Head of Education

The Metropolitan Museum of Art•The Met Fifth Avenue, NY

5d•$270,000 - $310,000

About The Position

The Metropolitan Museum of Art seeks a visionary, collaborative leader and fundraiser to lead its Education Department and help implement education strategies across the Museum. The department makes the Museum’s scholarship and collection accessible and welcoming to audiences of all backgrounds, abilities, ages, and levels of experience. It oversees more than 25,000 programs annually across The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters, with more than 50 education staff and 400 volunteers. Its work spans Teaching and Learning; Public Programs and Community Engagement; Academic and Research Programs, including the Fellowship Program; and Administration and Operations. The Head will set and execute a comprehensive education strategy, oversee a cohesive portfolio of programs, lead and develop a diverse team, manage departmental operations and budgets, and strengthen fundraising and revenue opportunities. The role involves building relationships with local, national, and international partners and working across the Museum with teams including Digital, Marketing, Curatorial, Conservation, Development, Finance, and Visitor Experience. The Head reports to the Deputy Director of Audience Engagement and serves as an ambassador for The Met, advancing access, learning, public engagement, and the Museum’s relevance to diverse audiences. The position is based within commuting distance of the Museum. Employees are expected to reside in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania and be able to commute to the Museum in a single day. The advertised annual pay range is $270,000–$310,000. The Museum offers benefits and perks to eligible employees; offerings may vary by employee status.

Requirements

15 years of management experience in a museum or cultural institution.
10 years of demonstrated experience articulating and driving an organizational, cultural, or educational vision and mobilizing internal and external support for programs.
Experience building and managing high-performing staff and enabling collaborative teamwork and results.
Demonstrated track record in donor engagement and experience engaging a board and/or multiple stakeholders, including volunteers, donors, local government and public-school officials, and community leaders.
Deep knowledge of and passion for art, commitment to education and lifelong learning, intellectual inquiry, and visitor engagement.
Superlative communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills, with excellent judgment and the ability to listen, hold a position, engage diverse partners, and bring complex projects to completion.
Digital proficiency and ability to understand how technology, education, and communications support and improve one another and the Museum’s objectives.
In-depth knowledge of current and emerging educational trends.
Ability to lead strategically and collaboratively, exercise sound judgment, and demonstrate integrity in a dynamic cultural environment.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in education or art history.
Knowledge of New York City education systems, community partnerships, and program delivery models.

Responsibilities

Envision and execute a comprehensive education strategy that advances the Museum’s mission and vision, leadership in the field, and access to the Museum and its collections.
Oversee, champion, and execute an innovative, cohesive portfolio of programs and initiatives drawing on the Museum’s collections, exhibitions, scholarship, and resources.
Attract, lead, and motivate a diverse team of staff, interns, fellows, and vendors; provide professional training and growth opportunities and foster trust and collaboration.
Develop and maintain relationships with donors, supporters, collectors, scholars, artists, community partners, and organizations.
Fundraise, analyze and optimize established revenue streams, and identify opportunities for new revenue.
Expand The Met’s engagement with local communities and partners, including educational, philanthropic, and cultural institutions and public school systems across New York State, including New York City.
Experiment with and develop programs and learning experiences that encourage new and diverse local and global audiences to explore art and the Museum.
Oversee and direct budgets, staffing, deadlines, deliverables, and competing agendas.
Set priorities, create action plans, delegate, coordinate, deliver results, build cross-functional relationships, and establish consensus across a complex, multisite organization.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
403(b) basic retirement plan and optional matching retirement plan with an employer match.
Paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and 13 Museum holidays.
Long-term disability coverage.
Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Account for eligible healthcare expenses.
Commuter benefits for parking or mass transit expenses.
Free financial-planning services.
Financial assistance for relevant coursework, seminars, and training programs.
25% discount for staff in Museum shops.
Subsidized staff cafeteria.
Museums Council pass granting free admission to various museums and cultural institutions.