THE OPPORTUNITY
Located in the heart of San Francisco, the Asian Art Museum is home to one of the world’s finest collections of Asian art, boasting more than 18,000 inspiring artworks ranging from ancient jades and ceramics to contemporary video installations. Dynamic special exhibitions, cultural celebrations, and public programs for all ages provide rich art experiences that unlock the past and spark questions about the future.

Currently, we are leading a search for a Director of Learning and Engagement to join our team. 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.

The Director of Learning and Engagement leads the design, development, and implementation of art education at the Asian Art Museum. As the leader of the Learning and Engagement department, the individual will manage both paid and unpaid team members, including a large, dedicated group of volunteer docents and storytellers. Responsibilities are centered on creating enriching educational experiences that connect diverse audiences with the Asian and Asian American art and artists of the museum’s extensive collection and robust exhibitions program. The Director will establish the museum as a leader in educational outreach, lifelong learning, and cultural programming.

This position is responsible for collaborating with museum leadership, colleagues, and community partners in and out of the museum to engage the museum’s broader community, and for working with the museum’s executive team to develop strategies to promote diversity, equity, access, and inclusion.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Program Development and Management

• Oversee a balanced annual roster of strategic mission-based programs and opportunities for learning and engagement by adults and K-12 audiences.
• Develop innovative, inclusive, and accessible educational initiatives both on- and off-site.
• With the Marketing and Communications colleagues, oversee program marketing and outreach, and collect, analyze, and integrate audience and participant data into program planning with the goal of increased public and community engagement.
• Partner closely with curatorial and exhibitions colleagues to develop meaningful opportunities to engage visitors with art.
• Proactively identify and build strategic educational partnerships.
• Create and lead programs that support California’s K-12 curriculum standards, highlighting thecontributions and experiences of Asian and Asian American communities, while aligning various resources with California's and San Francisco's K–12 curriculum standards for youth education.
• Implement evaluation tools and methods to assess the impact and effectiveness of educational programs.
• Use feedback and data to continuously improve and innovate educational offerings.
• Develop educational materials, guides, and digital resources to enhance learning experiences of Asian and Asian American art.
• Oversee the creation and delivery of professional development programs for professional educators.
• Create resources and programs that specifically support Ethnic Studies education in California.

Team Leadership

• Supervise and mentor education team members; motivate them to perform their roles efficiently and effectively; foster a collaborative and creative work environment that encourages professional growth and development.
• Establish priorities, conduct team meetings, and delegate authority to reporting staff as appropriate; monitor staff performance.
• Oversee a large and dedicated group of docents and storytellers who lead school and public tours; ensure that their ongoing recruitment, training, and activity planning is in alignment with the museum’s vision, strategic priorities, and competitive position.
• Develop and implement training programs for docents and storytellers to ensure high-quality tour experiences.
• Coordinate scheduling, quality control, and ongoing education for team members, delegating tasks as needed to staff members.
• Effectively manage the department budget and forecast future financial needs to support and grow Learning and Engagement.
• Work with Development colleagues to identify funding needs and grants to reach and engage new audiences.

Partnerships and Community Engagement

• In collaboration with Learning and Engagement team members and other museum departments, create a systematic and focused engagement strategy that identifies, prioritizes, and sustains the museum's relationships with external educational institutions, cultural organizations, and community groups.
• Oversee proactive outreach to relevant constituencies to build audiences and relationships for the Learning and Engagement program.
• Represent the museum in local, national, and international forums to promote educational initiatives and collaborations.
• Engage with schools and educational leaders to integrate museum resources into school curricula.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum

• Master’s degree in Education, Museum Studies, Art History, Asian Studies, or a related field and 7 years of experience in museum education or a related educational setting, with increasing responsibility that includes management of an annual plan, budget, and supervision of staff and volunteers. A combination of education and experience will also be considered.
• In-depth knowledge of Asian art, culture, and history, along with a strong understanding of current trends, issues, and best practices in museum education, engagement, and community building.
• Expertise in educational theory, visitor studies, and curriculum development.
• Proven ability to plan, develop, and implement interpretive programs focused on Asian art and culture, expanding audience engagement with museum collections and exhibitions.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate educational philosophies and develop innovative programs that link multiple disciplines and foster partnerships.
• Ability to teach, and to train others to teach; supervise, direct, motivate, and evaluate staff and volunteers.
• Excellent leadership, communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to set a vision and lead the team to deliver.
• Ability to interpret and communicate the museum’s mission-driven strategic plan to staff and visitors in an engaging and accessible manner.
• Proven experience in program and curricula development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Experience in advancing diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion initiatives, ensuring the museum's programs are inclusive and accessible to a wide range of audiences.
• Proficiency in digital tools and platforms for educational purposes.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Capacity to foster positive working relationships with staff, volunteers, and the public, and to promote membership activities to diverse and culturally varied groups and communities.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends with the ability to attend events and programs as needed.

Preferred

• Bilingual or multilingual abilities, particularly in an Asian language and/or Spanish.
• Familiarity with current trends and best practices in museum education.
• Experience in developing and implementing Ethnic Studies programs or curricula.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Standard museum, event, educational and office environment.
• Computer, tablet, and phone use.

COMPENSATION

The Asian Art Museum is committed to practicing salary transparency. The minimum salary for this position is $90,000 and the maximum salary is $112,000. 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:

• Fully covered medical, dental and vision insurance for employee
• 12 paid holidays (2024)
• 15 days of vacation starting
• 12 days of sick leave
• Group retirement plan starting after one year of employment

OUR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, 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 https://about.asianart.org/careers/. 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.