Jobs

Department: Jewish Museum Milwaukee (JMM)
FLSA Status: Exempt
Work Status: Full-time
Salary Range: $60,000-70,000

The Jewish Museum Milwaukee (JMM), located on the bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan in the vibrant and diverse Lower Eastside of Milwaukee and steps from the dynamic downtown, has an opening for an experienced, innovative, and energetic Education and Community Program Director to become part of a dynamic and high impact museum team.

The Museum tells the story of the Jews through the lens of Southeastern Wisconsin. Its vision statement is to build bridges with diverse communities with shared histories and to use Jewish history, culture, and values to explore contemporary issues of importance. JMM is on a growth trajectory and on good financial footing.

The Museum has a permanent exhibit, 3 special exhibits per year, 40+ exhibit-related programs, 2 ongoing virtual series, a virtual museum, an active archive and educates over 3000 school children per year. As a member of the team, the Education and Community Program Director sets the vision, writes the curricula, and implements school, teacher, and senior programming, oversees an active docent corps, develops meaningful community partnerships, participants in community program brainstorming, and through the Museum Administrative Coordinator implements the community programming.

Summary/Objective

Under the supervision of the Executive Director, the Education and Community Program Director is responsible for:

The research, development, and implementation of innovative educational programming through a Jewish lens for broad and diverse audiences presented in various live and online formats while being sensitive to the entire Jewish Community. In this role, the Education and Community Programming Director plays a vital role in sharing the Jewish story and the life lessons it brings, building bridges between diverse groups with shared histories, and exploring contemporary events through the lens of Jewish history, arts and values to contemplate current events and issues. They will play a critical role through developing, and implementing, school tours and curriculum, senior activities through the Spark! initiative, family activities, and community programs. They are also a key member of the Museum team and has significant input into our short and long-range plans.

1. Participate in grant writing and fund development in support of educational programs. Track and report on data for funder reports.
2. Develop and coordinate outreach to schools, senior centers, groups, and the community.
3. Expand the volunteer docent base and increase visitation to the Museum.
4. Act as one of the public faces for community programs including introducing and interviewing presenters. As part of the team, identifies programs and speakers for the Museum’s ongoing and exhibit-related programs.

Essential Functions

• Provide leadership for the Museum’s educational and community programming vision that fits with our mission and, where appropriate, the community’s funding priorities, and consider the funding landscape when planning.
• Develop a long-term and annual plan for educational programs. Assist with budget preparation and allocation of resources for educational programs and activities.
• Plan, implement, and supervise school-based programs and partnerships, including the development of relationships with teachers and schools both public and parochial.
• Works closely with Holocaust Education Resource Center to deliver program content for statewide school groups, including virtual programs.
• Develop summer and/or after-school intensives that meet community needs and goals, especially for at-risk youth.
• Work closely with curatorial, archival, and design teams to develop interpretative materials.
• Represent the Museum in educational settings, at conferences, and in the community at large. Develop, update, and maintain various community outreach programs.
• Produce lectures based on Jewish knowledge and JMM exhibits to external audiences both in person and virtually.
• Recruit, train, coordinate, and supervise docents, ensuring an engaged and effective core team of regular volunteers. Develop training materials for each special exhibit and, with the curator, train the docents. Develop a core team of docents capable of digital delivery.
• Work with graphic designers and Museum staff to develop educational and public programming marketing materials and outreach strategies.
• Serve as staff lead to the Education Committee of the Board, engaging them at a high level in plan development and outreach.
• Provides oversight of group and school sales and tour payment process. Follows up with past due accounts.
• Provides oversight of the archived educational collection, including review, maintenance and cataloging of objects in the collection.
• Keep the educational community informed of programs through regular outreach and relationship building.
• Develop education workshops and programs for teachers.
• Develop educational materials. These may include but are not limited to educators’ guides and packets, family guides, special brochures, web-based materials, blogs and articles for the newsletter.
• Oversee the Spark! initiative for people with memory loss, partnering with Ovation senior center and incorporating other senior communities.
• Is familiar with the archives to utilize in programming and presentations.

Additional Functions

• Utilize assessment and evaluation strategies for museum programs and educational content. Use assessments to inform future programs.
• Provide input into general museum planning and development.
• Work programs including set-up, technology needs, check-in, and greeting.
• Attend exhibit and special exhibit committee meetings.
• Conduct tours for the general public and donors.
• With the team, steward donors, members, and partners.
• Other projects as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Experience

• Master’s degree in Judaic Studies, Public History or Education.
• 3 to 5 years of high-impact informal educational experience, preferably in a museum.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Judaic and broad-based historical knowledge required. Knowledge of visual art is a plus.
• Polished public presentation skills.
• Ability to use independent judgment and to manage and impart information to a range of clientele and/or media sources.
• Ability to develop and present educational programs and public presentations.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Museum’s goals and objectives.
• Ability to recruit, train, supervise, and motivate volunteers.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of community constituencies and in a team.
• Strong writing and presentation skills. Ability to create, compose and edit written materials.
• Stays abreast of current events in order to make connections between historical events and relevant issues of today.
• Ability to work evenings and Sundays.
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and social media.
• Broad knowledge of and experience in best practices in museum education.
• Knowledge of digital-based programming platforms including Zoom, Teams, and digitally assisted interactives to enhance learning objectives.

Supervisory Responsibility

• This position manages the docent program and shares supervisory responsibility for the Museum Administrative Coordinator.

Work Environment

• Office and museum-based.

Compensation and Benefits

• JMM offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including health, dental, a 401(k) match, life, disability, Flexible Spending Account and a very generous time off benefit.
• The salary range is $60,000 to $70,000 dependent on education and experience.

APPLICATION INFORMATION:

The Jewish Museum Milwaukee seeks to recruit and retain talented staff from diverse backgrounds. JMM does not discriminate on the basis of personal status or group characteristics including, but not limited to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, ancestry, or marital status. The Jewish Museum Milwaukee is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability/Veteran.

Please submit a cover letter, résumé, and contact information for three references to: Executive Director Jewish Museum Milwaukee, 1360 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202 or submit online to [email protected]. The review of applications will commence immediately and will continue until the position is filled.