Associate Director of Education

Newfields Careers•Indianapolis, IN

About The Position

The Associate Director of Education is a senior leader who helps shape the future of learning at Newfields. Reporting to the Director of Learning Innovation, this role sets the strategic direction for education, ensuring programs are dynamic, inclusive, and aligned with state standards. As one of the three teams within Learning Innovation, the Education team works closely with Public Programs and the Library and Archives to support learning across the Newfields campus. Central to the position is expanding the reach and impact of PreK–12 initiatives, college partnerships, and the docent program. The Associate Director also plays a key role in strengthening collaboration across departments and guiding decisions through evidence-based evaluation, ensuring that educational efforts contribute to Newfields’ long-term sustainability.

Requirements

Communication : Exceptional clarity in written and verbal communication, ensuring resonance with diverse audiences.
Collaboration : Builds strong, trust-based relationships across teams, fostering cooperation and shared accountability.
Partnership : Cultivates meaningful external and cross-departmental partnerships, aligning stakeholders around shared goals.
Leadership : Provides forward â thinking direction, inspiring confidence and guiding teams through change with diplomacy.
Equity & Inclusion : Champions fairness, accessibility, and inclusivity in all initiatives, creating welcoming environments for diverse perspectives.
Audience Engagement : Connects art and nature to audiences of all ages, with particular strength in engaging PreK–12 students and educators.
Staff Development : Invests in mentoring and professional growth, empowering staff to excel and deliver high-quality programs.
Master’s degree in Education, Art History, Museum Studies, or related field (or equivalent experience).
7-10 years of experience in museum or arts education, with 3 years of leadership responsibilities.
Demonstrated success in growing educational programs and supervising staff
Strong knowledge of pedagogical practices, gallery teaching methods, and curriculum design aligned to state standards.
Experience with program evaluation and assessment tools.
Experience with budget management and strategic planning.

Responsibilities

With the Director of Learning Innovation, articulate and implement a vision for Education across Newfields’ campus, including the Indianapolis Museum of Art, The Garden, The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park, Lily House, and Miller House.
Manage and mentor a team of four Education staff, fostering professional growth and team cohesion.
Lead the strategic direction for PreK–12 programs, including gallery teaching, nature-based education experiences, curriculumaligned school tours, teacher professional development, and education outreach.
Build partnerships with schools, including principals, district administrators, and homeschool groups, to expand access and connect diverse audiences with Newfields’ resources.
Provide strategic oversight to the docent program, supporting recruitment, training, and expansion of the docent corps.
Oversee college and faculty initiatives, including university partnerships and the Ian Fraser Student Guide program.
Contribute to the development of an internship program, assuming responsibility for its design and oversight once established.
Support larger public engagement initiatives such as First Thursday, Community Programs, and exhibitionrelated programming.
Collaborate with curatorial colleagues to align educational initiatives with exhibitions, collection priorities, and interpretive goals.
Promote a culture of teamwork across Learning Innovation and with other departments.
Use evaluation and dataâinformed insights to guide decisions that advance Newfields’ mission and long-term sustainability.
Collaborate with Advancement on grants and funding opportunities, including proposal development, program stewardship, data collection, and reporting.
Develop and oversee budgets for assigned projects, forecasting regularly, and reporting to key stakeholders as needed.
Provide on-site leadership and coverage during evenings and weekends to ensure successful delivery of educational initiatives, public programs, and select institutional events.