Description

About the Department

As the fine arts museum of the University of Chicago, the Smart Museum of Art is a site for rigorous inquiry and exchange that encourages the examination of complex issues through the lens of art objects and artistic practice. Through strong scholarly and community collaborations and a welcoming approach to its exhibitions, collections, publications, research and teaching, and public programs, the Smart Museum plays a dynamic role in expanding artistic canons, rethinking received histories, introducing new perspectives, and engaging diverse communities — locally, nationally, and internationally.

Job Summary

The Director of the Feitler Center for Academic Inquiry is charged with conceptualizing, leading, and advancing the museum’s academic engagement, student and community outreach, and public programming. This position serves as a critical ambassador for advancing the role of art in teaching at large and shapes interdisciplinary pedagogy and community engagement. Through partnerships with faculty, students, and community members, the Director integrates object-based study into curricular and co-curricular pursuits and defines the Smart Museum as a premier destination for individuals from disparate disciplines to engage in collaborative research, learning, and conversation through the lens of art objects. 
 
With the additional role of Head of Education, this position will also oversee the Smart’s K-12 and family programming. This additional role will constitute approximately 10 percent of the total responsibilities for the position. 

Responsibilities

• Partners with Museum Director to set vision, strategy, and goals for the Feitler Center of Academic Inquiry. Works closely with the Director to implement the Smart Museum of Art’s new strategic plan. This includes launching the Museum’s first-ever Thinktank, which will build out new interdisciplinary avenues of inquiry and research, especially around art and science.  
• Oversees Feitler Center staff, budget, and overall activities; collaborative programs with University and community partners; robust internships and student professional development experiences.
• Builds and maintains relationships with faculty and students to foster innovation, experimentation, and practice connected to multi-disciplinary object-based teaching and research. Articulates the impactful role art can have in teaching and learning across campus and in the community.
• Serves as an enthusiastic connector and a liaison to academic departments and administrative units within the University. This may include organizing workshops, colloquia, and public programs that bring together disparate partners and create opportunities for collaboration.
• Supports curricular engagement with the Smart Museum of Art by organizing and teaching or co-teaching University class visits. Works to grow the number of classes and range of disciplines that come to the museum.
• Partners with Director and Deputy Director in development of marketing plan and strategic partnerships on and off campus to expand visibility of the Smart.  
• As appropriate, organizes and/or oversees curricular-driven exhibitions.
• Collaborates with colleagues across the Smart Museum of Art to advance museum-wide goals. Works closely with the Museum’s Director and the Director of Development to lead and support fundraising efforts.
• Serves as a staff lead on the Feitler Center’s Advisory Committee.
• In partnership with the Museum’s Director, contributes to the communications strategy and marketing efforts aimed at increasing the visibility of the Museum on campus and beyond.
• Actively engages in a network of museum and university arts leaders, including organizing and attending conference panels, symposia, and other opportunities that share and strengthen the Museum’s activities.
• Partners with the Museum’s Director to set vision, strategy, and goals for public programs and the Museum’s K-12 engagement.
• Provides oversight for education staff, budget, and overall activities.
• Manages employees by establishing annual performance goals, allocating resources, assessing annual performance, and determining individual merit, incentive, and/or promotional increases.
• Manages program operations and administrative functions which may include planning and scheduling, program evaluation, policy implementation, personnel administration, budget, marketing, fundraising and proposal development.
• Performs other related work as needed. 

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications 

Education: 

PhD in art history, visual culture, or related field.
 

Preferred Competencies 

• Demonstrated ability to articulate a strong pedagogical vision for object-based teaching across a range of disciplines.
• Interest in expanding the Smart’s curricular engagement to new areas of the university, especially in the sciences.  
• Excellent teaching skills at a university level with an emphasis on object-based and interactive approaches.
• Excellent research skills that can be used to enable connections between the permanent collection and a range of interdisciplinary courses.
• An interdisciplinary thinker who has genuine enthusiasm for collaboration. Demonstrated commitment to academic engagement with faculty and students.
• Strong experience in team leadership, including mentoring, performance management, and collaboration.  
• Demonstrated ability to manage programs, events, and broader projects. Experience with assessment and evaluation.
• Establish and maintain collaborative and effective relationships with the Museum’s internal team, University collaborators, and a range of museum audiences.
• Strong commitment and ability to provide outreach at all levels with well-developed interpersonal skills and work positively and collegially with staff, researchers, and colleagues.
• Well-developed written/oral communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
• Knowledge of museum best practices as well as current and emerging trends in the academic museum field.