Seattle Art Museum is hiring: Director of Public Relations & Strategic Partnersh
Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA, US, 98127
Job Description
The Director of Public Relations & Strategic Partnerships is responsible for elevating SAM’s visibility, reputation, and brand through innovative communications strategies and partnerships. Blending storytelling with relationship-building, this role strengthens the museum’s public image, engages diverse audiences, and builds alliances that expand SAM’s reach.
This highly collaborative position works across all SAM departments as well as with external partners and stakeholders. The successful candidate will be a seasoned professional with a strategic mindset, exceptional relationship-building skills, and deep experience in public relations and audience engagement. The role manages a small team of three direct reports.
You’ll play a key leadership role by:
Developing and executing strategies to increase SAM’s visibility and brand recognition through partnerships, media, and communications campaigns.
Leading all aspects of public relations strategy, including messaging, storytelling, media relations, and crisis communications.
Building and stewarding partnerships that align with SAM’s priorities, advance institutional goals, and expand audiences.
Overseeing public relations campaigns, internal communications, and promotional events.
Managing a small, high-performing communications team and department budget.
Collaborating with colleagues across SAM to align PR and partnership strategies with exhibitions, programs, and institutional priorities.
FLSA STATUS: Full Time, Exempt
REPORTS TO: Director of Marketing & Communications
COMPENSATION: $128,000 - $140,000
This role is scheduled for standard business hours, Monday–Friday, with flexibility required to support events, campaigns, and museum initiatives. This position is hybrid eligible under SAM’s current policy (subject to change).
BENEFITSFull-time employees are eligible for SAM’s comprehensive benefits package, including:
Fully employer-paid HMP medical plan or employee contribution PPO plan.
Dental, vision, and basic life insurance/LTD/AD&D.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
Short-Term Disability and Supplemental Dental Insurance.
Participation in SAM’s 403(b) retirement plan with discretionary 3% annual employer contribution and match program (eligibility after 1 year and 1,000 hours worked).
Paid vacation, sick and safe time (PSST), bereavement leave, jury duty, 11 scheduled holidays, and 1 paid floating holiday.
Subsidized unlimited ORCA card for public transit.
Onsite fitness facility access.
Free museum membership at the Patron level, Tier III membership to the American Alliance of Museums, and discounts at the SAM Shop and on museum programming.
Seattle Art Museum’s vision is to be the museum for all of Seattle—a bold, dynamic hub of creativity, belonging, and cultural leadership, shaping the future of art and community. We aim to create a welcoming community where people find inspiration and discover our common humanity through exceptional art and engaging programs.
As the leading visual arts institution in the Pacific Northwest, SAM shares its global connections, powerful exhibitions, and dynamic programs to engage, educate, and inspire. SAM is a vibrant, three-site organization that is supported by 365 employees, 10 executive leaders, and more than 200 volunteers.
WE ARE LOOKING FORA strategic, collaborative leader with proven experience in public relations and partnerships. You’ll bring:
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, public relations, journalism, or related field (or equivalent experience).
At least 8 years of experience developing and implementing communications or PR strategies in complex organizations.
Minimum 3 years of people management experience.
Strong strategic thinking with demonstrated success aligning communications and partnerships with organizational goals.
Expertise in media relations, content strategy, and multi-channel messaging.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and presentation abilities.
Experience cultivating and maintaining relationships with media contacts, partners, and stakeholders.
Strong problem-solving and diplomacy skills with the ability to exercise sound judgment.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with strong time management.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, Asana, Slack, and internet-based research.
Ability to pass and maintain a security background check.
Preferred Qualifications
Four years of experience in the museum or arts & culture sector.
Established local, regional, and national media contacts.
Exposure: Primarily indoors in climate-controlled offices, with moderate background noise.
Stationary Work: About 80% at a desk; 20% moving through workspaces or attending meetings/events.
Communication: Clear and professional verbal and written communication in English with staff, trustees, media, and the public is required.
Office Work: Regular use of computers, phones, and office equipment required.ACCOMMODATION
If you need assistance applying for a role due to a disability or additional need, please let us know at hr@seattleartmuseum.org
The Seattle Art Museum will consider reasonable accommodations for all employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions/duties of this position. If you need an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact hr@seattleartmuseum.org
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Celebrating difference. At Seattle Art Museum, our members, visitors, and local community come from all walks of life, and so do our employees, volunteers, and interns. The plurality of our identities and experiences strengthens our mission: connecting art to life. Our mission and vision call us to be responsive to a multitude of cultural contexts and lived experiences, and as such, our Strategic Plan directly addresses the role art plays in empowering and elevating social justice movements, and promoting structural change to further equity in our society. SAM is particularly dedicated to racial equity in the workplace, because we know that people of color are the most impacted when it comes to both historical and present inequities. We know that equity is not a single fixed destination, it’s ongoing reckoning. As SAM continually strives to be a more inclusive and equitable workplace, we are particularly interested in engaging with those who have been historically underrepresented in the museum field. We are dedicated to building a diverse workplace, and a sense of belonging for each and every employee, because we know our organization is at its best when we celebrate difference.
SAM is an equal opportunity employer. We are an equal opportunity employer, and consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, sensory, physical, or mental disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship or immigration status, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. If you need assistance applying for a role due to a disability or additional need, please let us know at hr@seattleartmuseum.org. The Seattle Art Museum will consider reasonable accommodations for all employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions/duties of the role. If you need an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact hr@seattleartmuseum.org. For candidates, we ask that, if possible, you wait until you're invited to a screen, online technical assessment or interview before requesting an accommodation.
We encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to building a diverse workplace, and a sense of belonging for each and every employee, because we know our organization is at its best when we include, celebrate and embrace difference. We encourage you to submit an application, even if your experience doesn’t feel like a 100% match with the position. We know applying for a job can be intimidating, and research tells us that womxn and folks of color are less likely to apply if they don't see themselves meeting or exceeding every single qualification listed. We encourage you to apply, even if you feel unsure about whether you meet every requirement in this job post. You could very well be a great fit for this role or others.
Requirements for employment. In order to be employed by the Seattle Art Museum, you must reside in the state of Washington. Employment at SAM is contingent upon successful clearing and maintenance of clearance in both a federal and state criminal background check.
Want to learn more? If you haven't already, check out our Careers page for more on working at SAM.
Though we'd love to be able to reply to every question that crosses our desk, due to the high volume of applications we receive, our HR team is unfortunately unable to offer a response to inquiries requesting search status updates, inquiries about hiring timeline, or requests to be put in touch with directly with the Hiring Team. If your experiences and capabilities are well suited to an open role, our Recruiter or the Hiring Manager will reach out directly to schedule an interview. Thanks for your understanding!
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