Manager of Educational Programming

Job Description

About the Role:

The Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies seeks an experienced Manager of Educational Programs to support its community-oriented initiatives. Working from the Aspen Institute’s Aspen, Colorado campus, the Manager of Educational Programs will develop, implement and evaluate educational programming and community engagement initiatives.

About the Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies (“The Bayer Center”):

The Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies, located on the campus of the Aspen Institute in Colorado, opened on June 26, 2022. This 7,000-square-foot exhibition space is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the artist and designer Herbert Bayer (1900-1985), who studied and taught at the Bauhaus before emigrating from Germany to the United States in 1938. Between 1946 and 1975, Bayer was instrumental in Aspen’s postwar revitalization, designing the Aspen Institute campus and shaping the organization’s early artistic and programmatic vision.

The Center promotes a fuller understanding of Bayer—one of the leading figures to translate the Bauhaus movement into an American context—and his contributions to art, design, and architecture. It anchors the Aspen Institute’s campus-wide visual arts program, which includes over 9,000 square feet of gallery space and multiple site-specific outdoor art installations.

Job Responsibilities: The Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies seeks an experienced Manager of Educational Programs to support its community-oriented initiatives. Working from the Aspen Institute’s Aspen, Colorado campus, the Manager of Educational Programs will demonstrate proficiency in the conceptualization, development, and delivery of educational and curricular support, with an emphasis on building curricular materials for K-12 and regional post-secondary audiences in arts, humanities, and related fields of education.

The ideal candidate for this position is an experienced individual who is well-versed in recent museum education trends and best methodologies and practices in the fields of education and community engagement; and who demonstrates a passion for arts and culture. She/he/they are responsible for handling a wide range of educational and logistical tasks, including community outreach, marketing, program development, exhibition design, event-planning, project implementation, and coordinating with other Bayer Center staff.

The primary area of operational focus will be the development of programming for K-12 through post-secondary levels related to the Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies. The Manager of Educational Programs will collaborate and coordinate with other community arts education initiatives to help develop the most effective and comprehensive programming.

The Aspen Institute’s primary geographic emphasis for educational outreach and engagement will be focused throughout the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys, serving Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield Counties from Aspen to Parachute, CO.

The Manager of Educational Programs reports to the Director of the Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies, and also collaborates with adjacent programs, including Aspen Community Programs, the Hurst Community Initiative, Aspen Ideas Festival, and other public-facing initiatives based out of the Aspen Institute’s Colorado campus.

Our ideal candidate is creative, enterprising, and compassionate; capable of engaging successfully with diverse audiences (age, experience, culture, ability); possesses a proven track record of working both independently and with small teams; and has extremely high standards for professionalism and public presentation. She/he/they will be able to work with diverse audiences and individuals, ranging from local school groups (K-12) to international visitors, to Aspen Institute donors, trustees, and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop, implement, and evaluate educational programs presented by the Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies and the Aspen Institute;
• Oversee the development, execution, and evaluation of curricular offerings, ensuring overall excellence while demonstrating relevance to the mission and values of the Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies;
• Proactively serve as the primary point of contact with school and community organizations to develop and disseminate and implement impactful curricular materials;
• Identify, analyze, and implement best educational and museum-based practices, review and analyze comparable services and industry trends, and report findings to Director;
• Assist in the development of monthly, quarterly, and annual reports for Bayer Center and Aspen Institute leadership;
• Work with the Aspen Institute’s leadership and risk management teams to ensure best practices related to supervision, instruction, and engagement with Bayer Center guests;
• Coordinate with Bayer Center leadership to develop and distribute surveys and evaluations for review of programs;
• Maintain positive communication with participants, teachers, parents, and others who visit the center.

Experience and Education:

Successful candidates for this position will possess, at minimum, a Bachelor’s Degree in education or a related field, with a preference for candidates who hold advanced degrees at the MA or Ph.D. level in Museum Education, Arts Administration, Art History, or a related field.

Competitive candidates will possess at least three years of experience working in a leadership position at an educational institution. Preferably, candidates have a minimum of five years of relevant experience in education, public programming, community engagement, or related fields.

Qualifications, Experiences, and Aptitudes:

Strong candidates will possess the following qualifications, experiences, and aptitudes:

• Training/demonstrated experience in education and/or community engagement fields
• Familiarity with art, humanities, culture, creative expression, and related disciplines
• Spanish language fluency (preferred)
• Excellent public speaking and interpersonal skills; warm, welcoming manner and ability to engage positively with people of different ages and abilities
• Strong written communication skills, including lesson plan and curriculum design for museums or other nontraditional learning settings
• Detail-oriented with a proven ability to organize tasks and resolve problems, exercise good judgment, take initiative, follow-through, multitask and manage a changing and varied workload
• Team player with a collaborative work style and a professional, service-oriented demeanor; demonstrated success at working well with others and independently
• Familiarity with the greater Roaring Fork Valley and its diverse communities
• Familiarity with DEAI and equity-focused educational philosophies
• Fluency in working with individuals who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA
• Knowledge of, or demonstrated experience with, accessibility-focused programming
• Familiarity with best practices in working with minors and K-12 students
• Readiness to collaborate with local schools, institutions, and community groups
• Capacity for mentoring/supervising students at secondary and post-secondary levels
• Strong writing and analytical skills, superior attention to detail, and ability to simultaneously manage multiple tasks
• Creative problem-solving skills and professional and polished interpersonal skills
• Computer skills: required familiarity with Microsoft Office and scheduling software

Requirements and Additional Terms:

Hours and Work Schedule – This is a salaried position, with a minimum of 30 hours per week. While most work will be conducted during regular business hours Monday through Friday, some flexibility may be required for working occasional events during evenings and weekends.

Flexibility in schedule, including the ability to work remotely.

NOTE: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.