About Dia Art Foundation 

Dia Art Foundation was established in 1974 for the purpose of collecting, commissioning, and presenting major works of art made in the 1960s onward. Today it consists of nine permanent sites across the United States and Germany, as well as three changing exhibition spaces in New York State: Dia Chelsea in the city, Dia Beacon in the Hudson Valley, and Dia Bridgehampton on Long Island. Dia is taken from the Greek word for “through” and conveys the foundation’s role as a facilitator of meaningful artistic experiences that can be encountered in single and repeated visits.  

Position summary

The Manager of Learning and Engagement supports the growth, expansion, and impact of Dia Art Foundation’s museum programs, cross-site learning opportunities, and community-driven initiatives, and oversees inclusive, ongoing, participatory programs that engage children and families, organizational partners, intergenerational audiences, K–12 students, and youth and young adults. With guidance and oversight from the Director of Learning and Engagement, this role provides creative leadership and oversight for the conception, development, implementation, and evaluation of all on- and off-site engagement-driven programs at Dia Beacon and its surrounding communities, while contributing strategic leadership to the design and long-term growth of community, family, school, and youth and young-adult programs across Dia’s locations and sites.

The Manager of Learning and Engagement develops and initiates engagement-driven programs for all audiences in alignment with Dia’s pedagogical approach, public-engagement strategy, and larger institutional priorities, and provides oversight and guidance for established ongoing and seasonal programs.

Essential duties and responsibilities

• Supervise two full-time Program Administrators and up to 25 part-time Artists-as-Educators by establishing clear benchmarks and expectations for team members; engage in direct coaching and support all aspects of research, curriculum/program design, and implementation; and manage assignments, scheduling, and payroll
• Manage and grow Dia’s Beacon-based learning initiatives, including supervising all learning programs and youth participants and ensuring that in-gallery and off-site programming is aligned with Dia’s institutional goals, pedagogical values, and meets the highest standards of quality through research, observation, and consistent evaluative and reporting practices
• With oversight from the Director of Learning and Engagement, support and maintain a thriving, values-driven internal community of practice; design and facilitate team learning around Dia’s exhibition program, pedagogical approach, and strategies of engagement, including cross-departmental training as appropriate; and contribute to all aspects of the recruitment and hiring of a diverse and inclusive team of educators
• With oversight from the Director of Learning and Engagement, develop and implement a community-engagement strategy, emphasizing reciprocal relationships with organizations, schools, and communities across Dia’s locations and sites, as well as supporting the development of a range of culturally responsive and relevant programs that center accessibility and equity for all people and publics at Dia
• In dialogue with the Director of Learning and Engagement and the Director of Visitor Experience, establish priorities and improve collaborative capacity for cross-training and team development between the Program team (Curatorial, Learning and Engagement, Publications) and the Visitor Experience team in response to and anticipation of Dia’s expanding program, audiences, and institutional growth; collaborate with the Manager of Visitor Experience and Training to implement shared priorities across departments and organize cross-team learning opportunities

Other duties and responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Director of Learning and Engagement in strategic planning and the development of long-term projects
• Contribute leadership to Learning and Engagement, cross-departmental, and organizational public- and community-engagement initiatives, particularly those prioritizing greater access and equity, and initiate corresponding programs/partnerships across Dia’s locations and sites as directed
• Maintain an active and collaborative presence at community events and act as a representative of Dia in the Hudson Valley, New York, and Dia sites as directed
• In dialogue with the Communications and Publications departments, author public-facing content related to Learning and Engagement programs and community-engagement initiatives, and contribute expertise to organizational considerations and communications related to accessibility
• Participate actively in the field of arts education and public/community engagement, sharing best practices with colleagues in the field and at Dia, particularly as they relate to cultural equity and accessibility
• Support development initiatives, including engaging with Dia’s board and supporters as directed
• Attend Dia Beacon and Dia Chelsea meetings as required
• Additional responsibilities and projects as directed

Education, certification, and experience

• Bachelor’s degree in art history, education, museum studies, or related fields, or commensurate professional experience required
• Five years administrative experience, ideally in a nonprofit educational or contemporary-art organization, with at least two years of experience in a management or leadership capacity
• Experience directly supervising staff, specifically in the design and delivery of innovative arts-related programming for all ages in an educational capacity is essential
• Experience designing, facilitating, and implementing impactful, accessible, and inclusive programs supporting intersectional publics diverse in background, age, ability, and learning styles
• Experience initiating and sustaining relationships with community partners and realizing responsive, co-created programs centered on shared priorities
• Fluency in English and Spanish desired

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Must demonstrate a commitment to the mission of Dia Art Foundation as well as to making art accessible to all through dynamic and innovative programs, particularly for communities traditionally underserved by museums
• Cultural fluency, empathy, collaborative capacity, emotional intelligence, and a commitment to accessibility and cultural equity is essential
• Demonstrated understanding of institutional operations, including regulatory and compliance considerations when working with youth in the nonprofit sector
• Takes initiative and is a strategic thinker able to synthesize information and communicate priorities in support of a purposeful, values-driven program
• Experience with evaluation methodologies and analysis in support of measuring impact
• Ability to prioritize and work independently to advance short- and long-term goals or projects, and capacity to delegate, establish accountability structures, and make informed choices aligned with Dia’s approach and institutional priorities

Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with both Mac and PC platforms

Working conditions and physical demands

• This is a full-time position based at the Dia Beacon offices and requires regular presence at the Dia Chelsea offices/galleries in New York with some travel to Dia’s sites. Working hours are 40 per week from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday; regularly occurring weekend program support required
• Significant computer work, which may require repetitive motions, prolonged periods of sitting, and sustained visual and mental applications
• Occasional lifting, bending, pulling, collating, and filing, some of which could be heavy (up to 15 lbs) or require the use of carts

Dia provides a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package with significant employer contributions toward the cost of healthcare premiums. The 401(k) plan provides 100% employer match up to 4% of the employee’s deferral and immediate vesting. Paid time‐off benefits include three weeks of vacation, 10 days of sick leave, 13 holidays, and a generous parental-leave program. Work-related travel expenses are fully covered. Additionally, staff ID badges gain reduced or free admission to most American museums and arts organizations. 

Qualified candidates are invited to apply by completing the online job application, linked here, and attaching a resume and letter of interest.  

   

Dia Art Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, national origin, ethnic origin, citizenship status, disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law in its employment policies. In addition, Dia will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and supports a neurodiverse workplace. Candidates with nontraditional learning or career paths and/or applicants whose qualifications differ from those listed above are encouraged to apply.