Charles N. Mathewson Director of Education

Description

Full time / Exempt / 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday incorporating occasional evenings and weekends as needed. The Museum is an EOE.

About this Role

The Charles N. Mathewson Director of Education provides strategic, technical, leadership for the Nevada Museum of Art K-12 education programs, teacher initiatives, docent program, and school and community partnerships. Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Education and Research, the Director leads and mentors a team of four education professionals, fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture that supports professional growth, innovation, and educational excellence.

Working closely with colleagues across the Museum, the Director oversees the development and growth of educational programs that serve students, teachers, schools and families throughout Nevada. In partnership with the Senior Vice President of Education and Research, the Director advances the vision of the Education Department and strengthens the impact and accessibility of the Charles and Stacie Mathewson Education and Research Center, creating meaningful learning experiences that connect audiences with the Museum’s exhibitions, collections, and mission.

The Director of Education leads by example as a collaborative, people-centered manager who invests in the growth of their team while driving departmental goals. This is a role for someone who energizes and elevates the people around them — a self-starter who understands that the strongest outcomes come from shared ownership, open communication, and a culture of mutual respect.

Tasks and Responsibilities 

• Leads, mentors, and supports both full-time and part-time education staff members, prioritizing their professional development and fostering a collaborative, growth-oriented team environment
• Collaborates closely with the Senior Vice President of Education and Research and the Curatorial, Design, and Communication Departments (as well as other department chairs) to execute programs with interpretive and audience development and/or retention goals
• Develops, implements, and evaluates established programs including the NV STEAM Conference, school tour programs, a vibrant docent program, exhibition-related programs, teacher professional development, and other interdisciplinary art education and arts integration programs and offerings
• Plans, implements, and evaluates programs sensitive to the needs of new and diverse audiences, drawing on the expertise and perspectives of the full team
• Plans and implements educational and audience partnership opportunities and networks to broaden the education department's impact, working collaboratively across departments and with community stakeholders
• Partners with a Board of Trustees-led Community Engagement Committee consisting of trustees and community members to co-develop education-based partnerships, goals, and objectives for the department and the institution
• Collaborates with the Curatorial, Design, and Communications Departments, as well as other Museum departments, to create and execute programs with interpretive, audience development, and audience retention goals.
• Supports exhibition programming by creating interpretive programs, materials, and experiences for teachers, K-12 students, and other student-oriented audiences
• Provides instructional leadership for the Education Department by ensuring educational programs, curriculum, lesson plans, and learning experiences are developmentally appropriate, standards-aligned, and grounded in educational best practices.
• Researches, writes, edits, and produces educational and interpretive materials for exhibitions, archives, and collections, and educational publications
• Supports the Education staff person who leads the Museum’s docent program
• Practices proactive community outreach, including creative solutions and dedicated services to serve underrepresented audiences
• Collaborates with Advancement Department on Education-related funding opportunities and related informational needs
• Manages education budgets with transparency and an eye toward team and programmatic sustainability

Requirements

This position requires 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in education, museums, cultural institutions, or related fields, including demonstrated success leading staff, developing educational programs, managing budgets, and building strategic partnerships. Experience developing, implementing, and evaluating standards-aligned curriculum, lesson plans, and educational programming for K-12 audiences is required. Knowledge of child and adolescent development, instructional design, assessment practices, and effective teaching and learning strategies.

Advanced degrees in Education, Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, Museum Studies, or related fields are preferred. The successful candidate will be a collaborative and adaptable leader with excellent communication skills, a passion for educational excellence, and a commitment to expanding access to arts education throughout Nevada.

Benefits

• Fully paid employee medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• A 3% employer 401(k) contribution after one year of employment, with quarterly entry dates
• Paid vacation accrual at a rate of 3.08 hours per pay period (80 hours annually)
• Paid sick leave accrual at a rate of 4.62 hours per pay period (120 hours annually)
• Four complimentary art classes per year
• A 20% discount in the Museum Shop and a 10% discount in the Café