Program Manager - Art Bridges Foundation

Job Description

Art Bridges is seeking a skilled, highly motivated and entrepreneurial individual to join the team as a Program Manager. The ideal teammate will have experience in museum and/or art education, project management, a clear communication style, administrative skills, and a proven history of proactively balancing multiple tasks.

About the Position
You’ll join a top-notch team and focus on the needs of our partners by facilitating dialogs with applicants and to plan compelling, innovative and content rich community programming and interpretive materials related to art object loans and exhibitions.

What you will do
You will be responsible for facilitating planning discussions with applicants in order to design thoughtful, imaginative, and innovative programs to draw in new and diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

Program Management
• Collaborate with applicants to develop programs for the applicant museum. This includes developing program themes and goals, helping to identify and contract presenters, performers and vendors, coaching applicants on writing program copy and coordinating preparations for programs with applicant’s colleagues.
• Encourage applicant to engage with the local community to build collaborations, program diversity and audience interest, and to cultivate effective collaborative relationships with area artists, institutions and organizations to help develop quality public programming.
• Work closely with curators, educators and exhibitions managers at the applicant museum to connect with potential partners at the appropriate time
• Assist in the development of programming and interpretation within museum spaces and museum communities
• Develop expertise in the Art Bridges collection in order to support the creation of presentations and interpretation
• Collaborate with applicants, stakeholders, partners, and Crystal Bridges staff to establish frameworks for programs, and applicable research.
• Assist in the development of engaging and content-rich, educational and interpretive materials.
Project Management
• Work with applicants to develop meaningful, challenging, and innovative project ideas, and – as needed - connect them with experts in the field that can help make their projects great
• Coordinate the application process, from solicitation to completed application
• Work with a database to enter and track information on every project
• Draft summaries/dockets of all applications for board review
• Prepare complete packets of materials for external readers
• Receive and enter project reports according to established timelines
• Work with funding team to insure timely payout of project funds
• Summarize final project reports
• Oversee use of Art Bridges logo and branding by partners in their portfolio
• Responsibly manage budgets and assist partners in doing the same
• Manage contact databases, including the lists of potential partners
• Schedule, arrange, and coordinate relevant meetings
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with staff and partners
Website and Software Management
• Advise on the creation of interactive tools to be integrated into the next version of the website
• Identify and work with grant management software, both existing and potentially available for the future
• Update the Art Bridges website with relevant information on projects in their portfolio
Application Management
• Organize, and implement the internal calendar for applications, including deadlines and yearly project goals
• Interact with and respond to inquiries from funding recipients throughout the project period
• Continuously improve the application process
• Prepare and adapt standardized response letters and forms
Promotion Management
• Track and prepare relevant data about projects, including qualitative and quantitative information
• Create newsletter content about projects and partners
• Share our work at conferences (as appropriate)

Who we are looking for
You are a strong and empathetic listener and are able to respond to the needs of museum professionals at every level, from small to large institutions. You have experience in museum education and evaluation. You have a network of peers in the industry that you can leverage as a resource.

Personal attributes that support your success
• A great sense of humor, and a passion for the power of the arts
• Enthusiasm about joining an organization that’s new, evolving, and poised to have major impact on the art museum field
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to “self-start” and exhibit a high degree of initiative
• Ability to multi-task and think critically in a busy work environment
• Able to creatively and effectively problem solve

Additional Helpful Experience Includes
• Experience in programming and evaluation
• Non-profit experience
• 2+ years of specialized training in office procedures or related field

Physical demands
Occasionally, while performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to travel independently regionally and in communities served. In the work environment described below, position requires working at a desk and utilizing a computer and a telephone for prolonged periods of time and good eye/hand coordination, bending and stretching for filing, and physical stamina to lift a minimum of 25 pounds to a height of at least three feet for art materials storage and preparation and as appropriate for the demands of the division office. Visual acuity to review written materials is required for this job.

Work environment
Work will be performed in an office environment, museum spaces, and in communities served. Occasional evening and weekend hours may be required. The noise level in the Museum work environment is usually low to moderate.

About the Art Bridges Foundation
Art Bridges is a new foundation, founded by Alice Walton, whose mission is to share outstanding examples of American art with those that have limited access to them. Art Bridges organizes and administrates exhibitions of American art for display at public and academic art museums of all sizes. These exhibitions draw from Art Bridges’ growing collection, and the collections of partner institutions, foundations, and private collectors.

The exhibitions supported by Art Bridges are engaging, content-rich, and include in-depth educational and interpretive materials. They range from single-object loans to fully developed thematic exhibitions, and include support for programming, community outreach, audience engagement, and meaningful evaluation.

As a growing organization, Art Bridges contracts directly with Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art to provide expertise and services vital to the care of its collection, and launching major initiatives. Presently, Art Bridges has fewer than five (5) staff members, and it is time to expand the team as the program is growing rapidly.

Art Bridges is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status of protected veteran, among other things or status as a qualified individual with a disability.

Basic Qualifications

• 2+ years of relevant project management experience
• 2+ years of relevant experience with art exhibitions, museum education or working in an arts organization
• Valid driver’s license required. Willing and able to travel regionally
• Excellent project management experience, including creating new systems from scratch
• Excellent oral and written communications skills including business letter writing and clear, concise reports
• Demonstrated English skills in accuracy, proofreading, grammar, spelling, and attention to detail
• Working knowledge of arts administration practices
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office
• Willingness and ability to learn specialized software as required
• Proficiency with office technology, including standard office equipment (telephone, fax, copier, computers, projectors) and web-based solutions (conference calls, video conferences, etc.)
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong mathematical, quantitative, and analytical skills