Public Art Manager - Bond Projects - Denver Arts and Venues

City and County of Denver • Denver, CO

4d • $86,634 - $142,947 • Hybrid

About The Position

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver. Please submit an application, resume, and a cover letter in order to be considered. Denver Arts and Venues is seeking a Public Art Manager with excellent communication, managerial, and organizational skills to join its dynamic and thriving Public Art Team. The primary function of this position is to manage a team (including large contractors) and contribute to the planning and management of the division while working collaboratively with community members as well as internal stakeholders, providing leadership and expertise in the field of public art, while supporting the department’s long and short-range strategic initiatives, goals, and objectives. This position will also act as project manager for approximately 15 complex art projects and support team members in their projects as needed. This is a full-time position with benefits and reports to the Public Art Director. Denver Public Art was established through an executive order by Mayor Federico Peña in 1988 and was adopted into Denver’s Revised Municipal Code in 1991 [DRMC 20-85, et seq.]. The ordinance allocates 1% of capital improvement projects equal or greater than $1 million for the inclusion of new public art. Since 1988, the City of Denver has invested more than $45 million in its public art collection with more than 400 new installations in addition to approximately 100 historic and donated works. Denver Arts & Venues (DAV) is the City and County of Denver agency responsible for overseeing the Denver Public Art. DAV is also responsible for operating some of the region’s most renowned facilities, including Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, Colorado Convention Center, Denver Coliseum, McNichols Civic Center Building and Theatre at Loretto Heights. We also oversee funding opportunities like P.S. You Are Here and Five Points Jazz Fund, implementation of Denver’s Cultural Plan DENVER CREATES and other entertainment and cultural events such as Sunset Cinema. DAV is committed to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion as a fundamental guiding value and a practice woven into all of our strategies, initiatives, and decision-making processes. This includes the public art process. To address historic inequities and systemic racism, the City’s Equity Platform is focused on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) and other historically marginalized communities, including but not limited to people with disabilities and LGBTQIA2S+. Ensuring meaningful representation from historically untapped and under resourced communities is essential to these practices.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Arts, Project Management, Public Administration or a closely related field.
• Five (5) years of supervisory, professional and technical level experience in Public Art, Placemaking or a closely related field.
• One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education

Nice To Haves

• 5+ Years experience in Public Art, Arts Administration, Placemaking and or Art/Design
• 3+ years experience managing a team, and/or developing strategy, leadership, and process improvements
• Experience with project management and construction, preferably in a governmental setting
• Demonstrated knowledge of the public art field
• Experience implementing conflict resolution strategies
• Experience in public engagement and facilitation
• Ability to handle high volume of concurrent tasks with great attention to detail
• Skilled in public speaking with exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Strong skills in problem solving
• Knowledge of budgeting principles and practices
• Knowledge of various types of contracts, techniques for procurement and contracting, and contract negotiation and administration, preferably in a governmental setting.
• Technical expertise in construction, fabrication, art and design
• Experience with collections management and databases
• Experience with contract management, compliance, and municipal processes
• Experience with and understanding of Denver’s diverse communities and demonstrated ability to engage with and develop relationships with these communities
• Knowledge of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles
• High proficiency with Microsoft and Adobe software applications
• Valid Driver's License, as this role requires travel around the metro area

Responsibilities

• Manage a team, demonstrating an ability to coach, motivate and engage direct reports
• Provide technical expertise to artists and internal project managers through design development, construction, and installation of projects.
• Provide team-wide support in problem solving and strategizing around Public Art projects, and long-term team goals.
• Support the Public Art Director in building and executing policies, processes, decisions, research projects, and long and short-term strategic planning.
• Perform comprehensive and technical administrative activities related to the public art division including providing leadership, technical expertise and developing long range and short-term planning initiatives and overall goals, objectives, and priorities for the division.
• Provide consultation on the team-wide development of contracts, RFPs, and financial processes.
• Build interagency and community relationships to further the team’s goals and address Project Managers’ needs.
• Oversee and manage the completion of all Bond funded Public Art Projects
• Develop strategies and systems to complete Bond funded public art projects in a timely and efficient manner.
• Work collaboratively with community leaders and internal and external stakeholders such as the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI), Parks & Recreation (P&R), City’s Department of Finance, and the City Attorney’s Office to improve interagency processes and solve technical issues.
• Determine effectiveness of team procedures and processes and make improvements.
• Work in partnership with DAV agency teams including leadership, finance, marketing and capital projects to ensure coordination and completion of all projects on a defined timeline.
• Research assigned projects to develop and manage a work plan for each artwork, including detailed knowledge of parent project, public engagement, budget, timeline, location, and scope.
• Liaise with members of the City Council and district staff to develop plans and processes for projects within each district and to keep them informed throughout the project.
• Keep supervisor and leadership informed of all significant project milestones, delays, concerns and developments.
• Provide timely weekly, monthly and annual reports on projects and processes.
• Design and execute community engagement strategies, systems and procedures for applicable projects.
• Utilizing principles of public engagement, equity, diversity and inclusion, work with stakeholders to establish unique community engagement process or panel that will create goals for the project and selection of an artist/artwork.
• Facilitate the public selection process with professional consultation and expertise regarding artwork, artists, community research and public process ensuring that is it transparent, fair and effective.
• Draft and publish Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for each project and assist artist vendors with project proposals.
• Initiate and manage complex project contracts and budgets including regular communication with Department of Finance and DAV Finance division.
• Budget management: plan, execute, and manage all individual project budgets, including project contingency.
• Invoice management: pay and track vendor invoices.
• Contract negotiation in partnership with City Attorney’s Office.
• Ensure contract compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies including Prevailing Wage and Denver Small Business Opportunity program.
• Archive all project information in collection database.
• Ensure timely reporting to supervisor, agency and city as required.
• Submit and obtain (or assist artists in submitting) all necessary permits and approvals required for city installation and construction projects working with DOTI or other agencies as required. This includes ROW permits, Traffic Control plans, security and all other needs for the project while onsite.
• Provide architects, designers, and engineers consultation, coordination and guidance through the artwork development and installation process.
• Oversee artwork construction and onsite project installation in close coordination with parent project.
• Orient and provide technical support to artists during the application process, with particular emphasis on new and emerging artists in the public art field.
• Provide technical expertise to artists through city contracting process and policy, design development, fabrication, construction, and installation of projects.
• Conduct site visits during fabrication process as needed to ensure project will meet established goals.
• Develop and execute special research projects, policies, or events, as needed.
• Make informed, quick decisions weighing all risks.
• Work on Agency and Citywide initiatives, projects and committees as assigned.
• Engage in professional development and stay abreast of knowledge about the Public Art field.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Ability to work some nights and weekends.

Benefits

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

What This Job Offers

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