Director of Public Programs and Engagement

Overview

The Asian Art Museum is searching for a Director of Public Programs and Engagement who will serve as the museum’s lead for public-facing programs and community engagement strategies, overseeing their creation, implementation, planning, and evaluation. By strategically and creatively developing a portfolio of public programs and overseeing their expert execution across the museum, the Director of Public Programs and Engagement connects audiences with Asian and Asian American art and culture, deepens the museum’s value to the community, supports our strategic goals, brings in new and return visitors, and builds membership. The programs under the purview of this position aim to engage visitors in participatory and experiential ways.

The Director of Public Programs and Engagement also oversees Guest Experience to ensure smooth and seamless on-site visitor experience, including functions such as ticketing, access, greeting, coat check, event wayfinding, and preparing staff for both daily and future events.

The position reports to the Deputy Director and Chief Experience Officer and collaborates closely with colleagues in the Curatorial, Learning and Civic Engagement, Experience Design, Production and Preparation, Marketing, Membership, and several other departments of the museum, as well as with artists, makers, thought leaders, and community partners related to the museum’s mission.

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is the world’s leading museum dedicated to connecting global audiences with Asian and Asian American art and culture. With a collection of 20,000 objects spanning over 6,000 years — from ancient sculpture to contemporary installations — the museum offers a powerful lens into the depth and diversity of Asian cultures. A vibrant center for public engagement, the museum is a place where history and the present meet to inspire a more connected future. The museum’s mission is to celebrate, preserve, and promote Asian and Asian American art and cultures for local and global audiences. It serves as a dynamic forum for exchanging ideas, inviting collaboration, and fueling imagination to deepen understanding and empathy among people of all backgrounds.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join an organization that values creativity, teamwork, collaboration, and inclusion and where you will be surrounded by a diverse, talented, and enthusiastic group of colleagues.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Responsibilities include, but are not limited to :
• Direct long-term planning for the museum’s full range of public programs.
• Develop programming seasons with an understanding of audience opportunities and needs and in collaboration with other museum departments.
• Curate themes and experiences for individual programs, plan partnerships, and develop budgets.
• Research topics and secure speakers, moderators, and discussants for future programs.
• Track local, regional, and global events and trends related to programs in Asian art and culture.
• Ensure programs are initiated, executed, monitored, and delivered on time, within scope and budget. Oversee program presentations, including the introduction of participants and engaging members, donors, and supporters in attendance.
• Develop, implement, promote, measure, and evaluate public programs, audience outreach, and engagement strategies.
• Oversee smooth and efficient daily operations of frontline Guest Experience functions.
• Set an exemplary standard of professional behavior and ensure that visitors are assisted in a professional, courteous manner aligned with the museum’s service standards, brand, and audience development goals.
• Supervise, hire, train, coach, and evaluate a team of full-time, part-time, and as-needed staff. Ensure compliance with union contracts and City and County of San Francisco standards.
• Ensure the team is trained on safety and security best practices.
• Create and manage departmental budget as well as contracts with service providers.
• Forge and maintain cooperative partnerships with program-related organizations, universities, and other educational and cultural institutions.
• Write funding proposals to individuals, foundations, government, and corporate agencies for public programming needs and contribute content to grant applications related to other areas of the museum’s work.
• Present and report on department activities to museum members, funders, and colleagues, as well as to special constituencies.
• Partner with the museum’s Development team to complete grant applications and reports for funders.
• Perform other duties and projects as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

WORKING CONDITIONS

COMPENSATION

The Asian Art Museum is committed to practicing salary transparency. The minimum salary for this position is $105,000 and the maximum salary is $115,000. Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. Many factors are taken into consideration when setting starting pay including education, experience, the external labor market, and internal equity. This opportunity includes a generous benefits package, including but not limited to :

OUR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION COMMITMENTS

At the Asian Art Museum, we are dedicated to ideating, building, and holding ourselves accountable for Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion in everything we do. We strive to foster a culture of respect, belonging and inclusivity for all employees.

Our mission is to celebrate, preserve, and promote Asian and Asian American art and cultures for local and global audiences. We provide a dynamic forum for exchanging ideas, inviting collaboration, and fueling imagination to deepen understanding and empathy among people of all backgrounds.

Diversity of thought and experience is essential to our mission, and we are committed to recruiting, hiring, and retaining a diverse workforce. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

WHAT\'S NEXT?

Apply online at the career page. Ensuring a smooth and enjoyable candidate experience is critical for us. Application materials will be screened in relation to the criteria described. Candidates deemed to be the most highly qualified will be invited to participate in the interview process. Our interview process tends to take about 4 weeks to complete but may fluctuate depending on the role. Appointment is subject to completion of a thorough background check process.

The Asian Art Museum is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories (arrest and criminal histories) consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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