Senior Director of Education and Community Engagement

Country Music Foundation Inc • Nashville, TN

just now • Onsite

About The Position

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has an opening for a full-time, exempt Senior Director of Education and Community Engagement position in the Education Department. This role is a dynamic leader, educator, communicator, and strategic thinker who oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of the organization’s educational offerings for school and teacher; youth and family; community; and volunteer and intern populations of various ages and abilities. Overseeing a staff of 15, as well as the robust volunteer and intern program, the Senior Director of Education and Community Engagement will be a highly creative and service-focused individual with the proven ability to guide history, language arts, music, visual arts, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), and college and career readiness (CCR) instruction in traditional and nontraditional education environments. This position also oversees the Museum’s Taylor Swift Education Center, which includes multiple classroom and gallery spaces, as well as the award-winning Words & Music® program.

Requirements

• At least ten years’ progressive leadership experience in a museum or similar education organization.
• Master’s degree in education, museum studies, fine arts, music, or related field.
• Proven experience developing the vision, strategy, and implementation for museum education programs.
• Passion for and knowledge of country music and awareness of popular music in general, including contemporary music across genres, and ability to conduct independent research in areas relevant to the Museum’s collection.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, inspire, and coach a talented team, as well as experience cultivating an inclusive and collaborative team culture.
• Ability to represent the museum as a senior leader, serving as an advocate and spokesperson for the Education Department's activities and initiatives both within and outside of the Museum.
• Experience partnering with other senior leaders within the organization, aligning goals and resources.
• Familiarity with current trends, issues, and best practices in the field of museum education, including experience with curriculum design and implementation, and understanding of framework for 21st century learning and social and emotional learning (SEL) competencies.
• Experience building authentic community relationships and implementing robust, audience-centered programming for students, youth, families, volunteers, and interns from a variety of backgrounds.
• Proven ability to write high-quality lesson plans with an experiential learning focus.
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office 365, including Word, TEAMS, Excel, Project, and PowerPoint.

Nice To Haves

• Service as a member of an executive team, reporting to the CEO.
• Experience presenting reports and leading meetings with members of a Board of Directors.
• Skill with Basecamp (project management software), CRMs, ticketing software, Canva (design), and accounting software.
• Experience and passion for diverse population’s learning and development.
• Dedication to providing high-quality, developmentally appropriate, and engaging educational opportunities.
• Eagerness to meet new people and share information with authentic enthusiasm and passion.
• Excellent dialogue-based teaching, public speaking, and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Strong project planning, time-management, research, organizational, and analytical skills.
• Curiosity about pop culture.
• Ability to multi-task while working with accuracy with close attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Professional independence, initiative, and self-discipline.
• Creative thinker who is driven to achieve personal, professional, and departmental goals.
• Dedication to serving a mission-driven organization.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment that can require comfortable pivoting to meet opportunity, while maintaining attention to strategic priorities.

Responsibilities

• Representing the Education Department as member of the Museum’s Senior Staff, which is composed of staff at the Senior Director level and above who guide the institution’s strategic direction and collaborate on its implementation and evaluation.
• Leading, in coordination with the EVP, External Affairs, the Museum’s Education Council, which is composed of members of the Museum’s Board of Officers and Trustees, as well as diverse community leaders in the music, education, and nonprofit spaces who support the Museum’s educational mission.
• Overseeing quarterly reporting for Education Department work, which is shared with the Education Council, Board of Officers and Trustees, Museum donors, and other stakeholders.
• Establishing a multi-year vision, general operating plans, and annual goals, objectives, and priorities for the Education Department—articulating clearly defined values, priorities, and metrics within these plans—in coordination with the EVP, External Affairs. The Senior Director will think holistically about strategic initiatives and make informed choices about program creation and enhancements.
• Leading and inspiring a talented team of 15 who guide the Museum’s educational programs’ development, implementation, and evaluation by creating a collaborative and inclusive team culture that inspires and empowers staff to execute the mission to its highest standards, providing the team with clear objectives, consistent engagement, and constructive conversation that encourages excellence.
• Ensuring the design, development, and evaluation of educational programs that align with the Museum’s mission and broader organizational priorities, promote the Museum’s Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) values, enhance flagship programs, such as Words & Music, incorporate instructional best practices to achieve optimal learning outcomes, reflect and enhance exhibition themes and the diversity and breadth of contemporary issues, educate, inspire, and engage a broad range of audiences through a variety of formats and platforms, are aligned with best practice pedagogy and museum educational theory, and are feasible within organizational constraints and goals.
• Stewarding, building, and managing partnerships with external stakeholders—cultural institutions, educational professionals, community groups, government agencies, etc.
• Leading project management for major, institution-wide Education Department initiatives, including overseeing the planning and implementation of projects; monitoring progress of projects and reporting out to stakeholders; and defining tasks and resources required to complete projects.
• Collaborating with the Museum Services Department to ensure accurate historic interpretation on all Education Department projects.
• Collaborating with the Development Department to identify and apply for grant funding and supporting relationship stewardship with prospective funders and existing donors.
• Managing all aspects of the Education Department budget in conjunction with education direct reports and the Museum’s financial team, while thinking strategically about resources needed for sustainability and growth, from annual operating budgeting and forecasting (income and expense) to capital budgeting.
• Collaborating with the Museum’s Marketing and Public Relations departments to promote programs, engage participants, and share stories of reach and impact.
• Maintaining responsibility for hiring, training, onboarding, and scheduling Education Department staff.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance Options
• Competitive Pay
• Paid Vacation and Sick Days
• Paid Holidays (13) and Floating Holidays (2)
• 401(K) with Up to 3% Employer Match
• Employee Assistance Program (Free Counseling and Legal Services)
• Eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness
• FREE 24/7 Downtown Parking and Transit Benefits
• Continuing Professional Offerings
• Complimentary Museum Admission (For Yourself, Family, and Friends)
• Reciprocal Partnerships with Local Venues (The Nashville Zoo, Dollywood Theme & Water Parks, National Museum of African American Music, tours at The Opry and The Ryman Auditorium, and more)
• Up to 25% Discount in Retail Stores and Onsite Restaurant Venues
• Opportunities to Attend Exhibit Openings, Concerts and Special Events
• Employee Engagement Activities and Opportunities
• FSA and Dependent Care Options
• Dog Friendly Work Environment
• Volunteering and Community Engagement Opportunities

What This Job Offers

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