Stanford University is one of the world’s premier academic and research institutions, devoting tremendous intellectual and physical resources toward the betterment of humanity. As a major Silicon Valley employer, Stanford seeks people committed to excellence and to improving our world. In turn, the university is committed to supporting its employees as they develop their careers and enrich their lives. We believe Stanford’s future success will be shaped by the diverse perspectives, unique experiences, and inclusive culture of its community.
The Anderson Collection at Stanford University, which celebrated its 10th Anniversary in September 2024, is a place of creative engagement and interactive learning. Free for all visitors, the museum preserves, presents, and interprets one of the most significant university collections of modern and contemporary American art while offering exhibitions, educational programs, and firsthand experiences with art and artists for the Stanford community and beyond. The Anderson Collection is a cornerstone of the Stanford Arts District, which also includes the Cantor Arts Center, McMurtry Building for the Department of Art and Art History, Bing Concert Hall, and Frost Amphitheater.
The Director of Programming and Engagement reports to the Director of the Anderson Collection. The position will lead the Anderson Collection’s public and academic programs to invite new interpretations of the core collection; cultivate student learning and leadership; and inspire reflection, connection, and shared experiences among visitors. The Director of Programming and Engagement is a strategic and operational partner for the museum Director, and will help define a fresh vision for the presentation of art and ideas at the Anderson. The position will be responsible for optimizing processes, enhancing systems, and ensuring that the organization’s program portfolio is executed effectively and in alignment with the museum’s goals. This position will work in close partnership with the Academic and Public Programs team at the adjacent Cantor Arts Center as well as the central administration of the Office of the Vice President for the Arts (VPA). This position will also coordinate academic exchange broadly across campus and help promote interdisciplinary programs organized with academic departments and centers.
In this role, you will:
- Work with the Anderson Collection’s Director to set overall engagement goals for the museum and devise strategies and plans to achieve these goals.
- Develop and execute a dynamic public and academic program plan including exhibition openings, artist and scholar talks, conversations, workshops, screenings, performances, community days, and student engagement activities.
- Working with an Engagement and Events Coordinator, manage all facets of program and events planning such as selection of and arrangements for participants, budget development, scheduling, logistics, mailing lists/registration, and technical aspects.
- Work closely with curatorial leads to develop and produce educational and interpretive materials for temporary exhibitions and the permanent collection, including labels, gallery guides, audio guides, interactive and participatory elements, and print collateral.
- Work with faculty to use the collections and exhibitions as a resource in their teaching and research; actively encourage Stanford university class visits through campus outreach.
- Partner with Cantor Academic and Public Programs staff to co-lead the Cantor-Anderson Student Guides program, which trains and empowers Stanford students to engage members of the visiting public through tours within the museum galleries.
- Oversee Visitor Experience and Volunteer Associate to support a museum environment that is welcoming and accessible for visitors of all ages.
- Partner with Cantor staff on developing and providing associated Anderson-related training/support for the Museum Engagement Guides program.
- Promote activities and programs that attract new, under-served, and diverse audiences to the museum.
- Provide strategic leadership and manage efforts to evaluate educational and audience engagement programs and initiatives, including gathering and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, measuring and reporting impact, and developing cases for support for grants and funding.
- Understand and communicate budget needs, develop budgets, and work to responsibly manage resources.
- Partner with colleagues in development and marketing to ensure that Anderson Collection programs are communicated and implemented in a way that garners attention and financial support, including through the joint Cantor/Anderson Membership program.
- Manage staff in day-to-day operations; drive performance management for direct reports including goal-setting, performance evaluations, and career development.
- Support emerging priorities from the museum Director as they arise.
In order to be successful, you will bring:
- Bachelor’s degree and five years of relevant experience, or combination of education and relevant experience.
- Demonstrated commitment to promoting and supporting an environment of diversity and inclusion.
- Experience in a museum, gallery, nonprofit, or higher education.
- Strong arts and art history background. Familiarity with the academic environment and the ability to work cross-departmentally with faculty, artists, curators, museum staff, and other campus colleagues.
- Demonstrated creativity and innovation in developing and leading programs or exhibitions engaging a broad public, including university students and faculty.
- Ability to develop interpretive programs for a range of audiences and familiarity with the use of new technologies in developing interpretive materials.
- Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills, including public speaking.
- Demonstrated experience working independently and as part of a team. Ability to direct the work of others and provide creative, intellectual, and managerial oversight to a team of staff, interns, and volunteers.
- Ability to take initiative and ownership of projects and to accomplish goals through formal and informal channels, with diplomacy and tactfulness.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and meet budget goals.
- Demonstrated solid planning, operational, and organizational skills with attention to detail. Ability to establish priorities, manage shifting priorities, and handle numerous time-sensitive projects with multiple deadlines.
- Demonstrated problem solving, critical analysis, judgment and decision-making skills.
- Proficiency in conducting research, data analysis, and program evaluation.
Don’t meet every single requirement? At the Vice Presidency for the Arts and Anderson Collection, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. Let us know in your cover letter how your experience makes you a good fit for us. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles!
