Job Description

The Albright-Knox Art Gallery is the sixth-oldest art museum in the United States and home to a world-renowned collection of modern and contemporary art. As a hub of artistic and cultural energies, it strives to be an inspiring educational resource for all audiences and is dedicated to enhancing the understanding and appreciation of modern and contemporary art

Position Summary

The Director of Education and Community Engagement is responsible for the vision, development, implementation, and ongoing management of the Museum’s diverse educational initiatives, serving ages from infancy to adulthood as well as audiences with special accessibility needs. Working in close collaboration with the AK’s Curatorial, Public Art, Advancement, and Communications departments, as well as the AK’s Innovation Lab, the Director of Education will help expand the AK’s regional impact and enhance its national stature as a leading voice in contemporary museum education. Refinement of existing programs and the strategic development of new ones during an exciting and transformative period in the Museum’s history are primary to this senior management position. The Director of Education and Community Engagement reports directly to the Director of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and is expected to be an active participant in the Museum’s Management Group.

We seek a seasoned educator, an effective leader, a collaborative team player, and an innovator thinker who is devoted to the transformative capacity of visual art and committed to realizing the museum’s mission through diverse educational programming and community engagement. As the public face of the AK’s education program and a member of the senior management team, the Director of Education and Community Engagement will provide strong leadership within the organization and in the community at large.

Principal Responsibilities

General:

  • Work in close partnership with the Director of the AK to create, manage, and lead the development of all the Museum’s education, community engagement, interpretation, and other related programs.
  • Work in close collaboration with diverse stakeholders and partners, both within the Museum and beyond, to ensure maximum program efficacy.
  • Plan, develop, implement, and manage assigned budgets and allocation of resources.
  • Generate, enhance and support opportunities for earned and contributed revenue through programs, services, gifts, and grants in close collaboration with the Advancement and Curatorial teams.
  • Help foster a culture of open communication and spirited collaboration among all Museum departments through effective leadership.
  • Design and support internal training initiatives for all staff and volunteers.
  • Identify, recruit, and hire highly skilled educators and appropriately train, supervise, and evaluate their performance according to the highest museum standards.

Management:

  • Oversee the daily operations of the Education Department, including adult and childhood education, lectures, public programs, art classes, school and teacher programs, community programs, and accessibility programming.
  • Oversee docent and other volunteer training programs.
  • Oversee scheduling of education programs and special events in close collaboration with relevant departments.
  • Plan, develop, and implement a diverse yearly schedule of program offerings, including onsite programs and partnerships as well as external outreach initiatives.
  • In collaboration with other departments such as Curatorial, Public Art, and Publications, develop innovative and targeted programming plans that enhance the Museum’s reach and impact.
  • Oversee and provide leadership for the creation of high-quality education exhibitions drawn from internal and external sources that reflect the museum’s education and visitor engagement goals.
  • Develop initiatives for educational impact in the community and schools and develop and help support initiatives for arts-infused, visual literacy curricula.

Interpretation:

  • Oversee and lead the development of comprehensive interpretation plans for the Museum’s collections, exhibitions, and architecture.
  • In close collaboration with Curatorial and other relevant departments, oversee the museum’s audio guide and other education-driven digital interpretive tools.
  • Create a diverse offering of interpretation vehicles in print, online, and through interactive programs.
  • In collaboration with the Publications and Communications departments, maintain the Museum’s unique voice through all interpretive communications.
  • Assess new opportunities for digital interpretation in collaboration with the Publications and Communications departments.
  • Sustain and develop a robust portfolio of interpretive aids that address the needs of adults, youths, teens, families, teachers, students, and those with special accessibility needs.

Community Engagement:

  • Assess and strategically expand the audiences reached by the museum’s education programming.
  • Enhance the visibility of the AK by representing the Museum in local, regional, national, and international museum arenas and by making appropriate contributions to the field.
  • Function as an active liaison for visitor engagement across all facets of the Museum’s operations, including both onsite and offsite programming.
  • Serve as the Museum’s representative in the educational community and the community at large, ensuring that the Museum enjoys a lively and productive relationship with educators and the education community locally and regionally and with the museum education community nationally.

Job Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree in art history, museum studies or management, curatorial studies, or art education.
  • Engaged knowledge of Modern and Contemporary art practices and history.
  • Expert knowledge of current practices in museum/community education, interpretation, and audience engagement.

Work Experience:

  • Five to ten years of progressive leadership in the museum field, with relevant experience in museum education/interpretation, guest services, public programs, curating, community engagement or related specialization.

Skills and Abilities:

  • Exemplary written, verbal, and listening communication skills and a demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and professionally.
  • Ability to generate and balance visionary thinking with practical, results-oriented approaches.
  • Sensitivity to situational dynamics (when to lead and when to follow).
  • Demonstrated problem-solving and collaboration skills as well as understanding and use of diplomacy.
  • Strong staff management and mentoring skills.
  • Superior project management skills, including organizing, multi-tasking, and prioritization.
  • Highly developed public speaking skills and comfort in the role of public spokesperson.
  • Skilled in representing museums in different media (social media, TV, printed media, etc.)
  • Active curiosity about new technologies and avenues for interpretation.
  • Self-directed, able to work independently and efficiently.
  • Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality and discretion.
  • Understand and maintain highest ethical standards related to organizational responsibilities and public accountability.
  • Ability to create and successfully manage multiple annual budgets.
  • Evening and weekend hours required.
  • Proficient computer skills in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Database and additional software knowledge preferred.

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