Manager of Public Programs - INTERNAL ONLY (Program Specialist 3)

State of Washington • Spokane County – Spokane, WA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture (MAC) seeks to engage our audiences in the appreciation of art, history, and culture of the Inland Northwest and beyond, through collection stewardship, exhibitions and programs that enrich and inspire. Established in 1916, the MAC is the oldest cultural organization in Spokane, Washington, and serves over 100,000 visitors each year from around the region. The museum collections contain over 63,000 objects, including the largest known collection of Plateau tribes art and artifacts.

As the Manager of Public Programs, you will collaborate with staff, curators, and regional arts leaders to design, deliver, and evaluate dynamic community offerings. You will oversee all adult education initiatives, workshops, lectures, and events that support museum collections, changing exhibitions, and the historic Campbell House while reflecting Spokane’s diverse community. Additionally, you will handle day-to-day administrative operations, like including contractor agreements, Versai event registration, marketing, and budgeting, while serving as an active presence in the Inland Northwest arts scene to build partnerships and cultivate innovative programming.

Requirements

• Six years of relevant professional experience and/or relevant education.
• Relevant education would be in Education/Teaching, History, Art, Museum Studies, or other relevant discipline.
• Relevant experience would be in cultural or educational institutions.
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing vibrant community and public programming that support an institutional mission.
• Working knowledge of AAM standards of education and interpretation, and State of Washington Common Core and grade-specific curriculum requirements.
• Ability to communicate effectively with peers, and to stay on budget while meeting hard deadlines.

Nice To Haves

• Master's Degree in Education/Teaching, History, Art, Museum Studies, or other relevant discipline.
• Passion for sharing the region's stories with audiences of all ages, cultures, and learning preferences through a variety of media (printed, electronic, visual, etc.).
• Understanding of inter-generational preferences, individual learning styles, cultural dynamics, and AAM best practices.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with staff, curators, and community arts leaders to design educational programs that foster creativity, innovation, and experimentation.
• Plan and organize a range of public programs, including film performances, concerts, lectures, and workshops.
• Develop dynamic, ongoing educational offerings that align with the museum's mission and reflect broad community interests.
• Partner with curatorial and interpretation staff to create programming that directly supports permanent collections, changing exhibitions, and the Campbell House.
• Execute cohesive promotional and developmental strategies alongside internal teams and external leaders to maximize community engagement.
• Lead the adult programs division by developing, overseeing, and evaluating adult education initiatives, community events, and established programs aligned with Spokane’s diverse community.
• Manage administrative and operational duties, including contractor agreements, Versai registration software, marketing, budgets, team supervision, and active community outreach.
• Other duties as needed.

Benefits

• The state may verify information.
• The hiring authority reserves the right to offer the position at any time after the required posting period, and during the recruitment process.
• It is to the applicant's advantage to apply as early as possible.
• Background check including criminal record history will be conducted as a condition of employment.
• Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
• The Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture (MAC) celebrates our differences and we are committed to a workplace that supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
• We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws.
• You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our organization.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED