Publications Manager

About the position The Walker Art Center empowers people to experience the transformative possibilities of the art and ideas of our time and to imagine the world in new ways. In our over 125-year history, we have become one of the most celebrated art museums in the country and we are known for our innovative presentations and acclaimed collections of contemporary art across the spectrum of the visual, performing, and media arts. The Publications Manager leads the development and production of the museum’s publishing projects and platforms—from exhibition catalogues and the annual report to Walker Magazine and The Reader, our digital platform for cultural criticism and creative writing. This is a hybrid role that combines editorial judgment, project management, commissioning, and writing copy. The position requires a keen eye for storytelling, fluency in contemporary art and design discourse, and deep experience producing publishing content across formats and channels. This role is both strategic and hands-on, shaping how the Walker communicates with the public, the field, and future audiences. As the steward of the Walker’s award-winning publishing program, the Publications Manager plays a critical role in shaping how the institution documents and shares its work with a wide public.

Responsibilities

• Lead the production of all Walker-published catalogues and artist books, maintaining the institution’s reputation for editorial and design excellence.
• Working with the Marketing team serve as managing editor of Walker Magazine, gathering content from across departments and stakeholders, developing story ideas, and editing features in collaboration with internal and external contributors.
• Oversee as its Editor-in-Chief, The Walker Reader, the Museum’s online publishing platform. This includes but is not limited to commissioning writers, illustrators, and photographers; editing submissions; and aligning content with curatorial, marketing, and public engagement strategies.
• Oversee the annual report, including content development, editing, and production coordination.
• Manage publishing timelines, production schedules, budgets, contracts, and vendor relationships.
• Write and edit institutional and editorial copy as needed across print and digital platforms.
• Ensure all editorial work meets high standards for clarity, voice, accessibility, consistency, and impact to the field.
• Work closely with the Digital Strategist to ensure publishing efforts support institutional storytelling goals and are optimized for web and social platforms.
• Overseeing publishing ecosystem across print and digital publishing to ensure cohesive slates of projects.
• Commission writers, visual contributors, and cultural critics.
• Work cross-functionally with curatorial, design, marketing, and development teams to align content with institutional goals and exhibition timelines
• Act as a bridge between internal teams and external collaborators
• Manage publication budgets, freelance contracts, and vendor coordination.
• Oversee production workflows and approvals across departments.
• Use digital project management tools, AirTable, to track timelines, budgets, communicate with stakeholders, and manage assets.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in publishing, journalism, or art/design museum editorial roles
• Strong writing and editing skills, with experience developing publishing content for both general and specialized audiences
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects from concept to delivery
• Knowledge of contemporary art and design fields
• Experience with both print production and digital publishing workflows
• Familiarity with Microsoft Teams, Adobe Creative Suite, and CMS systems such as Wordpress.
• Experience commissioning and editing longform writing and visual content.
• Background in art history, design, cultural criticism or art’s journalism or publishing
• Commitment to accessibility, clarity, and equity in publishing

Nice-to-haves

• Demonstrated experience working with budgets and adhering to standard budgetary practices and fiscal controls.
• Demonstrated excellence in organization, prioritization, and time management.
• Proven ability to work independently.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and work with a wide range of constituents (artists, administrators, funders, donors, community partners, patrons, staff), and people across a variety of cultures, generations, and abilities.
• Must show resourcefulness, ability to anticipate needs and adapt to unexpected challenges.
• Experience working in the arts community and/or interest in contemporary art.

Benefits

• The Walker offers a wide range of benefits for both part-time and full-time employees, click link to view benefits: https://walkerart.org/primary-benefits-package/

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