Pay Rate Type:
Salary
Employee Type:
Job Summary:
Colby College Museum of Art
Full-Time, Exempt, Salaried, Administrative Staff Appointment
OVERVIEW
The Mirken coordinator of campus and community collaboration is a critical member of the Colby Museum’s engagement team, which works to develop and facilitate dynamic art experiences and programs for audiences of all ages. Reporting to the Mirken curator of education and engagement, the Mirken coordinator is a key liaison to Colby campus student groups as well as community organizations in Waterville and throughout Central Maine, developing, facilitating, and sustaining ongoing and multi-year collaborative partnerships.
Working with museum colleagues, the Mirken coordinator takes a lead in coordinating student pathway opportunities within the museum that strengthen student understanding of the public value of museums. Working with Colby and local community partners, the coordinator creates community and civic partnerships as well as collaborations with student groups. They also oversee the museum student advisory board and student guides, and coordinate recruitment across the museum for student intern and worker opportunities. The Mirken coordinator plays a key role in the museum’s engagement and collaboration with the Waterville community, serving as part of the programming team for the Greene Block + Studios on Main Street and working with Lunder Institute for American Art and Colby Arts colleagues to plan and execute regular programming in the space and our community in ways that foster collective creativity, community participation, and connections between Colby students, community members, and visual and performing artists.
THE MUSEUM AND ITS MISSION
The Colby College Museum of Art is a collecting and teaching museum dedicated to the preservation, display, and interpretation of the visual arts. We embrace within our collections works of art from diverse cultures and historical periods, with a focus on American art, and commitment to collecting and exhibiting contemporary art. We manage these resources for the benefit of the Colby College community, the region, and the nation and aspire to display works that embody the highest standards of achievement.
A COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Working to advance equity and inclusion in the field of American art—and, by doing so, in the wider world—is core to our mission. We feel the urgency of national and campus conversations on inequality and are keenly aware of the unique responsibility that we have as an academic art museum—as a place where we can listen, ask questions, and challenge assumptions—to engage in this dialogue, and to act. We affirm the Colby Museum’s commitment to multidisciplinary teaching and learning and our potential for deep engagement with students will be leveraged in this effort toward fighting racialized violence, injustice, and inequality; and we encourage inquiries from candidates who will contribute to the diversity of our College, including its cultural and ethnic diversity.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
· In partnership with staff in the Office of the Dean of the College, including its Office of Civic Engagement team, and other campus offices, identify, build, and sustain relationships with campus and community groups in ways that surface needs, opportunities, and shared goals
· Work with campus and community groups to develop, implement, and evaluate sustained, multi-year programming as well as occasional one-time programs with that connect Colby students, faculty, staff, and adult community audiences with art at the museum
· In collaboration with Lunder Institute staff, coordinate and facilitate art-based programming that connects local and regional communities with art at the museum and with the Lunder Institute’s fellows
· Working collaboratively with the Lunder Institute programming team and Colby’s Arts Office, contribute to and facilitate regular programming of the Greene Block + Studios
· Contribute to museum multigenerational programs on campus and downtown
· Manage the museum’s student advisory board and student guides program; supervise and mentor one or more engagement interns, and work with other Colby student groups to increase interaction and dialogue between students and the museum as a whole, fostering student participation in program development and implementation
· Coordinate student hiring for the museum, acting as a liaison for the museum with Colby’s student employment office and overseeing academic year and summer student employment workflows for museum staff and teams who employ students
· With the Linde Family Foundation curator of academic engagement, who leads the museum’s student pathways initiatives, and with assistance and collaboration from the Mirken fellow, participate in and coordinate student cohort-building activities, professional development, and pathway opportunities
· Work closely with the Office of Communications to market engagement offerings and expand their visibility and reach
· Participate in cultivation of strong relationships with donors, alumni, the Museum’s Board of Governors, and key constituents across the campus and in the Waterville community
· Contribute to the field, developing and sustaining a network of relationships with peers, mentors, and mentees, and remaining knowledgeable of trends in the field and best and next practices in the arts and culture sector broadly
· Represent the museum in professional and academic forums locally, regionally, and nationally
· Perform additional duties as assigned; duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice
QUALIFICATIONS
· Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in education and experience
· Minimum 1-2 years of relevant professional work experience
· Experience with audience engagement, community organizing, and/or public programming development in the cultural sector; experience working with artists and/or arts organizations preferred; demonstrated use of anti-racist pedagogy
· Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including strong relationship skills and ability to work with people across a wide range of levels of power and influence
· Demonstrated ability to synthesize information and communicate key points
· Excellent organizational skills, ability to consistently meet deadlines and follow-through on tasks
· Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
· Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion in representing the museum and Colby College
· Proficiency with Microsoft Office software and Google applications; comfort with or ability to learn basic Adobe Creative Suite tools (Photoshop, InDesign)
· Strong, self-motivated work ethic, flexibility, and proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of a diverse community
· Ability to work collaboratively with staff, students, faculty, and other campus and community partners
· Appreciation for the value of a liberal arts education and commitment to fostering an equitable educational and work environment supportive of people from different cultures, backgrounds, and life paths
· Valid driver’s license required and must meet the College’s Fleet Safety Policy requirements; willingness and ability to travel locally, regionally, and within the US as needed
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
This position reports to the Mirken curator of education and engagement and is a member of the museum’s engagement team. They also work closely with Lunder Institute programming colleagues, the museum’s communications, curatorial, and collections teams, Colby Arts and other campus colleagues, faculty, students, and colleagues and peers from local arts and community organizations in Waterville and Central Maine.
WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
General open office and campus environment. Position involves sitting, although frequent movement is necessary. Occasional lifting is required. Computer usage involving repetitive hand/wrist motion is also necessary. Some night and weekend work required based on museum events.
TO APPLY
Interested candidates should apply electronically by clicking the “Apply” button on the Colby Careers website. Please submit a letter of interest, resume, and the contact information of three professional references. Materials should be addressed to:
Mirken Coordinator of Campus and Community Collaboration – Search Committee
Office of Human Resources
Colby College
5500 Mayflower Hill
Waterville, ME 04901-8855
Categories: Job Postings