Director of Education

JOB TITLE: Director of Education, ARTEFFECT
REPORTS TO: Executive Director, ARTEFFECT
ORGANIZATION TYPE: Private Foundation
LOCATION: Santa Monica, CA
STATUS: Full-Time, Exempt

JOB SUMMARY

ARTEFFECT is an expanding initiative that develops innovative opportunities in visual arts education, including competitions for young artists in grades 6-12, professional development for educators in the K-12 sector, a student art collection, and museum exhibitions. Through activities focused on the power of artmaking to affect positive change, ARTEFFECT invites educators, students, and wider communities to explore the inspiring stories of Unsung Heroes and their invaluable lessons as role models.

The Director of Education leads ARTEFFECT’s educational programming related to teaching and learning for educators, students, and extended communities. These areas include the ARTEFFECT Ambassadors online fellowship, professional development programs, lesson plans, virtual workshops and school visits, educational resources, and other materials for key constituents. This role is central to advancing programmatic goals and to grow and deepen engagement from schools, educators and students in the competitions.

Working closely with ARTEFFECT fellows, instructors, mentors, educators and students, and collaboratively with internal teams and strategic partners, the Director of Education will develop, enrich, and evaluate educational offerings for high impact, continuous growth and improvement with measurable outcomes. The Education Director reports to the Executive Director, ARTEFFECT.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

1. ARTEFFECT Ambassadors Online Visual Arts Fellowship

• Administer the award-winning ARTEFFECT Ambassadors online visual arts fellowship for middle and secondary school educators, including program promotions, and the recruitment, selection, and retention of fellows, mentors, instructors.
• Develop online sessions and lesson plans working closely with instructors and run the production of online modules to effectively sustain high engagement and retention.
• Develop new professional development components and offerings in alignment with program goals.
• Evaluate and refine the effectiveness of professional development offerings using qualitative and quantitative data and metrics to assess program effectiveness and outcomes.
• Develop promotional sessions and materials.
• Maintain overall program timeline and budget and prepare regular reports and summaries.

2. Educational Content Development

• Lead the development and refinement of visual arts-based and arts integration lesson plans to ensure alignment with program goals, academic standards, and best practices.
• Review, refine, and update instructional materials, including visual arts-based lesson plans, Unsung Heroes resources, and other teaching tools.
• Develop educational materials in tandem with ARTEFFECT exhibitions such as lesson plans, gallery trainings, teacher and school group packets, and gallery guides.
• Ensure curriculum is culturally responsive with inclusive practices and differentiated instruction.

3. K-12 Educational Programs and Partnerships

• Oversee NAEA annual conference booth, Ambassadors events.
• Oversee promotional and networking campaigns for ARTEFFECT across fieldwide, regional, and online communities of practice to grow and deepen teacher and student engagement with ARTEFFECT.
• Cultivate relationships and create offerings for key K-12 schools and visual arts magnet schools to elicit significant participation in the PD offerings and student art competitions.
• Develop new educational programs and partnerships.

4. Leadership & Collaboration

• Stay informed on emerging visual arts education research, technologies, and trends to inform and enrich program offerings.
• Serve as a liaison between ARTEFFECT and various constituents to effectively implement and lead educational offerings.
• Foster a positive, engaging, inclusive, and collegial learning environment for all constituents.
• Perform other essential duties and special projects, as assigned.
• Attend and participate in ARTEFFECT programs and events across the Foundations.
• Comply with all organizational policies and standards.

QUALIFICATIONS

ARTEFFECT comprises a small, high-performing, collaborative team in which all positions are highly interdependent. The crucial qualities in all positions are excellence, initiative, and adaptability, and an attitude of mutual support. All positions also require a strong sense of responsibility, good judgment, and high-level communication skills.

Education

• Master’s degree or higher is required in visual arts, arts education, educational leadership, arts management, art history, museum studies, or a related field. Or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience

• Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive experience in visual arts education, classroom teaching, educational leadership or program administration.
• Proven success in developing and managing visual arts education programs.
• Experience working in a museum, cultural or non-profit organization, foundation, or educational setting a plus.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Expertise in visual arts education, K-12 curriculum development, professional development, or teacher training.
• Deep understanding of project-based learning, learning theories and K-12 instructional practices, and state/national visual arts standards.
• Ability to generate and develop new ideas and strategies that align with the organizational goals of delivering innovative and transformative visual arts education.
• Skilled in developing program evaluations and assessments and data-driven decision-making.
• Proficiency with online learning, instructional design, and digital tools for art education.
• Excellent interpersonal, facilitation, and communication skills in concert with diverse audiences and constituents.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to juggle multiple programs, deadlines, and constituents.
• Local and out-of-state travel, when needed, to industry-specific events, such as conferences and professional events, and visits to school and exhibition sites.

CLASSIFICATION, STATUS, SALARY

This is an onsite position at ARTEFFECTlmc Foundation offices in Santa Monica, CA. Occasional local or out-of-state travel is required for site visits, conferences, or meetings. Work hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30AM-5:30PM. Occasional evening and weekend hours are required, depending on organizational and program needs.

This is a full-time, exempt position. The position is eligible for comprehensive Lowell Milken Family Foundation (LMFF) benefits package. The annual starting salary range for this Santa Monica, CA based position is $110,000-$130,000, depending on experience.

The Lowell Milken Family Foundation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

ABOUT LOWELL MILKEN FAMILY FOUNDATION

The Lowell Milken Family Foundation (LMFF) creates and supports initiatives that cultivate human capital—that is, the knowledge, skills, and experiences essential to leading productive and satisfying lives. LMFF pursues this mission through education-centered initiatives that are both groundbreaking and comprehensive. By fostering and inspiring excellence, creativity, and responsibility within the formal education environment and beyond, LMFF equips people to pursue and attain lives that have value to themselves as well as to others.

Salary: $110,000 – $130,000, annually

Benefits: Benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision and Retirement benefits.

Education requirements: Master’s degree

Deadline to apply: July 20, 2026

Documents required to apply: Resume, Cover Letter, References

How to apply: visit these webpages to learn more about this position:
• ARTEFFECT
• ARTEFFECT Ambassadors Fellowship
• ARTEFFECT Competition
• ARTEFFECT at MCAAD Exhibition
• Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes
• Shaping Futures: Lowell Milken

All interested and qualified applicants should send a cover letter illustrating how your experience and skills align with the position and can advance ARTEFFECT’s educational offerings, your current resume, and the names, titles, and contact information (email and phone number) for three professional references to Dr. Toni Guglielmo, Executive Director, ARTEFFECT at arteffect@lowellmilken.org. References will not be contacted without your consent.