Employment Opportunity:

Head of Interpretation & Engagement

 

About the Museum

The Rubin Museum of Art is a dynamic environment that stimulates learning, promotes understanding, and inspires personal connections to the ideas, cultures, and art of Himalayan Asia.

 

Now in its second decade, the Rubin welcomes over 175,000 visitors annually and has a growing membership of more than 4,000 households. Contained within five floors of galleries are several long-term rotating installations drawn from the permanent collection as well as frequent short-term loan exhibitions that are more broadly conceived in concept, art, geography, medium, and time. The Museum presents over 250 films, performances, and on-stage conversations annually as well as a robust roster of other educational initiatives. The ground floor is free-to-all and is a lively nexus for conversation, shopping, and refreshment.

 

The Museum’s collection includes over 3,000 objects spanning more than 1,500 years up to the present day. Renowned for its quality and depth, the collection focuses on art from the Tibetan Plateau and is broadened by a significant number of important examples from surrounding regions, including Nepal, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, and Mongolia.

 

About the Position

The Head of Interpretation & Engagement is responsible for Admissions, volunteer guides (docents), as well as for all educational resources presented in support of engagement and gallery learning for audiences. The role also oversees, impacts, and guides key areas of Exhibition development, including generating concepts, reviewing content, and mediating interdepartmental decisions affecting interpretation. The Head of Interpretation & Engagement reports to the Director of Programs & Engagement, and will work with the curators and other staff to create and implement exhibition and collection related initiatives including exhibitions texts, interpretive didactics, educational content, gallery resources, as well as supervising docent and guide training. Interpretive materials will address overall Museum strategic goals and provide a bridge between scholarly and general audiences.

 

RESPONSIBLITIES:

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

·     Supervises the engagement of visitors.

·     Oversees the training of staff and docents.

·     Oversees the staffing and training of the Admissions & Engagement Associates.

·     Oversees the staffing and implementation of Access programs.

·     Manages the interpretive development of exhibition themes in collaboration with the curators and executive staff.

·     Collaborates with the curatorial staff (and consultants) in the creation and detailed development of specific exhibition themes, and for the creation and/or approval of all didactic components contained therein.

·     Works closely with the Director of Exhibitions and others responsible for exhibition implementation to assure that the exhibition themes and ideas set forth are accomplished professionally, with attention to clarity, quality and detail, in a timely and efficient manner.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

·     Graduate degree in related field (art history or museum education) and museum experience preferred.

·     Knowledge of Buddhist Art or Asian studies preferred.

·     Excellent verbal and written skills are essential.

·     Proven track record in developing, implementing, and evaluating educational programs in a museum setting.

·     Working knowledge of informal learning theory and practice, museum visitor studies, social studies, and art education.

·     Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to work with colleagues, trustees, volunteers, and community leaders.

·     Interest or experience in developing digital interactives.

·     Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with a diverse range of groups and organizations.

·     Demonstrated ability to manage and coordinate a team.

·     Strong ability to be creative and think critically.

·     Self-starter with strong organizational skills.

·     Ability to multitask and meet deadlines in a fast-paced working environment.

 

Salary:

·     Commensurate with experience.

·     Competitive and attractive benefits package.

 

Please provide the following as part of your application:

·     Complete resume, including salary history and salary requirements.

·     A cover letter addressing both your interest in the Rubin Museum, and your qualifications for this position.

 

Applications:

·     Indicate Head of Interpretation & Engagement on the Subject Line of email or in body of cover letter.

·     Applications in electronic format preferred, and accepted at jobs@rubinmuseum.org

·     Mailed applications – Manager, Human Resources, Rubin Museum of Art, 150 West 17th Street, New York, New York 10011