Palm Springs Art Museum Hiring for Chief Education & Community Engagement Officer Job at Palm Springs, CA Full Time

Position Description
Chief Education and Community Engagement Officer
Department: Education and Community Engagement

Reports to: Executive Director/ CEO

Summary: This individual will develop and manage the museum’s educational, community-building and public program activities.

Overview

The Palm Springs Art Museum returned from a long COVID closure with a new Executive Director / CEO and we are coming in strong to our next stage of growth and impact. We are looking for someone who wants to be a part of our executive team and work with us to influence the evolution of our institution and our region, the Coachella Valley, which is a special and diverse place.

We are looking for a builder, or more accurately, an architect-builder, who can collaborate with the Executive Director to develop a vision and create the department and programming that enables robust community engagement. We want someone whose background and interests go beyond running family, school, youth, and adult programs. He/She/They should be able to see how all of those activities help build an inclusive community around the museum, create lasting relationships with diverse audiences, and foster a sense of belonging among all audiences. This position is for someone who likes to ask “”Why “and goes beyond a museum academic. It is for someone who can not only think strategically about the purpose of programming but stay focused on the horizon of where we want the programming to take us and inspire a team to help us get there.

Finally, we are looking for someone willing to roll up their sleeves and work with limited resources until we are able to build the institutional capacity to match our ambitions.

We need someone willing to design the ship while sailing, someone who wants to be part of a passionate group determined to do something impactful, advance an institution in its evolution, and make a difference in a region.

About Palm Springs Art Museum

Founded in 1938, the Palm Springs Art Museum has 150,000 sq. ft. of exhibition, library, archives, storage, theater, office, and support space, divided between its main building and the Architecture and Design Center. The Museum collects in seven different fields and presents special exhibitions and selections from its permanent collection. It presents lectures and workshops, performances, and other public programs, many of them in the 428-seat Annenberg Theater. The Museum has approximately 55 paid employees and almost 200 volunteers, with an annual operating budget of approximately $8.5 million.

Essential Functions/Specific Responsibilities:

• Partner with Executive Director / CEO to create a comprehensive vision for youth and adult programming, prioritizing, and articulating the museum’s approach towards family, teacher/school, after-school, teen, community-building, lifelong learning, gallery interpretation, events, theater and docent programs;
• Oversee all departmental activities; develop and execute the plan that works towards achieving the vision;
• Recruit, train, manage and mentor staff, including program managers, instructors and administrative support;
• Develop and oversee programming budgets;
• Cultivate and nurture strategic partnerships; collaborate with community organizations, artists, and other institutions; act as community liaison;
• Provide input on all areas of museum operations as a member of the executive team;
• Support the museum’s commitment to diversity, equity, access, and inclusion in every dimension of the job, including programming, staffing, and workplace environment;
• Serve as liaison for the docent group; develop and implement docent training and policy;
• Ideate the museum’s interpretive strategies; review extended labels and other communications for accessibility;
• Collaborate with staff in all other departments, including curatorial staff on artist and exhibition-related programs, advancement staff to secure funding for education programs and present membership focused programs, and marketing team to promote educational programs;
• Represent the museum locally and nationally on issues related to art and education;
• Present on education matters to the Board of Trustees; liaise with Trustees where appropriate; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Who Should Apply

The Palm Springs Art Museum encourages people with different work experiences and backgrounds to apply.

Qualified candidates will have a passion for learning and community-building and believe in the capacity for art and art museums to change people’s lives and impact the health of communities.

The successful candidate will be both a strategic and nurturing leader. He/She/They will have the ability to set clear expectations and priorities, delegate and manage appropriately, and take a professional and analytic approach to all issues. The candidate will also be an inclusive leader, interested in a wide range of perspectives, and capable of uniting a team around a shared vision. This individual should be willing to mentor others, foster growth throughout the organization, and help nurture a culture of kindness and empathy.

The Chief Education and Community Engagement Officer will have the ability to establish a rapport with people across the entire museum network, including board members, docents, volunteers, community leaders, donors, students, and families.

The successful candidate will demonstrate their creativity and willingness to think beyond traditional museum solutions.

The Chief Education and Community Engagement Officer will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and demonstrate a willingness to collaborate with others across all levels of the institution and community. He/She/They will exemplify the values the museum aims to promote, which include being inclusive, authentic, open-minded, respectful, and creative.

Qualified candidates will demonstrate a commitment to antiracism and the values of diversity and equity. He/She/They will exemplify the museum’s ambition to represent all segments of our diverse community in all of our activities.

The successful candidate will have demonstrated their ability to work with communities, outside of formal institutions. Knowledge of Coachella Valley communities is a plus.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in education
• Advanced degree in arts, education, humanities, or social sciences
• Strong email, calendar, Microsoft Office, and Google Apps skills
• Strong research, budgeting, and communications skills
• Efficient general computer, social media, and internet savviness
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Attention to detail, punctuality, and top-tier reliability
• Proactive work ethic and drive to push tasks and projects forward with minimal handholding
• Ability to learn quickly and adapt in an ever-changing startup environment
• Adaptable and versatile to changing circumstances and situations
• Effective communication skills

Compensation and Benefits:

The Museum provides a competitive salary, commensurate with experience. The Museum also provides a competitive salary and benefits package; including medical and dental insurance (HMO and PPO options), vision, life insurance, and Aflac options. After six months employees are eligible to participate in the 401 (k) plan. We also offer vacation pay, generous paid holidays and paid sick leave, as well as free membership in the Museum.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Access and Inclusion:

Palm Springs Art Museum strives to create an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environment that honors all experiences and identities. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff and are looking for a candidate that represents the diversity of our staff, visitors and community.

Applying: Qualified candidates should submit a letter of introduction and resume with CECEO in the subject line. The position will remain open until filled. All applications received by March 31, 2022 will be fully reviewed.

Classification: Full time, Exempt

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Bachelor’s (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver’s License (Preferred)

Work Location: One location