Manager, School and Educator Programs

POSITION SUMMARY

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art seeks a Manager of School and Educator Programs (Manager) to develop innovative programming and interpretive resources for students, educators, and broader school communities that include families and administrators. Reporting to the Director of Youth and K-12 Programs, the Manager will contribute to ongoing strategic planning leading to the museums opening and beyond, developing approaches to maximize social impact through engagement with art and artmaking, and the role of narrative art in shaping self and society. This role will focus on empowering and engaging students during school time at the museum, in the classroom, and in their wider communities. They will develop a suite of school programs, including guided, self-guided and virtual field trip programs, professional development for educators and administrators, and deep engagement with schools in offsite partnership programming. They will work across the department to create multigenerational programs, especially those related to strengthening relationships between families, guardians, and school staff. They will work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, designing shared outcomes that connect formal in-school learning with out-of-school time. They will be a leader in training and supporting teaching artists, gallery educators, volunteers, teen staff, and interns.

The Manager brings expertise in school programs and standards, arts integration strategies, informal learning environments, high-volume student programs, and managing dynamic, nimble teams. The Manager will have demonstrated experience creating and overseeing programs and initiatives to address the needs of diverse communities of students, including alternative learners and those with intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities. They will be especially prepared to engage students and educators in the immediate vicinity of the museum and beyond, especially those who are primarily Spanish speaking. They will have experience conducting program evaluation, must be responsive to feedback from internal and external stakeholders, and be confident in making strategic adjustments when needed. The Managers role will evolve as the Museum opens and over time, and they must thrive in the context of ongoing change, be nimble in practice, and flexible in thought. This role has a unique opportunity as a leader in shaping the Museums pedagogical practice, approach to creative learning development, programmatic strategy, and staffing from the ground up.

All staff at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art lead through a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion both within the Museum and with the communities we serve.
Pursuant to the Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy, the museum requires all new hires to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment absent an approved medical and/or religious exemption. Upon hire, all new hires will receive detailed instructions on complying with this policy. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop flagship programs serving students, educators, and school and district administrators, with a focus on high-volume visit programs and deep partnerships with school communities, ensuring alignment with institutional mission and strategic priorities in the years up to and beyond opening
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the division to develop programs for multigenerational learning and families, connecting in- and out-of-school engagement
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to design and implement ongoing evaluation and assessment to improve programs and measure impact
• Collaborate with other divisions across the museum, including Curatorial, Social Impact, and External Affairs to implement creative interpretive approaches, ensure relevance to current issues and diverse constituencies, activate collection and exhibition content, and effectively market programs
• Work with colleagues to contribute to the planning, design, and coordinated use of museum spaces
• Build relationships with external associates in schools at all levels, educational administration, and education policy stakeholders, working in partnership to expand the reach and accessibility of the Museums programs and resources
• With the Director of Youth and K-12 Programs, develop budgets for school and educator programs, tracking expenses and resource use in alignment with departmental priorities
• Recruit, hire and lead diverse teams that may include full- or part-time educators and teaching artists, interns, and volunteers
• Research artwork in the collection and exhibitions to develop school programs, classes and workshops, and interpretive resources about narrative art that are accessible and relevant to multigenerational audiences
• Build and iterate digital and analog resources for and with educators that connect standards, integrate arts, and develop critical thinking in students, especially related to social transformation and growth
• Stay abreast of current and forward-looking practices in formal and informal school programs, identifying opportunities to share practices across the field of education and museumsQualifications

Experience

• Minimum five (5) years developing high quality, innovative and impactful school programming in educational, arts, or cultural settings
• Successful track record of developing and maintaining mutually beneficial partnerships with school communities and student-serving organizations
• Experience developing curricular resources and activities for students and educators
• Experience in developing high-volume visitor-centered programming
• Minimum of three (3) years managing staff and cultivating healthy, high performing teams, including groups of educators and Teaching Artists
• Practice in developing a range of participatory engagements that connect students with their adults: educators, guardians, family, and community members, with attention to engaging a range of learning styles, cognitive and physical abilities, and cultural backgrounds
• Demonstrated practice of centering DEAI principles and values in relationships with internal and external collaborators and program frameworks
• Experience creating program spaces that center accessibility and inclusion
• Familiarity with working in a start-up environment and entrepreneurial drive recommended. The role will require big-picture thinking as well as the willingness to experiment, adapt, and lead through uncertainty. Additionally, an awareness that the position will evolve as the Museum takes shape and form is essential

Skills

• Ability to initiate and execute high quality program experiences in a variety of formats and settings
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Self-motivated with high initiative and resourcefulness
• Ability to work with a wide range of age groups and talent abilities, especially in a school setting
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred

Knowledge

• Demonstrated knowledge of educational pedagogies especially related to art and art history, object-based and experiential learning, community engagement and partnerships, and visitor-centered experiences
• Enthusiasm for a range of visual storytelling forms and traditions
• Knowledge of current research and trends in educational practices and programs
• Competent and proficient knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Experience using Project Management and Customer Record Management software a plus

Abilities

• Ability to thrive in an entrepreneurial, creative, collaborative, and nimble environment
• Eagerness to experiment, adapt, and evolve as the Museum takes shape and form
• Intentional strategy in honoring the diverse perspectives and experiences of internal and external stakeholders
• Proven ability to establish and maintain positive and collaborative working relationships with colleagues, vendors, community members, and organizational partners
• Capable of undertaking multiple projects simultaneously and balancing long- and short-term priorities, with equal attention to big-picture goals and small logistical details
• Ability to present ideas and information clearly and compellingly, and to sensitively respond to feedback and questions from multiple audiences and stakeholders
• Fluency in Spanish desirable
• Ability to travel to different locations in Southern California as needed for meetings or
  programs

Education

• Bachelors Degree in Education, Instructional or Curriculum Design, Art History, Studio Art, Museum Studies, related field, or commensurate experience
• Advanced degree or equivalent experience in related field preferred

Apply here by 7/31/23.
$69,000-$90,000 // Health, Medical, PTO, and more.