Director of Public Engagement

Director of Public Engagement

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Reporting to the Director of the Yale Peabody Museum, the Director of Public Engagement is responsible for creating a unified vision and framework for exhibitions, education, and public programming that will enhance the understanding and appreciation of the Museum's collections, expertise, and resources. The Director will evaluate and structure offerings to position the Peabody as a community hub for Yale and New Haven with strategic, sustained partnerships, will forefront collaborative projects that are responsive to Yale and community needs, and will develop a culture of experimentation and evaluation to support data-driven decisions. The Director is expected to be a leader in the museum engagement professional community. The incumbent will supervise exhibition and education teams to set a bold, unified vision and provide strategic oversight of exhibition development, design, and production for exhibitions, education, and programs. As a member of the senior leadership team, they will foster robust collaborations with YPM collections, student programs (Yale community), development, communications, and operations leadership to guide institutional priorities, problem solve and strategically align museum-wide issues and efforts.
Develops, directs, and executes the Museum's Public Engagement. Conceptualizes and oversees implementation of creative, innovative, and intellectually stimulating educational and social programming and exhibitions that interpret the Museum's collections and activities to diverse audiences. Works closely with curators, collections staff, educators, Yale undergraduate and graduate students, and other Museum stakeholders to research and develop concepts and content, to develop and formalize culturally responsive practices.
Provides oversight and strategic vision regarding the development, design, and production of exhibitions. Supervises the Associate Director of Exhibitions towards a strong and intellectually stimulating exhibition program at the Museum. Conducts research, in partnership with the Associate Director, on the relevant objects, themes, and ideas related to the Peabody's exhibition programming to ensure intellectual integrity and quality of the Museum's exhibitions.
Conceptualizes and oversees the public educational agenda for the Museum. Supervises the Assistant Director of Education and Outreach providing strategic guidance to the Education department to plan, direct, and implement creative and innovative initiatives to further engage and spark curiosity with the local K-12 educational community. Develops content and sound pedagogical frameworks for programming, to encourage active learning through the Peabody's collections.
Collaborates with collections staff to develop a philosophical approach to teaching with objects and cross-disciplinary thinking. Improves and refines programs to appeal to diverse audiences by evaluating quality, attendance, and educational content.
Evaluates and structures the Peabody's programming offerings, with a focus on collaborative projects that are responsive to Yale and community needs. Leads evaluation and research initiatives that inform the museum field.
Establishes (and regularly re-evaluates) strategic priorities and ensures that they remain the focus of time, funding, and other resources.
Develops both free and revenue driving programs and guides budgetary and fundraising decisions that support robust programming.
Organizes and coordinates scheduling and implementation of programs and exhibitions, working across all Museum departments to complete the tasks. Identifies, initiates, and fosters contact with individuals and/or community organizations interested in the Museum's public programs and encourages their participation.
Works with University and community partners to conceive and implement cross-disciplinary content and programs to enliven discussion and expand interpretation of collections and exhibitions, enhancing the Museum's profile as a cultural and intellectual hub on campus and in the New Haven area.
Serves as an articulate and compelling advocate for the Peabody to prospective donors and collectors, the museum community, the media, and potential collaborators.
Manages annual and program-specific budgets. Works with finance, development, and grants management staff to secure funding to support all programs, including grant writing.
Plans strategically for documentation of programs and use of media and the web to extend the impact of public programs. Collaborates with Communications to expand audience awareness and participation.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Skills and Abilities
1. Flexible, energetic, creative, entrepreneurial leader, with strong consensus-building skills. Talented problem solver. Highly proficient at managing multiple priorities and a proven ability to build and maintain influence and trust with a wide array of constituencies, including staff, researchers, and colleagues, and to work collaboratively and independently.
2. Ability to translate institutional identity, ideas, direction, and themes into exhibitions and programmatic experiences across a wide range of topics, toward enhancing the Museum's long-range academic program and profile at the University and in the greater New Haven community.
3. Strong interest in and familiarity with museums; commitment to object-based research and teaching. Strong written, editing, and oral communication skills; ability to think analytically and quantitatively to formulate budgets. Superior interpersonal skills with the ability to work with a range of individuals to adapt and exceed visitor expectations.
4. Demonstrated ability to represent the Museum through public speaking engagements. Ability to lead, manage, delegate, and juggle multiple tasks and meet demanding deadlines. Excellent organizational skills.
5. Proven ability to work well under pressure while exhibiting professionalism, a customer service attitude, and consistent flexibility in a busy multi-task environment. Demonstrated ability tracking and forecasting financial data and in writing successful grant applications. Demonstrated ability to cultivate sponsor relationships in collaboration with Development.
Preferred Skills and Abilities
1. Proven experience in programming, exhibitions, or education with demonstrated experience in museum leadership.
2. Knowledge of and interest in natural and cultural history.
Principal Responsibilities
1. Develops, directs, and executes the Museum's Public Engagement. Conceptualizes and oversees implementation of creative, innovative, and intellectually stimulating educational and social programming and exhibitions that interpret the Museum's collections and activities to diverse audiences. Works closely with curators, collections staff, educators, Yale undergraduate and graduate students, and other Museum stakeholders to research and develop concepts and content, to develop and formalize culturally responsive practices.
2. Provides oversight and strategic vision regarding the development, design, and production of exhibitions. Supervises the Associate Director of Exhibitions towards a strong and intellectually stimulating exhibition program at the Museum. Conducts research, in partnership with the Associate Director, on the relevant objects, themes, and ideas related to the Peabody's exhibition programming to ensure intellectual integrity and quality of the Museum's exhibitions.
3. Conceptualizes and oversees the public educational agenda for the Museum. Supervises the Assistant Director of Education and Outreach providing strategic guidance to the Education department to plan, direct, and implement creative and innovative initiatives to further engage and spark curiosity with the local K-12 educational community. Develops content and sound pedagogical frameworks for programming, to encourage active learning through the Peabody's collections.
4. Collaborates with collections staff to develop a philosophical approach to teaching with objects and cross-disciplinary thinking. Improves and refines programs to appeal to diverse audiences by evaluating quality, attendance, and educational content.
5. Evaluates and structures the Peabody's programming offerings, with a focus on collaborative projects that are responsive to Yale and community needs. Leads evaluation and research initiatives that inform the museum field.
6. Establishes (and regularly re-evaluates) strategic priorities and ensures that they remain the focus of time, funding, and other resources.
7. Develops both free and revenue driving programs and guides budgetary and fundraising decisions that support robust programming.
8. Organizes and coordinates scheduling and implementation of programs and exhibitions, working across all Museum departments to complete the tasks. Identifies, initiates, and fosters contact with individuals and/or community organizations interested in the Museum's public programs and encourages their participation.
9. Works with University and community partners to conceive and implement cross-disciplinary content and programs to enliven discussion and expand interpretation of collections and exhibitions, enhancing the Museum's profile as a cultural and intellectual hub on campus and in the New Haven area.
10. Serves as an articulate and compelling advocate for the Peabody to prospective donors and collectors, the museum community, the media, and potential collaborators.
11. Manages annual and program-specific budgets. Works with finance, development, and grants management staff to secure funding to support all programs, including grant writing.
12. Plans strategically for documentation of programs and use of media and the web to extend the impact of public programs. Collaborates with Communications to expand audience awareness and participation.
13. Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Education and Experience Master's Degree and five years of museum programming experience or equivalent education and experience.