Programming & Engagement Officer

Thomas Jefferson Foundation; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 69,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefits package

Fitness club membership discount

Monticello cafe/gift shop discount

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

$500 employee referral bonus

Job summary

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation seeks a Programming & Engagement Officer to advance Monticello's public mission by guiding leadership, development and management of our public programming strategy. This role connects internal teams with external communities to ensure programming is thoughtfully planned and aligned with institutional priorities.

Compensation ranges from $69,000 to $78,000, with an emphasis on collaboration, program development, and community engagement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, or Marketing is required.
• 3–5 years of experience in public programming, museums, nonprofits, higher education, or cultural institutions is required.
• Exceptional written and verbal skills, including public speaking and presentation skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Experience with history/museum studies or community outreach is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the institutional programming portfolio and annual planning process; chair the Program & Events Committee.
• Maintain the public and private programs calendar for scheduling, marketing and events.
• Manage workflows for execution of public programs and invitation-only events; develop templates and data.
• Oversee recurring program series; manage speaker invitations and logistics.
• Cultivate partnerships to broaden Monticello's audience and outreach.
• Serve as a liaison to community leaders and cultural organizations for collaboration.
• Support participation in mission-aligned initiatives and commemorations.

Skills

Public programming

Public speaking

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, or Marketing

Job description

About The Thomas Jefferson Foundation

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation has a twofold mission of preservation and education, and was incorporated in 1923 to preserve Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Today, the Foundation seeks to bring history forward into national and global dialogues by engaging audiences with Jefferson's world and ideas, and sharing the history of everyone who lived and labored at Monticello. Monticello is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, a United Nations World Heritage Site and a Site of Conscience.

Programming & Engagement Officer (Full-time)

Purpose: The Programming & Engagement Officer advances Monticello's public mission by assisting in the leadership, development and management of our public programming strategy as part of our effort to educate and deepen audience engagement and broaden the Foundation's reach. This position serves as a key connector across internal teams and with external communities, to ensure that programming is thoughtfully planned, consistently evaluated, and aligned with institutional priorities.

About The Thomas Jefferson Foundation

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation has a twofold mission of preservation and education, and was incorporated in 1923 to preserve Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Today, the Foundation seeks to bring history forward into national and global dialogues by engaging audiences with Jefferson's world and ideas, and sharing the history of everyone who lived and labored at Monticello. Monticello is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, a United Nations World Heritage Site and a Site of Conscience.

Programming & Engagement Officer (Full-time)

Purpose: The Programming & Engagement Officer advances Monticello's public mission by assisting in the leadership, development and management of our public programming strategy as part of our effort to educate and deepen audience engagement and broaden the Foundation's reach. This position serves as a key connector across internal teams and with external communities, to ensure that programming is thoughtfully planned, consistently evaluated, and aligned with institutional priorities.

Compensation: $69,000 - $78,000

• Programming Strategy & Leadership Lead the institutional programming portfolio and annual planning process. Chair the Program & Events Committee and regularly convene a cross-department meeting to guide public programming planning from concept to plan and handoff to marketing and events teams for execution.
• Valuations and Operations In collaboration with key stakeholders throughout the Foundation, maintain the public and private programs calendar that drives scheduling, marketing and event planning.
• Manage the pipeline and institutional workflows for execution of public programs and invitation only events. Establish standardized production templates, relevant data and after action debriefs in coordination with all relevant parties throughout the Foundation to inform future programming and events.
• Program Development Oversee recurring program series and ideate new initiatives. Initiate and manage speaker invitations, negotiations, logistics, and relationship as part of their appearance at Monticello events and programs.
• Community Engagement Cultivate strategic partnerships in and outside of the Charlottesville community that advance institutional goals and bring new audiences to Monticello.
• Serve as a liaison to community leaders and cultural organizations. Identify opportunities for collaborative programming and partnership initiatives to attract, retain, and diversify local audiences.
• Support institutional participation in mission aligned initiatives and commemorations where leadership determines opportunity.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, or Marketing required.
• Minimum of three (3) to five (5) years of experience in public programming, museums, nonprofit organizations, higher education, or cultural institutions required.
• Exceptional written and verbal skills, including public speaking and presentation skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a diverse audience.
• Prior experience implementing, managing, and maintaining complex public programs.
• Experience with history and museum studies, nonprofit engagement preferred, community outreach, or a closely related field.
• Strong understanding of American history, civic education, leadership development, or public engagement a plus.

Physical Demands and Work Considerations:

• Occasional evening, weekend, and holiday work required.
• Monticello is located on a mountaintop; walking on steep inclines, and uneven, rocky ground is required.

We provide the following benefits for our full-time employees:

• Excellent benefits package (including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) retirement savings plan plus 6% match, life insurance, and more!).
• Fitness club membership discount.
• Discount in the Monticello Cafe, gift shop, and Monticello online catalog.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - free for employee and dependents.
• $500 employee referral bonus.

We encourage you to apply!