Director of Programs & Community Impact

National Museum of Wildlife Art; Dubuque (IA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Dubuque Museum of Art (DuMA) seeks a Director of Programming & Community Engagement to lead a dynamic portfolio of educational experiences and public programs during its residency in the Millwork District and beyond as it prepares to open a new campus in 2028.

The Director will build a financially sustainable program mix, foster inclusive community engagement, and drive earned revenue while strengthening relationships with visitors, members, schools, families, artists, and donors.

Qualifications

• Strong candidates may come from museum, education, membership organizations, nonprofit leadership, or related fields.
• Experience managing educational, public, and member programs.
• Experience developing programs that attract and retain participants.
• Comfort managing budgets, pricing, earned revenue, and program economics.
• Strong community and relationship-building skills.
• Experience managing staff, volunteers, teaching artists, contractors, and collaborative teams.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and project-management skills.
• Sound judgment, adaptability, and reliable follow-through;
• Experience in an organization undergoing meaningful growth and change.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a profitable portfolio of annual programs that attract new audiences, bring the mission and exhibitions to life, drives urgency, and strengthens relationships with existing audiences.
• Develop and manage programs for children, families, educators, students, members, corporate members, and other audiences.
• Supervise, coach, and develop DuMA’s Volunteer Coordinator and other Learning & Engagement staff or contractors as assigned, and recommend future staffing needs.
• Within approved plans and budgets, build community partnerships and use evidence to guide program design, pricing, enrollment, and staffing to expand access, meet revenue targets, and determine which programs to grow, adapt, or discontinue.
• Collaborate with Advancement, Communications & Marketing, Curatorial & Collections, and Business Operations within clearly defined areas of ownership.
• Ensure programs reflect appropriate youth protection, participant safety, accessibility, privacy, and data-quality practices.
• Collaborate with Advancement to understand which programs drive membership revenue.
• Participate actively in DuMA’s leadership team and contribute to a workplace culture of trust, accountability, collaboration, clear communication, and reliable follow-through.

Skills

Education program management

Community engagement

Budget management

Staff leadership

Job description

The Dubuque Museum of Art (DuMA) seeks a Director of Programming & Community Engagement to lead a dynamic portfolio of educational experiences and public programs during its residency in the Millwork District and beyond as it prepares to open a new campus in 2028.

The Director will build a financially sustainable program mix, foster inclusive community engagement, and drive earned revenue while strengthening relationships with visitors, members, schools, families, artists, and donors.