Manager of Public Programs - Charles H. Wright Museum

The Wright Museum seeks a permanent, full-time, benefits-eligible Manager of Public Programs reporting to the Senior Vice President of Programs.

The Wright Museum is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants without regard to ethnicity, gender identity, age, or sexual orientation.

Compensation: $80,000 annually

About Us:

Founded in 1965, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History has for over half a century been a leading institution dedicated to the African American experience.

The Wright Museum houses over 35,000 artifacts and archival materials and is home to And Still We Rise: Our Journey through African American History and Culture, the museum's 22,000 square foot, interactive core exhibit, which is the largest single exhibition on African American history in existence. The Ford Freedom Rotunda and its 95-foot wide by 65-foot high glass dome; this architectural wonder is more than twice the width of the State of Michigan’s Capitol dome and just one foot shy of the width of the U.S. Capitol dome. Our Ring of Genealogy, a 37-foot terrazzo tile creation by artist Hubert Massey surrounded by bronze nameplates of prominent African Americans in history. The Museum has the General Motors Theater, a 317-seat facility for live performances, film, and presentations. The Wright serves over half a million people annually through its exhibitions, programs, and events.

Our mission is to open minds and change lives through the exploration and celebration of African American history and culture.

Our vision is of a world in which the adversity and achievement of African American history inspires everyone toward greater understanding, acceptance, and unity!

Position Overview:
Under general direction of the SVP of Programs develops, produces, and manages a robust series of high-caliber, high-profile, dynamic, captivating and compelling programs for millennial and adult audiences. These programs attract national attention and enhance the Wright Museum’s reputation as a lively forum where people of all ages can learn about African American history and culture.

Manager of Public Programs serves as a key contributing member of the Museum’s staff. In addition, the Manager of Public Programs plays a critical role in advancing the Museum’s strategic plan.

Essential Functions:
• Serve as a visionary, ambitious, highly creative, resourceful, and inspiring leader.
• Acts as a creative and entrepreneurial catalyst for the Museum, exploring and producing robust ideas for exciting and impactful new educational opportunities, partnerships, and programs.
• In collaboration with members of various departments, develops annual budgets and ensures that income targets are met, and expenses are kept within budget. Prepares periodic budget revisions and other financial reports.
• Regularly assesses staff performance and the department’s progress in meeting short-term and long-range objectives.
• Builds the best Public Program team and ensures that productivity and consistently high-quality performance standards are maintained.
• Creatively lead in the creation and implementation of programs, publications, and materials generated by the department to ensure that they are of the highest quality in terms of approach, content, and presentation. Serve as a member of the museum’s editorial board.
• Ambitiously develop and oversee a full calendar of high-profile and impactful events
• Perform other tasks as assigned, including preparation of reports and presentations to the Board, funders, and others.

Qualifications
• A bachelor’s degree in a African American Studies or a related field and/or equivalent field related experience in museum education, history, education, and/or the equivalent background derived from work experience
• Five (5) or more years of demonstrated success developing and managing education programs in museums, education institutions, and/or other non-profit cultural organizations.
• Budget management experience • Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to represent the museum at high levels and to lead a team of creative individuals.
• Ability to manage several tasks simultaneously.
• Regularly expected to take part in programs after the normal workday and in several annual large-scale events on weekends.

How to apply: Application will only be accepted via our website thewright.org/jobs or email to HR@thewright.org Interested candidates should submit (1) a resume and (2) a cover letter with salary requirements. Please no phone calls.

Posted on 2/18/2021