*POSITION DESCRIPTION*

*DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION*

*NEWARK MUSEUM*

*NEWARK, NEW JERSEY*

*BACKGROUND         *

The Newark Museum complex, the largest in New Jersey, consists of 80
galleries of art and natural science, as well as the Dreyfuss Planetarium,
the Old Stone Schoolhouse dating to 1784 and the Ballantine House, a
restored 1885 mansion that has been designated a National Historic Landmark
as well as gift shops, a cafe, auditorium and sculpture garden. The Museum
has extensive collections of American art (with strengths in
African-American, folk and outsider, Hudson River School and American
modernism), decorative arts, contemporary art and the arts of Asia, Africa
and the Americas. Its Tibetan collection is among the finest in the world
while the Natural Science collection houses more than 70,000 specimens.

Education and community service have been hallmarks of the Newark Museum
since its inception in 1909. The Museum was founded by John Cotton Dana, a
renowned librarian and museologist whose objective was to make the library
relevant to the daily lives of the citizens and to promote the benefits of
reading. The Museum was established as a museum for the citizens of Newark
and as ³a good museum that attracts, entertains arouses curiosity, leads to
questioning- and thus promotes learning.²

The Museum is today and always has been a center for education and service
as articulated in its vision statement:

·       The Newark Museum operates, as it has since its founding, in the
public trust as a museum of service, a leader in connecting objects and
ideas to the needs and wishes of its constituencies.  We believe that our
art and science collections have the power to educate, inspire and
transform individuals of all ages, and the local, regional national an
international communities that we serve.

In 2012, the combined art and science education departments of the Newark
Museum served 327,000 adults and students through curriculum-based arts,
science and humanities programs in the galleries and in classrooms
throughout the State. The Newark Museum ranks among the top museum-based
educational institutions in North America, based on percentage of budget
allocated to this area of operations, and its nearly 100 year-old track
record of leadership in the field.  Assuring the continuance and excellence
of The Newark Museum¹s historic commitment to community access and
education is of paramount importance.  Equally important is the creation of
new cutting-edge mission-based initiatives to serve the education audience
of the 21st century.

The Museum¹s exhibition program is equally active and versatile, bringing
significant national touring exhibitions to Newark as well as distinguished
exhibitions organized by its curatorial staff.  Recent exhibitions
include *African
Cosmos; In Her Eyes: Women Behind and in Front of the Camera; Angels and
Tomboys: Girlhood in 19th Century America; Nano: The Science of the Super
Small; China¹s China: Porcelain, Earthenware, Stoneware and Glazes; the
Teapot.*

Among new education initiatives are:  Maker Space, Camp Newark Museum and
Science Explorers Program.

Governed by a Board of the Newark Museum Association, this is a both a
public and private institution. The Museum employs 106 full time and 175
part time staff (many within the education division). The Museum operates
with a budget of $13 million and the 2012 Education Department budget was
$1,400,000

*The position:*

The position of Deputy Director for Education and Interpretation is at the
highest level of institutional management and will be responsible for
implementing the vision, and managing the operations of an
interdisciplinary museum education department that specializes in art,
natural science and the humanities The Deputy Director will envision and
implement strategies that continue to leverage the Newark Museum¹s unique
and varied collections to enhance the museum¹s ability to attract,
entertain, arouse curiosity, promote questioning– and thus promote
learning.

SCOPE AND Responsibilities:

The Deputy Director for Education and Interpretation is responsible for
assuring that the Newark Museum fulfills its educational mission to the
fullest extent possible and that it continually anticipates and exceeds the
expectations of all the museum¹s constituents in the area of education.  To
achieve this, the Deputy Director for Education and Interpretation is
responsible for three broad areas: Innovative Leadership & Program
Implementation, Administrative Management, and External Relations.

*Innovative Leadership and Program Implementation:*

* *

– Lead the museum¹s new approach to interdisciplinary museum education.

– Ensure that the Newark Museum addresses key issues in museum education
by the constant monitoring of program effectiveness, conducting
evaluation
and seeking timely information on constituents¹ needs and being aware of
innovations in museum education.

– Explore a balance between continuing popular programs and offering new
program initiatives designed to address new educational challenges,
community challenges and diverse populations-aligning such efforts with
institutional and departmental missions, goals and objectives.

– Provide guidance in the development and design of education activities
so that they are effective with teachers, school administrators and
curriculum requirements.

– Serve or assign designee to serve on creative development teams for
science and art exhibitions.

