Head of Projects - Creative Time : Job Details

Hybrid, New York, NY

Creative Time, New York City's veteran and vanguard public arts presenter, is looking for a Head of Projects (HOP) to turn the vision of groundbreaking artists into reality and build on Creative Time's 50-year legacy presenting expansive, imaginative, and groundbreaking projects to the public.

Reporting to the Deputy Director and working closely with the Executive Director and Curator, the HOP is the departmental lead of the Projects team, and oversees partnerships, production, and timelines for all large-scale projects, public programs, and the Creative Time Summit, as well as other national and global initiatives. Together with two Project Managers, the HOP ensures the quality production, delivery, and impact of Creative Time artist commissions and programs.

The HOP is a team leader who brings vision and enthusiasm to developing partnerships for and producing Creative Time artist commissions and programmatic initiatives, including artwork and artist project concept development, production, and engagement. The HOP establishes actionable goals, develops and monitors timelines and budgets, and ensures timely completion of deliverables.

The HOP supervises two Project Managers, is responsible for a smooth and efficiently functioning team, hires and supervises vendors and contractors, and facilitates communication and collaboration across departments, and with artists and external partners. The HOP secures sites and partnerships, and represents Creative Time with artists, city agencies, project partners, venues, vendors, fabrication teams, volunteers, and the public at large.

We are looking for candidates who are extremely organized, self-directed, have keen decision making ability, are creative problem solvers, and have experience managing budgets. Experience working with fabricators and creating large scale environments, artwork, experiences, and public programs is a must. The ideal candidate is a good listener, relationship builder, and negotiator, and would bring a sense of control and calm to the fast-paced organization while managing projects and partnerships that are often complex and multi-faceted.

• Cultivate an exceptional team. Lead the programming team to execute visionary and quality projects
• Initiate and ensure streamlined communications within the department as well as across the organization
• Collaborate with artists and creative teams to translate ideas into actionable goals, with project milestones and set shared expectations
• Maintain relationships with current, previous, and future artists and partners
• Present at staff meetings, board meetings, donor events, funder tours, and general cultivation events as necessary

• Develop partnerships and serve as the main liaison with key stakeholders across projects and Summits
• Establish and maintain relationships with other cultural organizations, city and state agencies, and property owners, in order to realize complex projects at the highest level
• Secure project sites and negotiate site agreements; identify and maintain relationships with potential site partners for future projects
• Negotiate contracts and budgets with project partners
• Serve as representative of Creative Time and attend community board meetings and events relevant to upcoming and ongoing projects

• Work closely with Executive Director and Curator to design and plan artist commissions and Summit programming, including concept and theme design, partnership development, outreach and contracting with artists and presenters, identifying and screening sites and advisors
• Lead project research, analysis, and feasibility studies, working closely with Curatorial to plan artist commissions and Summit programming
• Generate internal briefing documents and review all communications materials generated for the launch and promotion of a project
• Create, manage, and report on project budget; oversee all project expenditures
• Create and oversee project calendars and monitor milestones and content deadlines for production, engagement, and programming
• Establish external affairs milestones
• Identify opportunities for collaboration and contributions across all departments, including potential fundraising and in-kind sponsorship opportunities
• Work with Project Managers on plans for permitting, project installation, maintenance, onsite staffing, and de-installation
• Supervise Project Managers to develop plans for ticketing, audience experience, and audience flow
• Work with Deputy Director and Project Managers on hiring and managing of all producers, site staff, volunteer coordinators, and project contributors
• Liaise with legal team on project related contracts and legal issues

• Work with Curator and Communications Coordinator to set goals around community engagement and audience building
• Work with Communications Coordinator to set project communication goals and oversee design and production of communications assets, such as e-blasts, press releases, signage, and social media plans

• At least 7 years of experience in project management, exhibition management, and art or object production and fabrication
• Demonstrable experience realizing ambitious public art projects and working with and between artists/creators, site owners/managers, fabricators/builders, and curators/conceivers
• Demonstrable experience designing and tracking large-scale budgets, managing contractors, and managing teams
• Comfort working collaboratively, taking initiative, and approaching obstacles with a curious, open mind
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and negotiation skills
• An understanding of socially engaged, public art projects
• An existing network of contacts at city and state agencies and government departments is a plus
• Proficiency in Google Suite and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Knowledge of Asana, Google Sketch-up, CAD, and Photoshop is a plus.

This is a full-time, exempt, permanent position with a salary of $80,000 to $87,000, depending on experience. The organization offers generous holiday and time-off benefits to all employees with medical, dental, and vision benefits (100% of the employee's portion is covered) and 403(b) participation available upon start.

Interested and qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume detailing your relevant background and skills, plus two reference contacts, as one PDF document.

Email materials as a single PDF document to [email protected] with subject line: 2025 Head of Projects. No calls please.

Creative Time is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or creed, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, ability, age, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, or military status.

Our work at Creative Time is inherently political, social, and invested in the global justice movements of our time. It is also fun, experimental, and often very delightful. We value individuals who embody those values, backgrounds, and lived experience.

September 15, 2025

Since 1974, Creative Time has commissioned and presented over 350 ambitious public art projects in partnership with thousands of artists and organizations throughout New York City, across the country, around the world—and even in outer space. Our work is guided by three core values: art matters, artists' voices are important in shaping society, and public spaces are places for creative and free expression.

We are acclaimed for the innovative and meaningful projects we have commissioned, from Tribute in Light, the twin beacons of light that illuminated lower Manhattan six months after 9/11, to Kara Walker's powerful sugar-sphinx at the Domino Sugar Factory (2014), and Pedro Reyes' Doomocracy (2016), a theatrical haunted house of political nightmares at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, and so much more. Though based in New York City, our organization touches millions, both nationally and internationally, through initiatives like the Creative Time Summit, which has been presented in a variety of locations including Venice, Stockholm, Washington, D.C., and Miami. We are committed to presenting important art for our times and engaging broad audiences that transcend geographic, racial, and socioeconomic barriers.

Join our Team

OPEN POSITIONS Development Manager (Deadline: Sept 15, 2025; Apply here)

Interested and qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume detailing your relevant background and skills, plus two reference contacts, as one PDF document.

Creative Time is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or creed, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, ability, age, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, or military status.