Director of Museum Education – University of California Davis

Department Description

The Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art is dedicated to education and serves a primary audience of faculty and students as the lens through which it engages a broader audience. The museum’s program is steeped in the richness of resources at UC Davis (a top 5 public university in the US), which is also the repository of an important art historical legacy; the University’s legacy of making, and its physical presence in the Central Valley.

The incumbent must be an experienced manager with demonstrated experience of effectively leading small, entrepreneurial teams that are mission-driven and visitor focused. Must have ability to exercise good judgement in a variety of situations, exhibiting perseverance and grace under pressure. Requires strong written and verbal communication, project management and organizational skills, and the ability to maintain a realistic balance among priorities.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Deputy Director, and working closely with the museum’s senior leadership team, the Director of Museum Education will contribute to making the Manetti Shrem Museum a dynamic site for interdisciplinary programming relevant to the museum’s diverse audiences.

The Director of Museum Education will be responsible for managing a team of educators and visitor services professionals who share the goal of delivering extraordinary visitor experience. This includes all aspects of the museum’s educational programming and visitor services including, but not limited to the following:
– directing student engagement including oversight of student staff, student programming and other aspects of student engagement;
– planning and implementing academic programs;
– strategizing and creating community events;
– participating in planning and implementing exhibit interpretation;
– overseeing training and delivery of visitor services including supervision of the visitor services manager and program developer and high level oversight of 30+ student employees.

The Director assures the success of all of the above by developing and monitoring staff workflow and budgets, facilitating contracts with artists and presenters, and ensuring that museum education programs address multiple audiences in a way that respects visitors and content.

The museum is an engaged partner in the intellectual work of the campus, involving students, faculty and staff as initiators, partners, and participants in the research and development of all aspects of its programming. The Director of Museum Education will work with museum staff, faculty and students to increase the museum’s integration into the fabric of the university and engage campus intellectual resources.

POSITION INFORMATION

Salary Range

$60,800.00 – $122,100.00 Budgeted maximum up to

$90,000, depending on qualifications

No. of Positions

Appointment Type

Career

Percentage of Time

Fulltime, 100%

Shift Hours

Monday- Friday

Location

UC Davis

Union Representation

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Apply by Date

04/03/2020

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Flexible work schedule; requires on-site oversight of key events and programs.

Restricted vacation during peak periods. Work occasional overtime, varied lunch hours, evenings/nights, weekends and holidays as needed, occasionally on short-notice to meet operational needs.

Position requires periodic travel to attend programs and industry conferences.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco free campus effective January 1, 2014. Smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes) will be strictly prohibited on any UC Davis owned or leased property, indoors and outdoors, including parking lots and residential space.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

A minimum of seven years of progressive experience in the museum education field, with relevant experience in education/interpretation, public programming, and visitor engagement.

Experience supervising a minimum of three staff.

Experience overseeing an annual operating budget of at least $100,000.

Track record of developing and implementing significant educational programs in an art museum or other arts-based organization.

Expert communicator with experience as the public face of a museum or arts organization.

Experience developing and implementing interpretive approaches to support exhibitions.

Preferred:

Writing skills to prepare a variety of correspondence, reports, policies/procedures, informational documents, position descriptions, training manuals, and performance evaluations.

Experience working with diverse audiences including students.

Experience working in a dynamic environment with constantly changing priorities while maintaining a high level of productivity.

Experience operating custom computerized systems for report development, creation of spreadsheets, and correspondence. Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook in a Windows environment

Facility with and interest in application of multiple interpretive formats, including new technologies.

Organizational and time management skills to manage multiple independent tasks, while meeting required timelines with a high degree of accuracy and quality.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Background Check

This position is a critical position and subject to a background check. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of background investigation including criminal history and identity checks.

EEO/AA Statement

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.