Manager of Public Engagement
San Francisco, CA
Education & Community Engagement /
Full-Time /
Hybrid
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the United States and a thriving cultural center for the Bay Area. We cannot imagine life without art; it inspires and connects us every day. Now more than ever, these connections matter and are aligned with our values.
Inclusive: We strive to be a museum of many voices in dialogue.
Passionate: We believe working with art is more than a job or trusteeship - it's a way of life.
Brave: We are committed to approaching our work with courage and a sense of adventure, always ready to explore new perspectives.
Empathic: We aim to act like a person, not an institution.
SFMOMA is a place for the infinitely curious to explore, support, and experience the art of our time. We believe that modern and contemporary art can influence the way we think, view the world, and embrace the many voices and perspectives around us. We aspire to foster an environment that elicits joy, nurtures a sense of belonging and purpose—where difference is seen as a strength, and every one is appreciated for their whole self.
Schedule: Full Time, 35 hours/week, at least three days working onsite
The Public Engagement team at SFMOMA develops and produces a wide range of public programming for a cross-span of audiences. This programming is rooted in artist, civic, and community partnership as well as internal collaborations. Through programming, the Public Engagement team aims to deepen the museum’s connection to diverse audiences and artistic communities in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.
Under the supervision of the Director of Public Engagement, the Manager of Public Engagement supports the development and execution of the full portfolio of Public Engagement offerings. This critical position is responsible for overseeing cross-team production workflows, cross-organization communication and workflows, successful management of project timelines, and exceptional program production. This role works extensively with cross-museum colleagues to build relationships, improve workflows, and provide clear communication around programming and deliver on programming needs.
The Manager of Public Engagement builds and sustains relationships with artists, makers, thought leaders, and community partners with a focus on the San Francisco Bay Area with the aim to enhance the museum’s role as a welcoming civic space. This position supervises the Senior Program Specialist, Public Engagement and Public Engagement Coordinator.
Success for the Manager will be to support the Public Engagement team’s efforts to:
· Create meaningful shared experiences exploring the art of our time through public programming and community-based projects.
· Encourage exploration, experimentation, and creative problem-solving through a broad range of programs including: Koret Education Center exhibitions; festival-style events; workshops; talks; tours; academic, civic, and community engagement projects; creative residencies; performances; storytelling; and artist commissions.
· Build and nurture relationships to engage a wider community in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.
· Provide access, diversity of experience, and remove institutional barriers to art and ideas.
· Create opportunities for people to connect with one another and the wider world.
In the first year of work in this position, key milestones will be:
· After 30 days: Establish understanding of key programs and processes in Public Engagement. Contribute to projects as assigned. Begin developing departmental, cross-departmental, and external relationships necessary for collaborative work.
· After 90 days: Demonstrate understanding of museum processes, contribute to an increased number, scale, and variety of projects with increased project-management responsibility while continuing to develop collaborative approach to projects.
· After 1 year: Demonstrate understanding of public engagement program strategy and event production. Project-management skills, ability to work independently and problem-solve proactively on multiple simultaneous projects; contribute to refining departmental and cross-departmental workflows; and deepen key professional collaborations.
Responsibilities & Duties
- Program Management
- Develop, implement, and evaluate a range of programmatic experiences that span discursive programming, performances, workshops, festivals, artist commissions, exhibitions in the Koret Education Center, conferences and tours.
- Responsible for team-level project management of public programs. Ensure project deadlines are communicated across the Public Engagement team and successfully met.
- Responsible for project management of Koret Education Center exhibitions (1-2 annual). Work collaboratively with the Education and Interpretive Media teams in the design, implementation, and execution of these projects.
- Manage existing and new production workflows for exhibitions, commissions, and public programs including coordinating project meetings, budgets, tasks, and timelines with all relevant stakeholders.
- Document and evaluate programs and initiatives. Work with the Director of Public Engagement to analyze and communicate evaluation outcomes.
- Undertake research for programs, including gathering background information about artists and potential community partners.
- Manage the Senior Program Associate, Public Engagement and Public Engagement Coordinator and provide mentorship, training, development, and performance evaluations.
- Department Strategy
- Strategize and coordinate Public Engagement’s broader strategic initiatives in collaboration with the Director of Public Engagement, Strategic Initiatives, Curatorial, and other members of Education and Community Engagement division.
- Support with the development of the aims, content, and scheduling of the programmatic calendar.
- Work closely with colleagues in Philanthropy on corporate sponsorships, grant writing, and reporting.
- Participate in creative thinking workshops and strategic planning meetings within the Education and Community Engagement division.
- Relationship Cultivation
- Build trusting relationships across the museum, including with Education, Curatorial, Interpretation, Exhibitions, Collections, Marketing and Communications, Design Studio, Exhibitions, Fabrication, Visitor Experience, A/V, Finance and other key internal partners.
- Write program descriptions, program notes, and program introductions. Check cross-museum outreach for programmatic accuracy.
- Act as the liaison between the museum and local community organizations and partners.
- Demonstrate a deep commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access, both within and with the communities of diverse cultures, backgrounds, and gender identities served.
- Perform other duties as required
Qualifications & Skills
- Undergraduate degree in art history, art education, cultural studies or a broad liberal arts education, or equivalent experience, with demonstrable interest in modern and contemporary art desired or equivalent related experience.
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience in an art museum, cultural organization, non-profit organization, or in program management including experience working collaboratively with colleagues and external partners, in roles of progressive responsibility, including experience managing and mentoring direct reports.
- Demonstrated event production and program management experience.
- Demonstrated experience managing the development of community-based programs.
- Excellent attention to detail and creative problem-solving skills.
- Knowledge of modern and contemporary art and museum programming. Knowledge of Bay Area cultural and community organizations, a plus.
- Demeanor suited to a fast-moving and dynamic environment.
- Demonstrated project management and organizational skills with the ability to organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, track attendance and budgets, follow-up on assignments, and work effectively on several projects concurrently with a minimum of direction.
- High degree of interpersonal skills: personable and diplomatic in working collaboratively with diverse constituencies and program participants; able to effectively supervise, motivate, and train staff.
- Demonstrated resilience, diplomacy, influence, relationship building, and problem-solving skills in a variety of situations to build and sustain respectful and collaborative relationships/networks, internal and external to the office.
- Exhibited awareness and sensitivity to cultural and other differences when working with partner organizations, staff, program participants, artists, other stakeholders, and the public.
- Highly effective written and oral communication skills to address a wide variety of audiences.
- Excellent IT skills, including Word, Excel, database, email, project management and social media applications.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Working Conditions
- Ability to work weekends (2-4 weekend days monthly) and frequent evening hours (most Thursdays).
- Light lifting, moving long distances between building facilities and offsite.
$84,872 - $103,618 a year
Job posting open date: 6/24/25
All jobs posted will remain open for at least five business days.
We encourage both internal and external candidates to apply within the initial open posting period as the application close date may or may not be extended beyond that initial period. Applications will not be accepted after a posting has been closed.
Location: San Francisco, 151 3rd Street.
Benefits: PTO, Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Accounts, Pet Insurance, Life and AD&D Coverage, Disability Insurance, Mental Health and Wellness Benefits, Discount Programs, Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits, 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan, SFMOMA Membership, and more
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
SFMOMA is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. No person shall be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, age, genetic information, ancestry/national origin, marital status, disability, medical condition, HIV status, sexual orientation, veteran/military status, and any other category protected by federal of state law.
You may request reasonable accommodation if you are unable to or are limited in your ability to access job postings or provide additional information asked in the job posting.
You can request reasonable accommodation by contacting the People Team at talent@sfmoma.org.
