Senior Director of Interpretation and Engagement: Mütter Museum & Historical Medical Library at[...]

The College of Physicians of Philadelphia (the “College”) is a key convener for medical and public health professionals in the Greater Philadelphia region. Founded in 1787 to “lessen human misery,” it is one of the oldest professional organizations in the country, with over 1,100 active Fellows. The College is home to the Mütter Museum, the Historical Medical Library, and the Centers for Public Health and Education. Today, we improve the lives of individuals, communities, and society by challenging our understanding of health and well-being. With support from our distinguished Fellows, the College inspires action through education and public engagement.

Through the Mütter Museum, Historical Medical Library, and Benjamin Rush Medicinal Plant Garden, we serve the Greater Philadelphia region and beyond, sharing complicated and inspiring stories of medicine and public health through robust collections of rare books, archives, historical objects, and biological specimens. Explore the complex histories of medicine, engage in dialogue about well-being, and expand your understanding of the human body with us.

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Interpretation and Engagement (the “Senior Director”) leads the team in providing a variety of services to enhance the experience of the Mütter Museum & Historical Medical Library as a critical center for the understanding of medicine and public health, accomplished through engaging audiences with dynamic interpretation of its collections and utilizing the expertise of College Fellows and staff. The position provides management and strategic oversight to ensure that galleries, special exhibitions, and displays, as well as educational and community programs, fulfill the College’s mission and strategic goals , including the Mütter Museum, Historical Medical Library, and Benjamin Rush Medicinal Plant Garden. A strategic and collaborative leader, this position will build academic opportunities, artist partnerships and student and community engagement experiences to motivate learning for visitors of all ages.

Reporting to the Executive Director, Mütter Museum and Historical Medical Library (the “Executive Director”), the Senior Director structures and manages all interpretation and community engagement initiatives related to the physical and intellectual collections of the College, and works collaboratively with staff, stakeholders, and College Fellows. The Senor Director is a key member of the Museum & Library’s senior management team, promoting the core values and priorities of the College. This position executes strategy and guides pedagogy across all areas of public education, community engagement, interpretation and programming, artistic collaboration, and visitor experience. This work unfolds across multiple physical locations on campus, including spaces at 19 S. 22nd Street and 2129 Chestnut Street, as well as off-site and online program development.

The Senior Director communicates the value of informal learning as fundamental to the College’s vision to “advance the cause of health while upholding the ideals and heritage of medicine.” The position promotes the access and understanding of the College, Museum, Library, and Garden collections and fosters trust in with its local and regional communities (including pre-K-12 schools) in the Greater Philadelphia region.

Leveraging the expertise and Collections and Research Department, as well as the knowledge of College Fellows, the Senior Director expands the narratives of public health and medicine into exhibition and program experiences that center belonging and allow for multiple perspectives and outcomes. The position proactively contributes to the College’s efforts to create a thriving and well-resourced institutional culture that supports people, with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

The Senior Director develops the long-range scope and creative plan of dynamic exhibitions, community and educational programs including group and school tours, develops and implements strategic policies and procedures, establishes and manages departmental workloads, guides the development and design processes for special exhibitions and community programs, manages divisional and individual exhibition and program budgets, collaborates on grant proposals, and represents the Museum and Library’s interpretation and engagement activities nationally and internationally.

