●      Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and financial planning tools.

●      Availability to work evenings/weekends and respond to emergencies.

Please apply through the link below.