Posted August 8, 2014

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation is seeking a senior level museum educator with the vision and experience to oversee a professional corps of gallery educators in the creation of dynamic, participatory learning experiences with modern and contemporary art. In addition to program management, the successful candidate will have extensive experience working with the adult museum public, providing ongoing training and professional development for gallery teaching staff and a background in fostering universal access for arts and cultural organizations.

Founded in 1937, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation is dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of art, primarily of the modern and contemporary periods, through exhibitions, education programs, research initiatives, and publications. The Guggenheim network that began in the 1970s when the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, was joined by the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, has since expanded to include the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (opened 1997) and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (currently in development). Looking to the future, the Guggenheim Foundation continues to forge international collaborations that take contemporary art, architecture, and design beyond the walls of the museum. More information about the foundation can be found at guggenheim.org.

General Responsibilities:
• Working with Visitor Services, oversee management of the daily Public Tours program
• Oversee the recruitment, training, and evaluation of Gallery Educators for Public and Private Tours with Visitor Services
• Oversee education training for the Gallery Guide program and co-manage the program with Security.
• Provide meaningful focused programs primarily for adult access audiences including content for digital media and web platforms.
• Collaborate across education programs to develop, deepen and share best practices in teaching excellence and innovation, in particular in the integration of current artistic practice into educator professional development.
• Supervise the Adult and Access Program (AAP) Coordinator.

Key Responsibilities:
Program Vision & Management
• Supervise Public Tour program including the design of intentional experiences, the cultivation of an audience, responsiveness to a diverse local and global public, and work collaboratively with Visitor Services, other frontline and communications (marketing, press, external affairs, web, interactive) staff as to daily, weekly and seasonal public updates.
• Work with AAP Coordinator, other Education Managers and Directors to design, implement and revise, as needed interpretative strategies and material, including inquiry-based models of learning.
• Remain abreast of contemporary art developments and museum teaching research to inform and invigorate meaningful audience engagement with works of art.

Trainings – Gallery Educators, Gallery Guides, Access Educators
• Sustain excellence in gallery teaching around modern and contemporary art and architecture, as well as current art and social practices through monthly and seasonal training sessions; Facilitate exhibition orientations and professional development in teaching and audience engagement strategies
• Work collaboratively with educators and education program staff to continuously update interpretive ideas and inquiry based teaching strategies around the permanent collection, building architecture, special exhibitions, and Guggenheim history.
• Develop and administer a process for on-going assessment and evaluation of teaching performance; review tour scripts as needed, observe tours, and provide comprehensive feedback for adult educators. Review timesheet submissions for Gallery Educators with AAP Coordinator and Senior Manager of Group Sales.
• Document tours/programs and maintain program statistics.

Gallery Guide Program
In addition to the above, work interdepartmentally with Security and Visitor Services and provide education leadership and advocacy for the Gallery Guide program; co-interview applicants and co-train incoming Guides with Head of Security; attend interdepartmental planning meetings, initiate/implement new policies, and work with Development to sustain program support and fundraising as needed

Access
• Act as education department representative with Security, Facilities, Legal, and Visitor Services on Museum accessibility issues.
• With the AAP Coordinator, design, attend and provide education content for twice monthly Mind’s Eye programs.
• Provide or advise on-going access training for educators as needed; as needed and able, provide/schedule/contract Access training for Visitor Services and Security staff.
• Work with the Digital Media department to create and/or hire a writer for verbal descriptions for Guggenheim APP (iPhone and iPad versions).
• Work with AAP Coordinator and Digital Media in the production of American Sign Language tours for Guggenheim APP (iPad version – initial phase in process).
• Represent the Guggenheim as part of Museum Access Consortium and at other professional conference settings, budget permitting.
• Supervise AAP Coordinator in the scheduling of ASL interpretation of “specialty” exhibition related tours (i.e. Curators and Conservators Eye Tours).
• Create and work with AAP Coordinator in the distribution of outreach materials for museum access programs to list of external community based collaborators.
Other
• Assist Deputy Director/Director of Education, Director of Public Programs and Director of School and Family Programs with general department administration including budgets, grant writing, marketing/publicity, audioguide script review and other interdepartmental tasks as needed.
• Submit tour and access program information for tri-yearly education marketing brochure
Qualifications and Requirements:
• MA in art history, art/museum education, studio art or related field; Ph.D. highly desirable
• 5-7 years museum experience in the above areas.
• Seeking a candidate with demonstrated excellence in gallery teaching methodologies, strong collaborative work history, and resourceful and proven management skills.
• Strong knowledge of modern and contemporary art, and experience implementing and evaluating interpretive strategies for gallery teaching.
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal communication, and public speaking skills
• Knowledge of computer databases and MS Office
• Proficiency in more than one language helpful

The Guggenheim offers a competitive salary and excellent medical, dental, life, disability, and retirement plan coverage. Our staff also enjoys generous vacation, sick leave and personal days, access to a variety of cultural institutions, discounts to museum stores, and a stimulating and collegial work environment.
Application Instructions
Qualified applicants please send resume and cover letter with desired salary range to employment@guggenheim.org. Please indicate “Senior Education Manager, Adult and Access Programs” in the subject line.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.