About The Role

Position

Senior Project Manager

Compensation

50,000 - 60,000 for 6 month project, with possibility to extend

Report to

Chief Operations Officer

Start Date

July 1, 2026

Independent is seeking a disciplined, hands on, Senior Project Manager to support operational planning, cross-functional coordination, and fair execution. This role works closely with management and internal departments to manage timelines, workflows, operational communications, and project delivery across Independent and Independent 20th Century. The Senior Project Manager serves as a central coordination point between teams and external partners, helping ensure projects remain organized, on schedule, and operationally aligned from planning through onsite execution. Importantly, the Senior Project Manager should be passionate about systems and processes, and willing to teach that passion to young teams. This is a leadership position in which coaching young people and shaping mindsets is key.

Key Responsibilities

Operational & Project Leadership

Lead project planning and operational coordination across multiple concurrent initiatives and fair timelines
Build and manage detailed project schedules, trackers, operational workflows, and departmental deliverables
Maintain visibility across interdependent workstreams and proactively identify operational risks, bottlenecks, and scheduling conflicts
Drive accountability across teams and ensure timely follow-through on action items and deliverables
Support operational decision-making and escalation management during high-pressure project phases
Provide strategic leadership through effective coaching and mentorship

Cross-Functional Coordination

Serve as a central point of coordination between leadership and internal departments including production, exhibitor relations, marketing, VIP, programming, and operations
Lead recurring cross-department meetings and maintain clear communication across stakeholders
Ensure operational consistency and alignment across internal systems, timelines, and communications
Support implementation and refinement of internal workflows, processes, and project management systems

Fair Operations & Vendor Management

Coordinate with production consultant, contractors, vendors, and service providers throughout planning and onsite execution
Support fair installation, live event operations, troubleshooting, and breakdown logistics
Oversee operational readiness across departments during active fair periods
Assist in managing onsite issue resolution and real-time operational problem-solving

Reporting & Administrative Oversight

Maintain organized operational documentation, reports, schedules, and project archives
Support leadership with reporting, planning, and postmortem processes
Assist with onboarding and knowledge transfer processes during transition periods
Assist with financial true ups and vendor payments

Systems

Drive protocols for using systems across the organization (ie Hubspot, Monday.com, Slack, Dropbox)
Develop and maintain rules around system usage & maintenance
Work with stakeholders and consultants on transitions from legacy systems to updated systems

Qualifications

10+ years of experience in project management, event operations, exhibition management, live events, or related operational leadership roles
Strong experience managing complex cross-functional projects with multiple stakeholders and overlapping deadlines
Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments
Strong judgment, prioritization, and escalation management capabilities
Experience managing vendors, production timelines, and operational logistics
Proficiency with project management platforms such as Monday.com, Asana, Airtable
Proficiency with office systems such as Google Workspace, Microsoft Office
Proficiency with CRM systems such as Hubspot, Salesforce, or similar platforms
Experience within art fairs, exhibitions, galleries, cultural organizations, hospitality, or live events valued

Independent Art Fair

New Jobs

Senior Project Manager