– Guide public programs of the institution, working collaboratively with
interpretation and curatorial staff to evaluate programs for quality,
audience attendance, and educational content and cost effectiveness.

– Address the extension of the Newark Museum education brand through new
media

– Manage departmental special projects as they emerge, which may include
special exhibitions, special community events, grant-funded initiatives
and museum education research projects.
– Oversee, write and develop a full range of interpretive materials
including brochures, audio guides, advanced technology aids and other
educational tools.

– Actively participate in fund raising, grant-writing and related
development activities to support education at the Newark Museum

– Guide the Trustee Education Committee as a major support and
networking vehicle

* *

*Administrative Management:*

– Provide responsible, forward-thinking leadership to build the internal
infrastructure and the external alliances that support the Newark
Museum¹s
goals and opportunities for growth.

– Integrate policy, programs and accountability within the department,
promoting collaboration, efficiency, institutional unity and vision, as
well as the highest standards of content and pedagogy.

– Serve as a collegial and productive member of the Newark Museum¹s
senior executive team.

– Manage all full- and part-time education staff as well as docents and
other volunteers to ensure the smooth operation of all aspects of the
department; recruit, train, coach and evaluate staff.

– Oversee development, implementation and continuous monitoring of the
education department budget.

– Work closely with the Development Office to maintain and enhance
existing relationships with major funders of the Newark Museum¹s
education
programs while also seeking out and building new alliances with
corporations, foundations and individuals for education resources.

– Working with Marketing and other senior staff, communicate the Newark
Museum¹s programs to the schools, parents and young people of New Jersey
in
order to build audiences and expand the reach of Education.

* *

* *

* *

*External Relations:*

* *

– Maintain close ties to educators in Newark Public Schools and other
New Jersey school systems, regional art and science educators’
organizations, universities, community leaders and participants in the
community and region who use the Museum’s programs to ensure that
offerings continue to meet their needs and interests.

* *

– Expand the museum’s professional connections and visibility in the
field of museum education regionally and nationally, thus strengthening
the Museum’s reputation as a leader in informal education in Newark and
New
Jersey.

– Be an active representative of The Newark Museum, the department and
museum education at the local, state and national levels and maintain a
high professional profile.

eXPERIENCE / COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of seven years experience and a
clear record of achievement in developing and implementing innovative
education programs. S/he will be imaginative and a leader with deep passion
for the visual arts and natural sciences.  He/she will be an experienced
and effective manager who will bring to the position a high degree of
energy and creativity as well as the analytical, organizational and
personal qualities that will inspire enthusiasm and cooperation from all of
the museum¹s constituencies. S/he must be able to work effectively with
curators to help implement interpretive plans that make the exhibitions
accessible to all.

* *

*Specific characteristics include:*

·       Visionary, entrepreneurial, dynamic leader:

–        At least seven years of experience leading and managing an
education department;

–        Experienced manager of people with the skills to successfully
hire, train and mentor those in the department;

–        Collegial attitude and the ability to become a supportive and
collaborative member of the Museum¹s senior management team;

–        Ability to command respect and trust among staff, peers, board and
funders;

·       Excellent oral and verbal communication skills:

–        Ability to represent the museum among educators, artists,
government officials, individual donors, foundation and corporate
executives;

–        Good fundraising skills and an interest in, and willingness to
participate in, fundraising;

–        Politically adept, working with civic leaders and government
administrators.

–        Interest and ability to become part of the Newark and greater New
Jersey communities.

·       Strong organizational skills:

–        Proven ability to manage multi-million dollar budgets;

–        Demonstrated success in strategic planning and improving
infrastructure for greater impact and effectiveness;

·       Significant content knowledge in art and/or science:

–        Experience in education leadership at the national level, either
serving on Boards or Advisory Boards of major education associations,
schools, festivals and similar entities;

–        Strong advocate of interdisciplinary education;

* *

*EDUCATION:*

·       Minimum of master¹s degree in relevant area, such as a M.Ed.,
Master¹s in Museum Education, Master¹s in Museum Studies, or other
M.A/M.S/MFA.

*COMPENSATION:*

·       The position will offer a competitive salary and a good benefit
package.

*START DATE:* Summer/Fall 2013

*PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION:*

* *

Send resume and cover letter indicating interest and qualifications as well
as the names of three references to:

Diane Frankel or Linda Sweet

Management Consultants for the Arts

Email to: Mcawall2@gmail.com