Director of Education & Engagement

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

About the UMass Fine Arts Center

Since its founding in 1975, the UMass Fine Arts Center has been a central force in the cultural, social, and academic life of the University, the Five College campuses, and the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. The Fine Arts Center's combination of educational, visual, and performing arts programs not only makes us unique, but it also secures a very vital and necessary position for us to meet the diverse needs of scholars, faculty, students, alumni, and the broader community.

Job Summary

The Director of Education and Engagement is responsible for setting the strategic vision for the Education Department, and efficiently managing the department's processes, programs, and team. The Director will develop and build the organization's arts education portfolio, a network of partners, and reach across campus and within the region. Reporting to the director of the Fine Arts Center (FAC), this position serves as a senior member of the leadership team, functioning independently to support and promote the teaching and research mission of the FAC.

Essential Functions

• Provides strategic direction for all FAC education programs.
• Conceives, develops, promotes, and manages new education programs and audience engagement platforms for the Amherst, Mt. Ida, and Springfield campuses, develops online offerings through University Without Walls (UWW), caters to local and regional audiences, the 5-College academic community, middle and high school students, teachers, alumni, and adult learners.
• Pilots innovative, stimulating, and culturally enriching initiatives for internal and external stakeholders in accordance with best practices and utilizes effective new learning, teaching, and interpretive strategies.
• Advances and promotes arts integrated learning and research opportunities across the University by working with Vice Chancellors, Deans, faculty and facilitates curricular connections between FAC programs and the university's pedagogical offerings.
• Demonstrates the ability to model, deliver, and craft rich student-centered learning experiences around Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math.
• Works closely with Arts Extension to develop, support, and expand FAC internships, career readiness programs and artist residencies.
• Works closely with the Museum Director and Performing Arts curator to set and drive the delivery of annual performance goals and success metrics for FAC's Visual Arts Educator and Performing Arts Educator.
• Represents FAC education interests on committees and at meetings and events both on and off campus by advocating the education programs of the FAC.
• Plans and executes marketing strategies in collaboration with the Director of Marketing to raise awareness of the FAC's educational offerings. Contributes to the development of publications, digital resources, and other strategies to promote Center-wide educational offerings.
• Evaluates, documents, and reports the effectiveness of FAC's education programs. Uses data to drive and improve the FAC strategy and educational programming.
• Facilitates training and mentor exchange sessions for the FAC and its collaborators to build knowledge about new methodologies and audiences.
• Develops and coordinates administrative procedures and policies.
• Seeks state, federal or other public grant funds to support FAC education and engagement efforts. Coordinates these efforts with the FAC and other appropriate departments.
• Maintains records and statistics for education programs presented by the FAC.

Other Functions

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Master's Degree in Higher Ed, Communications, Fine Arts or related field and 5-7 years' experience in an artistic, performing arts, or higher education environment.
• Grant writing experience.
• Strong leadership skills and demonstrated record of success in fostering inclusive, forward-thinking, collaborative culture within communities.
• Demonstrated experience with programs supporting K-12 education as a path to social mobility, prosperity, and a bridge to opportunity.
• Strong administrative, oral, and writing skills. Superior interpersonal skills, including poise, diplomacy, and confidentiality.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects with timeliness, efficiency, and precision.
• Organized and thorough workstyle with attention to detail.
• Collaborative, generous, team-oriented attitude; ability to contribute to a positive organizational culture.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel), design and database programs.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:30am -5:00pm and some evenings and weekends.

Salary Information

Level 29

Special Instructions to Applicants

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.