The Gerry Grout Director of Education and Engagement
Phoenix Art Museum is looking for the perfect candidate to serve as our next Gerry Grout Director of Education and Engagement to lead the Museum's educational and engagement efforts through the development and management of its educational, public-outreach, interpretation, volunteer, and library activities.
OVERVIEW
Phoenix Art Museum seeks a seasoned educator and museum professional to lead its education and community engagement initiatives into the new decade ahead. The museum has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic and a period of organizational transition with an eye toward future growth and the development of new and emerging audiences in the Greater Phoenix community and beyond. The museum seeks a leader in the field of education, community engagement, interpretation, and public programming, who can mentor a new team of museum professionals, and develop a strategic plan that will guide the museum's educational and engagement initiatives for the future. As member of the Senior Leadership Team, and in collaboration with staff, volunteers, and Trustees, serve as a principal facilitator in the design and implementation of a fully integrated diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion initiative that will impact all aspects of museum life. The ideal candidate is a resourceful, empathetic, thoughtful, and dynamic leader who can build capacity to grow, innovate, and impact the diverse community we serve in imaginative, engaging, and meaningful ways. Finally, the museum seeks a professional who will cultivate and nurture strong relationships with colleagues and community partners, both internally and externally, leveraging the museum's nearly 65-year history while reimagining existing programs and activities to be more inclusive and serving as a good steward of museum resources held in the public trust.
MAIN JOB DUTIES
- In partnership with the Director and CEO, design comprehensive strategic goals and objectives for education and community engagement programs and initiatives that support the expansion of new audiences, deepen the visitor's experience and understanding of museum exhibitions and collections, and integrate principles of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion.
- Mentor, guide, and manage a staff of six within the museum's Education, Engagement, and Library Division.
- Oversee and collaborate with the Associate Curator of Education to create and present innovative educational and public programs in relation to the Museum's collection and exhibitions and create new programs that can attract new funding partners and community partnerships.
- Advance the museum's capacity to engage and partner with external individuals and communities, addressing inclusion and social justice issues, while building an equitable sense of belonging for all.
- Oversee the Education Outreach Manager and the large, active Docent volunteer-educator program, help to guide all activities and ensure the program aligns with goals, objectives, vision, mission, and values of the museum.
- Serve as the primary education editor for the museum's interpretation program for exhibitions and gallery installations, working closely with the curatorial team and communications departments to ensure gallery content, didactics, and object labels offer an opportunity for inclusive engagement for all visitors of varying degrees of art literacy.
- Oversee and support the Head Librarian of the Lemon Art Research Library, providing guidance on programming, collections, and exhibitions in the museum's Ballinger Interactive Gallery.
- Partner with the Development Division to search for and identify funding opportunities to support the education and community programs and the larger mission of the museum through grants, collaborative efforts, individual donors and other community funders.
- Develop on-going means to encourage and welcome new audiences in collaboration with the Education and Engagement team and the External Affairs Division.
- Serve as the lead facilitator, in partnership with the Director and CEO and the Deputy Director, for the museum's diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion efforts, including staff liaison to museum-wide DEIA committee.
- Serve as liaison to other educational and arts and cultural organizations, locally and nationally.
- Serve as liaison to the committees of the Board of Trustees as assigned.
- Serve as a member of the museum's Senior Leadership Team, helping to execute upon the institution's vision, mission, and values.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in art history, art education, museum studies, fine arts, education, or related field. Master's degree preferred.
- Minimum of ten years' related museum experience, demonstrating increasing responsibility, and a minimum of five years' supervisory experience.
Knowledge of:
- A wide range of arts and culture pedagogy with demonstrated success in arts and cultural education and engagement.
- Art history, including more specialized knowledge of modern and contemporary art, American and Western American art, Asian art, European art, Latin American art, photography, or fashion design.
Skill and ability to:
- Provide effective leadership, vision, and strategic direction while inspiring and motivating staff and volunteers.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of representatives of public and private organizations, boards, foundations, commissions, support groups, Museum staff, and the general public.
- Exhibit excellent managerial, planning, organizational, and administrative skills including budgeting and grants management; strong interpersonal, written, and oral communications skills; advanced presentation and problem-solving skills.
- Provide excellent teaching skills and the ability to work effectively with a broad range of museum audiences.
- Develop engaging and exciting public programs that entice new audiences.
- Edit, review, and advise curatorial staff on interpretive materials and didactics.
Job Status: full-time, exempt, regular
EOE