The Portland Art Museum (referred to as Museum) invites applications for the position of Head of Public Engagement & Programs. The Head of Public Engagement & Programs oversees the creative development, delivery, and assessment of interpretive experiences and public programs of all kinds including gallery activations, talks, performances, readings, art-making, and other visitor engagement activities. This position is a key member of the Learning & Community Partnerships team and collaborates across the organization and audiences to nurture meaningful museum connections for people of all ages. The position is also a critical collaborator in the conception and development of public experiences, activations, and programs in advance of the opening of the Rothko Pavilion currently under construction and expected to open in late 2025. The role reports to the Director of Learning & Community Partnerships.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Strategize, deliver, and assess all public engagement and event programs, including talks, performances, readings, artist demonstrations, hands on art-making, community partnership programs, and participatory museum experiences. Programs may be in-person, virtual, or a combination (hybrid).
• Develop public engagement programs and events from idea to execution with sharp attention to detail, to meet deadlines, communicate with internal and external stakeholders, manage budgets, and thrive in working on cross-functional teams.
• Lead and present at programs as needed. Center the museum’s priorities for equity and inclusion in all programming decisions. Create programs that create an atmosphere of welcome and belonging for all audiences.
• Balance program/event goals, needs, and museum capacities in connection with special exhibitions, permanent collections, artist-led, and community partnerships projects.
• Schedule and oversee quarterly Miller Family Community Free Days and other free day programs.
• Develop collaborative relationships internally and externally to support program and partnership development and implementation. Participate in the development of programs and activations in advance of the new Rothko Pavilion and the reinstallation of the permanent collection galleries.
• Develop and write public engagement descriptions for museum communications including marketing, web, blog/social media. Present on programs externally for press and at internal Board, Staff, and Learning + Community Partnership Committee meetings, etc. Manage digital and/or physical documentation + archive of program materials. Track program statistics and reports.
• Assist with audience survey and evaluation efforts to better understand audience needs and apply to the development and assessment of programs.
• Manage program budgets in collaboration with the Director of Learning & Community Partnerships.
• Develop relationships with museum colleagues, artists, and creatives across arts/culture disciplines to build professional networks that help inform current program development and contribute to the future of public engagement programs at museums.
• The position is guided by PAM’s commitment to equity and inclusion and makes program decisions using the PAM equity lens that support the museum being a more inclusive, relevant, and welcoming space.
• Works closely with the Head of Accessibility to center and improve access to community programs.

Secondary or Additional Responsibilities

• Supervise on-call program support positions or volunteers as needed for program delivery.
• Understand technology and audio-visual requirements for onsite, virtual, or hybrid programs, including ASL, captioning, audio descriptions, and other accessibility needs.
• Understand museum ticketing and CMS systems (Altru) to be able to track museum program attendance and visitor engagement.
• Support LCP grant writing efforts.
• Support larger exhibition and permanent collection audience interpretive efforts such as gallery brochures, looking guides for self-directed museum experiences, and developing gallery activation areas.
• Support donor and community relations and engagement with the Board of Directors as needed.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Role oversees on-call program support staff, work study students, and/or museum program volunteers.
• Decisions are made within Museum policy and budget constraints in regards to public engagement and program strategy, planning, and delivery. Decisions are made in collaboration with the Director of Learning & Community Partnerships, PAM colleagues, and community partners to synthesize information and center equity and inclusion.
• Establish departmental and special exhibition program budgets, tracking of expenses, and work with accounting to pay for services.
• Accountable for long term planning with PAM colleagues and community partners on public program and engagement strategies to ensure that PAM is constantly reflecting and iterating on its mission to create welcoming, relevant and inclusive experiences for audiences of all kinds.
• Supervisory duties include - equity hiring process, mentoring, performance management, training and coaching of work-study students and volunteers. Serves as a leadership example being clear on the strategic direction of the department, being accountable and holding others accountable, and centering collaboration and the values of the museum.

Institutional Responsibilities

• Support the Museum’s mission, vision and core values of creativity, connection, equity, learning, accessibility and accountability.
• Contribute to and support the PAM strategic plan, annual priorities, and institutional initiatives such as diversity, equity, inclusion and access.
• Contribute to a positive organizational culture based on mutual respect, a spirit of collegiality, cooperation, and openness to many perspectives.
• Participate in a culture of ongoing learning, collaboration, innovation, creativity, and community engagement.
• Promote equity and inclusion goals and have a “people first” mindset.

Required Knowledge & Skills

If you have any questions along the way including wanting to talk about a nontraditional career background, please reach out to HR.

• Strong knowledge of local, national, and international arts, culture, creative, and academic communities.
• Strong planning and project management skills to work on multiple projects at one time.
• Skilled at meeting deadlines and performing work in a timely manner.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including writing, speaking, and facilitating public programs with small to large groups.
• Skilled at prioritizing work with department and museum goals in mind.
• Skilled at synthesizing complex information, think creatively, act with curiosity, make connections across creative disciplines and partner with colleagues and communities inside and outside the museum.
• Flexible and adaptable working style. Willingness to give and receive feedback.
• Comfortable with technology with an emphasis on online meeting/webinar platforms (e.g. Zoom), ticketing and CMS systems (Altru), Google Suite, and Microsoft Word.

Education, Formal & Informal Experience, Training Required, Certification, Etc.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in visual or performing arts, art history, education, or other art-related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and event production experience.
• Minimum three years of experience as a museum or arts educator, public programmer/curator, events producer, preferably within an art museum or other participatory arts experience context.

Job Conditions

• Exempt/salaried position
• Schedule/Hours: 35 hours per week (work times and days may change depending on program schedule)
• Frequent evening and weekend hours as needed
• Travel within local area, some national travel may be required
• On-call status
• Extensive computer work

Physical Activities

• Frequently sitting, standing, and walking; inside office and to event locations
• Continuously operates a computer and other office equipment
• Frequently communicating with visitors and team members
• Occasionally push/pull/lift/carry up to 10 lbs
• This is not a complete representation of all physical requirements
  

Benefits

• This role is exempt/salaried and full-time
• Budgeted compensation is within pay grade I ($53,380 min - $62,717 mid - $72,035 max), depending on experience
• Healthcare package: medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, 401K match, and flexible spending accounts
• Paid time off: 6 paid holidays, 2 floating holidays, vacation, sick, and bereavement leave
• Monthly Museum contribution for public transit, parking, or bike to work plan
• Museum admission & lectures, programs, and gift shop discounts
• R.E.A.P (Reciprocal Employee Attraction Pass), providing free general admission to local destinations