DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS

 

Overview:

 

The Center for Jewish History (CJH) is one of the world’s great repositories and research institutions devoted to the exploration of Jewish history and heritage. It is home to five distinguished partner organizations: American Jewish Historical Society, American Sephardi Federation, Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University Museum and YIVO Institute for Jewish Research.  The Center serves multiple audiences: professional scholars, amateur researchers, and a broad public audience.

 

The Director of Public Programs will operate within the Center’s Academic and Public Programs Department. The Center is seeking a creative, self-starting, organized, and passionate person to expand the public programming profile of the Center. Together with the Director of Academic Programs, this position will report directly to the President and Chief Executive Officer.

 

Essential Functions:

 

• Develop and plan a wide range of stimulating and innovative programs that expand the Center’s reach to a wide general public in the New York area.
• Work with the Partner organizations to shape a coherent and overlapping set of public programs that draw on Partner/Center collections, exhibitions, and developing themes.
• Identify trends in contemporary culture, focusing on art, the humanities, technology, and science, and create a dynamic forum to explore these developments.
• Research, identify and build relationships with potential presenters and performers, including historians, scholars, artists and other specialists.
• Work with community partners to develop events that connect to the Center’s mission; maintain communication with a network of library, museum, and archival organizations and represent the Center at select meetings.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in the Development and Communication Departments to analyze target audiences, develop appropriate outreach strategies, and ensure effective promotion of all public programs using both print and electronic media.
• Manage the Visitor Services function, including supervision of the front desk staff; responsible for reviewing and improving the overall visitor experience.
• Prepare budgets and monitor associated expenses, including organizing and supervising registration and purchasing materials necessary for programs.
• Prepare monthly reports of events and attendance including narrative and/or budget reports when appropriate.
• Attend and supervise public programs, interfacing with the public, including weekends and evenings, as necessary.
• Keep up to date with best practices in programming, and seek to strengthen the Center’s position as a thought leader for innovative programming.

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Attributes & Qualifications:

 

• Advanced degree in liberal arts, humanities, arts administration, business administration or marketing; or equivalent experience. Training in the field of Jewish studies is welcome.
• 5 years relevant work experience.
• Passionate commitment to the public humanities.
• Excellent writing ability and polished presentation skills.
• Ability to initiate a range of stimulating and engaging programs related to the Center’s mission.
• Strong organizational and management skills; excellent team player; ability to work effectively with personnel from many disciplines; experience handling multiple competing priorities, and timely, effective decision-making.
• Strong computer skills: knowledge of Word, Excel, Raiser’s Edge (or similar) and Internet research required.

 

The Center for Jewish History is committed to diversity and inclusion. Qualified individuals who bring diverse perspectives to the workplace are especially encouraged to apply.

 

Please submit cover letter, resume and salary requirement to Jordana Renick at jrenick@cjh.org