Primary Responsibilities

• With the Executive Director, lead the development of a dynamic and ambitious interpretation and engagement strategy to serve key audiences utilizing the collections of the Museum, Library, and Garden, as well as the expertise of the 1000+ College Fellows, staff, and community.
• Provide thought leadership in object and inquiry-based learning in all exhibitions and programming.
• Be primarily responsible for developing and implementing compelling and strategic exhibitions and a public engagement strategy integrating seasonal and ongoing programming with audience development.
• Work in an interdisciplinary manner with young adults, scholars and academics, stakeholders, practitioners in arts and sciences, and College colleagues to ensure that programming seasons reflect issues and questions relevant and exciting to wide audiences, and especially young people.
• Foster innovation and experimentation in developing and enhancing interpretive strategies and new technologies, encouraging open-mindedness amongst colleagues.
• Provide financial oversight for programs, including the establishment of project budgets and accurate reporting and forecasting.
• Develop, manage, and deliver a highly collaborative exhibition and public program process using contemporary museological practices such as open call process, as well as co-production and collaborative research and development.
• Recruit and manage freelance curators and producers to deliver particular activities, programs, exhibitions, and events of the highest caliber.
• Assist with fundraising and external funding grants, and cultivate active sponsorship and supplier partnerships and joint ventures with external agencies and organizations.
• Provide direction, guidance, and support to staff while participating in an environment that supports diversity, attracts, motivates, rewards, and retains the best talent, and enables the team to contribute toward achieving shared outcomes and purpose.
• Encourage evaluations (internal and external) in order to benefit from past experience and shape future directions.
• Lead by example and encourage active collaboration among community participants and staff.
• Continuously collect and analyze audience and attendance data to inform programming.
• Work with Communications colleagues to ensure successful promotion of individual programs and exhibitions, as well as the exhibitions program as a whole.
• Work with Executive Director and Vice President of Development to secure sponsorship for exhibitions, programs, and installations.
• Leverage the full impact of the College and Museum network in choosing and negotiating with partners, lenders, and outside consultants.
• Articulate and advocate for Museum and Library exhibitions and programs priorities clearly and effectively to all constituencies.
• Maintain an active presence within local and international and internal peer associations and the generous sharing of information to colleagues worldwide.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills

• A successful track record in the development and leadership of a gallery/ museum/ science center or festival from idea to operation as a successful, sustainable enterprise is desired.
• The successful candidate will have a strong background in programming leadership and team management with prior success in the design and delivery of innovative exhibitions and events.
• The ideal candidate will combine scientific, cultural, and business/financial qualifications, with experience in and curiosity for teaching about the science of medicine and public health
• A capacity for leadership, innovation and strategic planning is essential.
• Proven record in building and managing collaborative teams toward common goals, on-time and on-budget.
• Bachelor’s degree in museum studies, theater, the history of science or medicine, or a related field is required, with six–ten (6-10) years’ experience delivering successful exhibitions and programs in a museum, science center, or gallery required.
• Experience working with museum collections is required.
• Familiarity with the ethics and legalities of collecting human remains over the last 150+ years and related subject matter expertise.
• Interest in furthering a commitment to ethical, respectful, and dignified interpretation and display of culturally sensitive materials and human remains.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability always to maintain discretion and confidentiality.

Physical Demands / Work Environment

• General open office environment with some time spent in on the floor in the (both on-site and off-site) Museum galleries.
• Position requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, carrying, using hands to handle and feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing.
• Position requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision, as well as the ability to focus.
• Must be able to climb ladders, lift up to forty (40) lbs., bend, stoop, kneel, crawl and/or crouch.
• Computer usage involving repetitive hand/wrist motion is also necessary.

Special Requirements

Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

Job Classification and Schedule

• This is a full-time, exempt position with a generous benefits package.The salary range is $85,000 – $90,000.
• The schedule is typically Monday through Friday, with a requirement to work evenings and weekends when programs are taking place.
• The employee is expected to contribute thirty-five (35) hoursper week, with an unpaid 60-minute lunch break each day.
• There will be a probationary period of three (3) months after the start date.

Required Subject Line: Senior Director, Interpretation and Engagement

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

The College of Physicians of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to treating all applicants and employees fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience, without regard to sex race, age, disability, religion, national origin, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law. College Staff are expected to maintain a genuine and deep commitment to diversity and inclusion.

We recognize that candidates may not meet all of the listed qualifications for a given role. If you believe that much of this job description describes you and your capabilities, then please apply for this position. Factors such as demonstrated hard and soft skills, level of education, history in the nonprofit sector, and relevant work experience will all be evaluated. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Successful applicants for employment must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the date of hire as a condition of employment, subject to requests for accommodation.

To Apply

#J-18808-Ljbffr