Senior Associate Art Specialist

Job Overview

Under the direction of the Manager, Creative & Strategic Initiatives, the Art Specialist, Public Art Programs oversees the administration, implementation, and stewardship of public art initiatives throughout Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). This position coordinates consultants, contractors, fabricators, conservators, airport departments, and external stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery within active airport and capital improvement environments. This role also supports long-term stewardship of DFW’s public art collection through maintenance planning, conservation coordination, documentation, and collections management.

What you will be doing:

• Support implementation and delivery of permanent, temporary, and digital public art projects across airport terminals. 
• Prepare reports, presentations, project updates, and briefing materials for leadership, advisory committees, and stakeholders. 
• Monitor industry trends, best practices, and innovations in public art, collections stewardship, and infrastructure-integrated artwork.
• Integrate public art into airport capital improvement, infrastructure, and construction projects. 
• Coordinate project schedules, budgets, procurement, contracts, fabrication, installation, and construction-phase implementation with architects, engineers, contractors, artists, fabricators, consultants, and airport departments to ensure successful project delivery while meeting safety, security, and operational requirements.
• Assist with artist selection processes, stakeholder engagement, artist calls, consultant coordination, procurement activities, and contract administration. 
• Create and maintain records including documentation, inventory management, appraisals, maintenance planning, conservation efforts, and condition assessments. 
• Develop and promote public art programs that showcase the airport’s collection and investment to owner cities, local arts communities, passengers, and visitors. 
• Collaborate with Customer Experience (CX) to establish a docent program and public tours, while building relationships with local artists to support rotating exhibitions and ongoing community engagement. 

What you need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Arts Administration, Public Art Administration, Architecture, Urban Planning, Museum Studies, Art History, Design, or related field.
• One or more years of experience in public art project management and delivery, arts administration, cultural planning, exhibitions management, collections management, or related experience.
• Experience managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, consultants, contractors, and public agencies.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experience overseeing project budgets, schedules, procurement, and contract coordination.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent projects in fast-paced operational environments.
• Knowledge of public art administration, procurement processes, collections stewardship, and conservation practices.
• Knowledge of project management principles, budgeting, scheduling, and contract administration.
• Ability to coordinate complex projects across interdisciplinary teams and operational environments.
• Ability to manage stakeholder relationships and communicate effectively with internal and external partners.
• Ability to interpret architectural drawings, technical documentation, and project schedules.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.

Desired:

• Experience working within airports, transportation systems, civic infrastructure, or other large-scale public environments.
• Experience integrating public art into capital construction projects.
• Experience coordinating digital, media, or technology-integrated artworks.
• Experience administering artist calls, RFQs, RFPs, and public procurement processes.
  Knowledge of fabrication, installation, and conservation processes for permanent public artworks.
• Experience working with artists, architects, engineers, fabricators, and conservators.

About Us

We are Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport-one of the most successful airports in the world by any definition. We are recognized for our innovation, leadership, drive for excellence and talented employees.

Our success is made possible because of the diverse talents of over 2,100 employees who champion our mission of providing an exceptional airport experience to our customers and connect our community to the world. We are looking for the best talent to join us and help reimagine what an airport can be.

Bring your talents to DFW. Live and work with purpose.