Manager of Community Outreach & Public Programs

Description:

MOCA’s Manager of Community Outreach & Public Programs will oversee community outreach initiatives and partnerships, as well as on-site public programs, including those related to exhibitions. The successful candidate will recommend community impact goals for the museum and suggest strategies for deepening public and civic engagement. Key qualities for this position include excellent verbal communication and negotiation skills, high emotional intelligence, and attention to details and systems, along with experience with planning convenings and public programming. Strong candidates will have demonstrated diplomacy skills and a working knowledge of inclusionary practices, along with the ability to prioritize communities impacted by structural or systemic barriers in developing programs. As a member of the Public Engagement, Learning & Impact team, this full-time position plays an important role in MOCA’s organizational structure and is made possible with seed funding from the Leadership in Art Museums initiative, a collaboration between the Alice L. Walton Foundation, Ford Foundation, Mellon Foundation, and Pilot House Philanthropy designed to advance equity within museum leadership roles. The Manager of Community Outreach & Public Programs will support the museum’s efforts at building reciprocal relationships with local communities in order to deepen MOCA’s role as a civic partner and good neighbor, and grow a thriving, diverse community around and within MOCA. This position will support MOCA’s aim of developing programs that advance equity and impact while supporting art and artists.

Essential Functions

• Working closely with the Chief of Public Engagement, Learning & Impact (CPELI), as well as PELI and Curatorial colleagues, develop, execute, and evaluate a well-balanced roster of mission-driven programs (both in-person and online) that support MOCA exhibitions and collections, as well as its education and environmental initiatives, to create long-lasting, impactful relationships between the museum and its diverse publics.
• Work with The Maurice Marciano Director, Chief of Public Engagement, Learning & Impact, Chief Curator & Director of Curatorial Affairs, Chief Communications Officer, and Director of Education to integrate strategic goals—especially those related to exhibition, collection, and education into MOCA’s public engagement.
• Oversee on-site set-up and run-of-show for a wide range of in-person programs; ensure events run smoothly and that both external collaborators and MOCA staff are fully informed and prepared.
• Manage contracts with program participants; arrange travel as well as artist, performer, and speaker service provisions.
• In collaboration with the Chief of Public Engagement, Learning & Impact, develop and manage public programs budgets, and closely track expenses.
• Work cross-departmentally with staff in support areas including Audio Visual, Visitor Engagement, Facilities, and Security to realize planned programs and initiatives; engage with existing systems and, where appropriate, recommend improvements.
• In consultation with colleagues in Curatorial; Advancement; and Public Engagement, Learning & Impact, identify potential audiences for specific exhibitions/programs.
• Broker inclusive conversations with MOCA’s interpretive, programming, communications, operations, and events teams to ensure community concerns are taken into account, and with external representatives as needed.
• Occasionally represent MOCA in community meetings and other public forums involving key constituent communities.
• Make recommendations for potential for exhibition- or topic-specific advisory groups as needed.
• Participate in and support promotional efforts around Community Engagement and Public Programs in tandem with the Communications team.
• Ensure that public programming reflects the museum’s strategic goals around audience outreach, development, and expansion.
• Other projects as needed.

Requirements:

• Exceptional organizational and project management skills
• Very good communication skills, written and oral; confidence in public speaking
• At least 3 years of professional experience in community-based program development and project management in the non-profit cultural sector
• Deep knowledge of contemporary art practices and of the museum field, locally, nationally, and internationally
• Demonstrated record of successfully fostering connections with artistic partners, program attendees, cultural organizations, and community groups, and of serving as a liaison between an institution and the public.
• Must be highly detail-oriented, hands-on, and enterprising when it comes to production
• Proficiency with Google applications, Microsoft office software, and project management tools such as Trello or Asana.
• Flexible schedule so as to manage programs taking place on evenings and weekends
• Previous experience in organizing programs, exhibitions, and/or producing performances/events is a plus
• Fluency in English is a must, fluency in other languages a plus

Salary Range: 75k–85k