Reports to: Executive Director
Status: Regular, Full-Time, Exempt
Please submit a cover letter and resume as a single PDF to info@fotofest.org. No phone calls please. Applicants whose candidacy is under consideration will be contacted; review of applications will continue through August 28 or until the position is filled.
Position Overview
FotoFest seeks a visionary, entrepreneurial, and highly organized Manger of The Meeting Place Portfolio Review to lead one of the world’s most respected portfolio review programs for photographers and lens-based artists.
Reporting to the Executive Director and serving as a senior member of the Programs team, the Manager will provide strategic leadership, artistic direction, and operational management for The Meeting Place, FotoFest’s internationally recognized portfolio review program. Since its founding in 1986, The Meeting Place has served as a catalyst for artistic careers, connecting emerging and established photographers with leading museum curators, gallery directors, publishers, editors, collectors, and other arts professionals from around the world.
The Manager will oversee all aspects of the program, including strategic planning, reviewer recruitment, scholarship artist administration, international partnerships, event production, budgeting, communications, and evaluation. Working collaboratively with direct report staff (Program Coordinator, The Meeting Place Portfolio Review), and across departments, the Manager will ensure that The Meeting Place continues to set the international standard for excellence, innovation, equity, and meaningful professional exchange.
This role requires an energetic cultural leader who combines exceptional relationship-building skills with outstanding organizational abilities. The successful candidate will serve as an ambassador for FotoFest internationally while cultivating new partnerships that expand the organization’s global impact and strengthen Houston’s position as a center for contemporary photography.
Essential Functions
Program Leadership & Strategy
- Provide overall artistic, strategic, and operational leadership for The Meeting Place Portfolio Review.
- Develop and implement long-term strategic initiatives that expand the program’s national and international impact.
- Continuously evaluate and refine the participant and reviewer experience to maintain The Meeting Place’s reputation as one of the premier portfolio review programs in the world.
- Identify emerging trends within contemporary photography and the broader visual arts to ensure program relevance and innovation.
Reviewer Recruitment & International Partnerships - Recruit and cultivate relationships with distinguished curators, museum directors, gallery owners, publishers, editors, collectors, consultants, and other arts professionals from around the world.
- Maintain ongoing communication with reviewers before, during, and after each portfolio review.
- Develop strategic institutional partnerships with museums, festivals, universities, foundations, publishers, and cultural organizations.
- Identify opportunities for international collaborations that expand artist access and increase FotoFest’s global visibility.
- Serve as the principal liaison for partner organizations participating in The Meeting Place.
Artist Recruitment & Selection - Oversee participant recruitment and application processes.
- Develop equitable review and selection procedures that support artists from diverse backgrounds and geographic regions.
- Administer scholarship programs in collaboration with funding partners and sponsoring organizations.
- Provide guidance and support to participating artists before, during, and following the portfolio review.
- Ensure an inclusive, welcoming, and professionally rewarding experience for all participants.
Program Operations & Event Management - Oversee all logistical planning and execution for in-person and virtual portfolio review programs, including biennial and off-year programs.
- Develop and maintain detailed production schedules, reviewer schedules, staffing plans, and operational timelines.
- Coordinate venue logistics, registration systems, hospitality, travel arrangements, accommodations, and volunteer management.
- Supervise all program materials, participant communications, reviewer information, and event documentation.
- Lead post-program evaluation and continuous improvement efforts.
Financial Management - Develop and manage annual operating budgets for The Meeting Place.
- Monitor program revenues and expenditures while achieving financial goals.
- Prepare financial reports and program analyses for organizational leadership.
- Collaborate with the Development Department to identify sponsorship opportunities and support grant proposals.
- Ensure fulfillment of sponsor benefits and reporting requirements.
Communications & Marketing - Collaborate with Communications staff to promote The Meeting Place through digital media, print materials, press outreach, and international marketing campaigns.
- Develop compelling content highlighting participant success stories, reviewer engagement, and program impact.
- Assist with public presentations, panel discussions, and educational programming related to portfolio reviews.
- Represent FotoFest and The Meeting Place in interviews, conferences, and public events.
Cross-Departmental Collaboration - Work closely with Curatorial, Learning, Development, Communications, Finance, and Operations staff to ensure successful program delivery.
- Collaborate with exhibition and public programming teams to integrate The Meeting Place into FotoFest’s broader mission.
- Support organizational fundraising initiatives through donor cultivation and stewardship activities.
- Participate in organizational planning and strategic initiatives as a member of the senior leadership team.
Qualifications
Education & Experience - Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Art History, Museum Studies, Arts Administration, Photography, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in museums, photography organizations, arts administration, festivals, galleries, publishing, or related cultural institutions.
- Experience producing complex events or professional convenings.
- Strong knowledge of contemporary photography and the international visual arts community.
- International professional network preferred.
Skills & Competencies - Relationship Building
An exceptional ability to build trust and cultivate lasting relationships with artists, curators, museum professionals, collectors, publishers, foundations, and institutional partners around the world. - Strategic Leadership
Demonstrated success developing programs that grow in quality, impact, and visibility while aligning with institutional goals. - Project Management
Outstanding organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex projects, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously. - Communication
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with strong public speaking and presentation abilities. - Event Production
Experience planning and executing large-scale professional conferences, portfolio reviews, festivals, or similar cultural events requiring careful coordination and exceptional attention to detail. - Financial Management
Experience preparing and managing budgets, monitoring expenditures, and evaluating program effectiveness. - Equity & Inclusion
Commitment to fostering equitable access, international dialogue, and diverse participation across all aspects of program development. - Technology
Proficiency with CRM/database systems, Microsoft Office Suite, virtual meeting platforms, registration software, and project management tools. - Leadership
Ability to work collaboratively across departments while supervising staff, interns, volunteers, consultants, and contractors. - Adaptability
Ability to remain calm, professional, and solutions-oriented while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. - Schedule Requirements
Availability to travel domestically and internationally several times each year. - Availability to work evenings, weekends, and select holidays during major programs and events.
- Ability to lift to 25 pounds and assist with occasional event setup and breakdown.
Salary Range
$50,000 – $62,500 annually, commensurate with experience. Medical, dental, and life insurance paid by organization. Compensation includes paid time off, holidays, and winter office closure.
About FotoFest
Founded in 1983, FotoFest is an internationally recognized nonprofit organization based in Houston, Texas, dedicated to advancing photography and lens-based art through exhibitions, education, public programs, and international exchange. The Meeting Place Portfolio Review has served as one of FotoFest’s signature programs for four decades, helping launch the careers of thousands of artists while fostering meaningful connections across the global photography community.
FotoFest is committed to creating an equitable, inclusive, and collaborative workplace and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
Deadline: 08/28/26
Location: Houston, TX
Website: https://fotofest.org/employment