Description

This position is a state government position at the North Carolina Museum of Art, a part of the NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. To be considered for the position, you must apply through the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources website and find the official job listing (job number 16-07370 ADM60083728) at: www.oshr.nc.gov/jobs/ by the closing date of 8/25/16 at 5:00pm.

The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) seeks qualified candidates to fill the role of Director of Programs and Audience Engagement. Leading the museum’s efforts to provide meaningful experiences with art to diverse audiences onsite, online and in the larger community, the Director of Programs and Audience Engagement will work directly with the Museum Director and other senior leaders to develop new strategies for programming, engagement, and learning.  To accomplish these goals the Director of Programs and Audience Engagement will lead a team of professional staff to plan and execute the efforts of the Education and Public Programs Department, whose focus is to develop innovative programs and experiences that encourage and support the engagement of visitors with the museum’s expanded mission of art and nature.

Expectations:

In partnership with the Museum Director, the Director of Programs and Audience Engagement will conceive and organize instructional and public programs that engage the Museum’s audiences creatively and effectively.   Serving as a cultural change agent and conduit for translating the Museum’s overall vision into action, the Director of Programs and Audience Engagement will have primary day-to-day responsibility for integrating the work of the Education and Public Programs team of the Museum and developing innovative interpretative tools designed to offer meaningful learning opportunities for all visitors.

Understanding the particular needs of NCMA audiences will allow the Director to design and develop relevant and innovative experiences and methods that facilitate engagement of visitors with the museum’s rich collections, programs, and the Museum Park.  Successful candidates will demonstrate a deep understanding of how to engage cross-generational and diverse audiences (including targeted emphasis on millennials and families), with a welcoming and accessible approach.  Experience in interpretative tool development and design is a necessity. The Director will also serve as an advocate for program development and critical thinking in schools, leading staff in partnerships with K-12 and university programs that positively impact our communities state-wide.

The Director of Programs and Audience Engagement will work collaboratively with the Director of Marketing and Visitor Relations to integrate data collection and assessment into programs to ensure improvement and growth.  He/she will base their work on current research and best practices in the fields of museum education, art history, and visitor studies, evaluating their results both qualitatively and quantitatively to determine approaches that best meet the goals of the museum.

In partnership with the Museum Director, the Director of Programs and Audience Engagement will work collaboratively with the Chief Curator and the Exhibitions Management team to conceive and develop interpretive strategies and programs for temporary and permanent exhibition across the Museum’s campus to attract new audiences and develop new revenue sources for the Museum. He or she will participate as a critical member of a cross-functional program committee of senior staff to evaluate program opportunities that best meet the strategic and financial objectives of the organization as a whole.

In addition to the day-to-day operations of the Education and Public Programs team, the Director of Programs and Audience Engagement will initiate, plan, and manage a diverse portfolio of grants that support the efforts of the department. Establishing collaborative relationships and an audience-centric direction for the department will allow the Director of Programs to successfully pursue opportunities for additional grant funding in partnership with the Development team for educational and public program initiatives. Working in partnership with the Development team, the Director of Programs and Audience Engagement will assist in the cultivation of donors and general fundraising activities to benefit the Education and Public Programs area.

The Director of Programs and Audience Engagement will pursue and develop successful professional relationships with peers in a broad cross-section of museum departments ensuring that the efforts of the Education and Public Programs department are well-coordinated across the organization, and are supportive of NCMA’s larger mission and strategic objectives.  They will also represent the museum in professional, academic and social forums with local, regional, national and international colleagues and the broader cultural community, playing a key role in advancing the museum’s reputation and profile.

Requirements:

Qualified candidates will possess a Master’s degree (M. A.) in Art Education, Art History or equivalent, as well as a minimum of 10 years of experience in education and/or public programming within a cultural setting. Proven experience developing creative approaches for working with adults, families, schools, teachers, and general audiences is an imperative. Candidates will possess strong leadership skills and a proven track record as a competent manager with sophisticated skills in problem-solving, organizational strategy, and budget creation and management. Direct experience managing staff and/or similarly complex project management skills required. Serious candidates will be excellent communicators and listeners with particular skills in written communication and oral presentation. The Director of Programs and Audience Engagement will represent NCMA in matters concerning museum education, programming, and visitor experience both onsite and online. Strong skills in project management and collaboration are required and should be clearly evident in the applicant’s application, CV, and cover letter.

Essential Job Functions include the following:

To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Professional Responsibilities:

Works in team-driven environment within the Education and Public Programs department, and cross-departmentally in the museum to carry out projects and resolve problems.  Is capable of leading when necessary without direct authority. Manages projects, maintaining and meeting deadlines, with strong skills at prioritizing and multi-tasking. Is flexible and resourceful. Anticipates needs of other senior management and the department. Maintains a professional demeanor, particularly when dealing with the public, board, members, donors or other important constituents.

Partnership Opportunities:

Exhibits interest in the larger museum and art community and seeks out opportunities to become involved, foster relationships and create partnership opportunities when appropriate.

Other duties may be assigned.

Education, Experience, and Skills:

Advanced degree in Education or Art History expected.

Proven track record in museum programming and education as a thought-leader with experience in written and oral presentation of results.

Experience in analyzing primary visitor research with an understanding of both qualitative and quantitative methods of evaluation.

Experience in developing innovative and effective interpretive tools that engage audiences of all ages and interests.

Project Management:

Talented project manager with proven experience running and successfully completing large-scale projects.

Language:

Excellent English language and writing skills; proficiency in other languages is a plus.

Financial:

Ability to maintain comprehensive departmental budgets, able to understand and appropriately forecast both expense and revenue, and a proven ability at working within a budget given dynamic operating conditions.

Reasoning Ability:

Prioritizes to meet deadlines. Contemplates larger issues and ideas, while also thinking logically to maintain consistency and accuracy in work.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk and hear; to use arms, hands and fingers to handle and/or reach. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and climb stairs throughout the day. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the position.