Director of Programs and Education

Minnetrista Museum & Gardens • Muncie, IN

2d

About The Position

The Director of Programs and Education manages Minnetrista’s Programs department and Visitor Services functions, overseeing the development, delivery, and evaluation of educational and entertaining programming and visitor experiences. The role is a member of the Leadership Team and participates in strategic and operational discussions and decision-making. It supervises and coaches staff to collaborate in achieving institutional goals and outcomes.

The Director oversees programs for adults, families, and schools, including drop-in and scheduled experiences for audiences with diverse backgrounds. The position builds relationships with regional schools and community education groups, manages departmental budgets, and works across departments and with external partners to create visitor-centered programming that supports Minnetrista’s mission and responds to community interests and needs.

The work is primarily in a sedentary office environment. Schedule flexibility is critical, including occasional evenings and weekends, and the role requires moving throughout Minnetrista’s 40-acre campus. The position requires the ability to reach overhead and handle items weighing approximately 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in education, history, art, natural history/environmental education, or a related field, and/or related experience.
• Five to eight years of informal education or teaching background, including developing and evaluating audience-specific experiences.
• Experience developing, leading, or managing programs that educate and entertain different age groups.
• Management experience leading staff in creating and executing programs and experiences that attract and engage audiences.
• Strong initiative, communication, multitasking, organizational, and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to learn new software as necessary.
• Ability to work with diverse staff members and members of the public with a strong customer-service mindset.
• Alignment with Minnetrista’s cultural values and visitor-centric focus.
• Ability to cultivate and maintain professional credibility with staff, administration, and volunteers, and to demonstrate maturity, sound judgment, a positive attitude, and collaboration.
• Schedule flexibility, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Ability to move about Minnetrista’s 40-acre campus, reach overhead, and handle items weighing approximately 20 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Museum experience and/or a degree in museum studies or education.
• Experience with CRM software; Altru by Blackbaud is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Direct, manage, and evaluate the Programs Department and Visitor Services functions.
• Oversee the development, delivery, and assessment of programs for adults, families, and schools, including drop-in and scheduled experiences for diverse audiences.
• Strengthen relationships with regional schools by developing relevant educational programming and communicating and coordinating with teachers and administrators.
• Serve as a liaison to community education groups, including Cradle to Career Muncie and others as applicable.
• Supervise and mentor Visitor Services leads and Experience Guide leads to provide admissions and ticketing services, answer visitor questions, share information, and deliver excellent customer service.
• Lead a cross-departmental team in generating programming initiatives for target audiences and outcomes that address community interests and needs and support the organizational mission.
• Develop and manage Programs and Visitor Services budgets and finances, using available resources responsibly.
• Establish and maintain collaborations with external organizations and individuals to bring engaging, visitor-centered experiences to the community.
• Collaborate with Exhibitions and Collections staff to create complementary and relevant programming that tells stories supporting the organization’s mission.
• Collaborate with other departments to develop and assess target-audience goals and strategies and help fulfill partner expectations.
• Demonstrate Minnetrista’s vision, values, mission, goals, and strategies; support organizational purpose through collaboration and teamwork.
• Perform other duties as required.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager