Manager of Public Programs
(Full-Time / Permanent)
The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) seeks a Manager of Public Programs and Studios to join the Education department. This is a dynamic role with touchpoints across MAD’s education department, including MAD's public programming and public artists’ studios.
We are seeking a hands-on, organized, and outgoing manager to lead and manage MADs schedule of crafting workshops, classes, and public programs, and support the day-to-day operations of our artist residency studios. This is a role that blends solid administrative know-how and planning with public engagement and creative practice. You will need to be reliable, detail-oriented, enjoy supporting artists and learners, and working with the public. This role involves new initiatives for the museum, and the ideal candidate will be collaborative, comfortable working independently, and excited to pilot new ways to connect MAD’s mission to our community. With the right person we expect these pilots to grow and evolve based on feedback, data, and your own expertise.
We think this role is a natural fit for someone who has their own craft, design, or making practice. You'll be surrounded by artists and makers every day, and while teaching is never required, if you ever wanted to offer a class in your own area of expertise, we'd welcome it warmly.
This role reports to the Deputy Director of Education and works collaboratively with colleagues across the Education department—including the Manager of Teen and Intergenerational Programs and the Senior Manager of School and Teacher Programs—as well as cross-departmentally throughout the Museum.
ABOUT MAD
The Museum of Arts and Design has a mission to explore how craftsmanship, art, and design intersect in the visual arts today. Through its exhibitions, programming, and collection, MAD promotes a view of the world unobstructed by traditional definitions of fine art. MAD provides an opportunity for employees to enrich and develop their love of art, craft, and design while contributing their specific skills, expertise, and talents. www.madmuseum.org
COMPENSATION AND SCHEDULE
This is a full-time, exempt position with compensation of $66,300 per annum.
Generally, MAD expects a weekly schedule 9:30am–5:30pm, which includes an unpaid hour for lunch, at a minimum of 35 hours per week. That said, this position requires flexibility as an on-site presence and ongoing availability to work weekend and evenings aligned with the event schedules. Availability on Thursday evenings is currently essential to this role, as the Manager serves as primary point of contact for the Thursday Evening Making Program.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Thursday Evening Drop-In Program
You will be the primary point of contact for our Thursday evening drop-in making activity—a community-facing program that you'll help pilot and shape. Thursday evening availability is currently essential for this role.
Serves as primary point of contact and on-site lead for the Thursday Evening Making Program, held on alternating Thursday evenings.
Art Classes Program
You will also book and manage a regular schedule of art-making courses/classes in our classroom.
- Oversees the development, scheduling, and production of MAD's expanded studio offerings.
- Managing class registration, payments, and participant communications.
- Maintaining adequate inventory of materials and supplies to ensure classes run without interruption.
- Manages artist and instructor relationships for studio programs, including contracting, scheduling, and ongoing coordination with participating makers and guest artists.
- Leads logistics and execution for weekend and Sunday intensive programs, coordinating scheduling in alignment with partner organization and school calendars.
Public Programs
- In collaboration with the Deputy Director of Education and the Curatorial Department, Lead research and production of live public engagement events at the Museum, coordinating with internal staff and external partners and vendors.
- Collaborate with MAD’s Manager of Teen and Intergenerational Programs on our family-friendly Halloween Party, and annual Open House.
- Manages correspondence and coordination with guest speakers and performers, including execution of letters of agreement and contracts, as well as program outreach.
- Serves as a point of contact for programming inquiries and communications with staff, partners, and program participants (phone, email, in-person).
- Maintains and develops short- and long-term programming schedules and planning calendars.
- Liaises with internal Museum departments as needed for execution of events, including Curatorial, Exhibitions, Marketing and Communications, Visitor Engagement, Facilities, and others.
Artist Residency Studio Support
- Serve as an operational point of contact for MAD's artists-in-residence, ensuring studio spaces are well-maintained and fully equipped so resident artists can focus on their work.
- Coordinates artists’ studios public hours
- Alongside all managers in the Education Department, assists with the artist residency selection process, helping with application review and logistics.
Departmental & Administrative
- Manages budgets, tracks expenditures, and produces programming and attendance reports on a monthly and ad hoc basis.
- Collaborates with the Institutional Advancement department on funding opportunities.
- Acts as a thought partner to colleagues within the Education department on cross-departmental programming initiatives and departmental projects.
- As part of MAD's small and mighty Education department, contributes to a culture of shared support, creative thinking, and collegial collaboration.
- Our work at MAD is responsive to our community and always evolving. We expect the same of this role.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor's degree expected; graduate work in art history, arts management, or a related field is a plus—but experience is the most important qualification.
- Minimum 3 years of experience developing and managing arts programming for diverse public audiences, either in a museum or studio facility
- Experience developing and managing workshops or other making-based programs.
- Experience hosting live events a plus.
- Ability to function well in a fast-paced, creative, and public-facing environment.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, with the ability to establish and maintain relationships.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines across simultaneous projects and to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate when appropriate.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, ACME, and/or related software.
- Technical skills related to projection, video, and sound are a plus.
- Technical skills and experience related to live performance are a plus.
- Knowledge of the contemporary art, craft, and design landscape.
- A personal craft, design, or making practice is warmly welcomed and appreciated. If you have expertise you'd like to share through a class or workshop, we'd love to hear about it.
BENEFITS
- Subsidized medical health coverage
- Dental, vision, life insurance, and disability coverage
- 403(b) retirement plan with discretionary match
- 12 Paid Holidays per year
- Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave
- Flexible spending accounts (pre-tax income for eligible health and dependent care expenses)
- Commuter benefits (pre-tax income for parking or mass transit expenses)
- Access to a variety of cultural institutions, discounts to museum stores, and a stimulating and collegial work environment
A NOTE ON QUALIFICATIONS
Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
MAD provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, alienage or citizenship status, marital status or domestic partner
status, genetic information, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender identity, HIV status, military status, and any other category protected by law in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.
If you are a mission-driven, community-oriented individual who enjoys working with the public, thrives in a collaborative team environment, cares about details, and wants to share your passion for art, craft, and design—we want to hear from you!
Please submit a cover letter and resume to recruit@madmuseum.org and include "Manager of Public Programs and Studios" in the subject line of your email.