Association of Academic Museums and Galleries

POSITION VACANCY                                     August 30, 2018

Founded in 1813, Colby is one of America’s most selective colleges. Serving only undergraduates, Colby’s rigorous academic program is rooted in deep exploration of ideas and close interaction with world-class faculty scholars. Students pursue intellectual passions, choosing among 58 majors or developing their own. Independent and collaborative research, study abroad, and internships offer robust opportunities to prepare students for postgraduate success. Colby is home to a community of 2,000 dedicated and diverse students from around the globe. Its Maine location provides easy access to world-class research institutions and civic engagement experiences.

In a period of fast-paced progress, Colby is building on its strong foundation while remaining committed to excellence, to supporting students and faculty at the highest levels, and to the College’s deep liberal arts traditions. This new chapter includes the creation of innovative academic initiatives and partnerships, strengthening the connections between the liberal arts and the professional world, revitalizing downtown Waterville, and pursuing significant capital projects for performing arts and athletics. Colby invites applicants to apply for the position of:

Mirken Curator of Education and Engagement

Colby College Museum of Art

Full-Time, Exempt, Salaried, Administrative Staff Appointment

The Colby College Museum of Art’s Mirken curator of education and engagement provides leadership and oversight for the Museum’s K-12 educational and public programs as well as community engagement strategies for adult and family learning related primarily to the Colby Museum’s collections and exhibitions. The Mirken curator of education and engagement is charged with creating a dynamic and enriching visitor experience, establishing critical community outreach to educate and engage diverse audiences, implementing strategies for evaluating the impact of programs, and expanding external partnerships locally and beyond. This is a unique opportunity for a visionary and innovative museum educator who also knows how to develop, measure, and assess opportunities for creative engagement and learning across all ages to ensure that the goals of the Colby Museum’s educational and engagement programs are successfully aligned with the overall curatorial strategies and mission of the Museum. The Mirken curator of education and engagement should support the Colby Museum’s commitment to cultural diversity and be committed to innovative approaches to exhibition-making and collaborative engagement with other departments and organizations across campus, with organizations in the community, and with colleagues and other institutions regionally and nationally. This position reports to the deputy director and is part of museum’s leadership team. We encourage inquiries from candidates who will contribute to the cultural and ethnic diversity of our college.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead team-based strategic planning and prioritization, development, and execution of integrated education programs for general audiences, College audiences, children and families, educators, docents and volunteers
• Oversee and administer the Museum’s education program and initiatives including creating and managing an annual budget and overseeing a staff of three, plus interns, docents, and volunteers
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of Museum docent programs, supervising docent training and scheduling by the Linde Family Foundation coordinator of school and teacher programs
• Facilitate cross-team planning and provides guidance and support to the Mirken senior coordinator of programs and audience engagement in the development of public programs and special events for College and general audiences, including lectures, artist talks, panel discussions, symposia, films, and gallery talks
• Collaborate with the exhibitions curator and curatorial team to identify, prioritize, and advance integrated short- and long-term goals for interpretive strategies related to museum exhibitions and installations
• Work closely with curatorial staff to develop and produce educational and interpretive materials and related programming for exhibitions and permanent collections, including labels, gallery guides, interactive and participatory elements, and print collateral
• Occasionally work with colleagues in education, curatorial, and faculty at the College to create exhibitions and installations of the museum’s collection, facilitating museum collaborations with external advisors and stakeholders in exhibition projects as needed
• Serve as the Museum’s lead educational liaison with local school districts, elementary and secondary teachers and art specialists, other regional colleges and universities, and broader regional and state educational communities.
• Play a leadership role in the development and inclusion of technologies into the Museum’s interpretive program, such as audio tours and the Museum website
• Oversee the planning and implementation of community events and outreach programs for schools and community groups
• Lead tours and give talks on the Museum’s exhibitions and collections to diverse audiences
• Provide strategic leadership and manages efforts to assess educational and audience engagement programs and initiatives, including gathering and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data to evaluate programs, measure and report impact, and seek grants and funding
• Work closely with Museum leadership and Colby grants office to seek and secure funding for educational programs and activities and makes key contributions to related grant writing
• Perform additional duties as assigned; duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in education and experience, advanced degree in art education, museum education, art history or a related field preferred
• Minimum of three years of experience in a leadership position in a museum education department or related experience
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and proven teaching skills and experience
• Knowledge of current museum education philosophies, methods, and trends
• Excellent organization, interpersonal, and decision-making skills, with demonstrated effective supervisory experience
• Active participant in the field, developing and maintaining relationships with other museum educators; attendance and contribution to conferences regionally and nationally
• Experience planning and managing budgets
• Proven grant-writing experience and success preferred
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team, establish priorities, and work collaboratively as a member of a diverse community

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

This position works closely with Museum and Lunder Institute teams, local community partners and organizations, Waterville-area and Maine educators as well as faculty, staff, and students.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

General open office and campus environment. Position involves sitting, although frequent movement is necessary. Computer usage involving repetitive hand/wrist motion is also necessary. Occasional travel may be required. Valid driver’s license required and must meet the College’s Fleet Safety Policy requirements.

TO APPLY:

Interested candidates should apply electronically by clicking the “Apply Now” button on the Colby College website. Please submit a letter of interest including salary requirements, resume, and the contact information of three professional references. Materials should be addressed to:

Mirken Curator of Education and Engagement – Search Committee
Office of Human Resources
Colby College
5500 Mayflower Hill
Waterville, ME  04901-8855

A review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Colby is a private, coeducational liberal arts college that admits students and makes employment decisions on the basis of the individual’s qualifications to contribute to Colby’s educational objectives and institutional needs. Colby College does not discriminate in its educational programs or employment on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, or military or veteran’s status. Colby is an equal opportunity employer and operates in accordance with federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination. Colby complies with Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in an institution’s education programs and activities. Questions regarding Title IX may be referred to Colby’s Title IX coordinator or to the federal Office of Civil Rights. We encourage inquiries from candidates who will contribute to the cultural and ethnic diversity of our college.

 For more information about the College, please visit our website:  www.colby.edu.