Evaluation Manager

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston seeks an Evaluation Manager to lead evaluation and visitor research, focusing on how religion and spirituality shape interpretation of our collection and spaces.

This five-year, grant‑funded, full‑time exempt position will design multi‑phase studies, collect data, and translate insights into actionable recommendations for internal teams and public programs. Applicants must submit a sample evaluation plan.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Museum Studies, Religious Studies, Education, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology or related field
• 3–5 years of evaluation experience in cultural or informal learning settings
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods
• Knowledge of culturally responsive evaluation frameworks
• Ability to discuss data and insights clearly to internal and external stakeholders
• Commitment to welcoming, inclusive, accessible experiences for diverse audiences
• People-centered with relationship-building and listening skills
• Strong project management and deadline-tracking abilities
• Flexible, eager to learn, patient, with a sense of humor

Responsibilities

• Lead multi-phase research to understand visitor perception of religion and spirituality and improve interpretation
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative data collection (interviews, surveys, etc.)
• Coordinate with Public Programs and Collections teams for scholarly convenings
• Translate data into actionable recommendations for interpretation and exhibitions
• Liaise with external research partners and internal teams
• Support staff training in evaluation and data collection
• Manage multi-year grant project, budgets, milestones, reporting
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Interpretation

Skills

Evaluation experience

Qualitative methods

Quantitative methods

Culturally responsive evaluation

Religious literacy

Data storytelling

People skills

Project management

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Museum Studies or related field

Job description

Description

Department: Education

Reports to: Director of Interpretation

Type of Position: Full time, exempt, Maximum Five-Year Term

Salary Range: $65,000 - $70,000 depending on experience

This is an onsite, Boston-based position. Local candidates strongly preferred. No agencies, please.

Isabella Stewart Gardner so deeply believed that art had the power to change lives that she built a beautiful, personal, and immersive Museum “for the education and enjoyment of the public forever.” Today the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (ISGM) is a living embodiment of her bold vision; it’s a dynamic place where ideas and creativity in all its forms inspire visitors. We strive to tell new stories and challenge assumptions through exhibitions, music, programs, and performances and by engaging the perspectives and collaboration of our communities.

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum seeks to connect past with present, develop and sustain mutually beneficial partnerships with local communities and artists, broaden our audiences, and generate opportunities for creativity. We are firmly committed to a welcoming work culture and visitor experience. Our five-year strategic plan outlines the Museum’s core values, goals, and initiatives that serve as a renewal of Isabella’s promise to serve the public and be a resource for the city.

Position Summary

The Evaluation Manager leads evaluation and visitor research efforts in support of the Gardner’s capacity to interpret the role of religion and spirituality in art, material culture, and lived experience within the Museum’s collection and historic spaces. They will develop and implement a muti-phase research plan with an emphasis on qualitative evaluation, collecting and analyzing data, and translating findings into actionable recommendations.

This position is a five-year limited term position related to grant funding dedicated to reevaluating the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum’s visitor experience and collection through the lens of religion and spirituality. Applicants must submit a sample evaluation plan (maximum two pages) that demonstrates experience developing evaluation frameworks. The sample should clearly articulate the research questions, methodology, and other elements that informed the plan.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement multi-phase research to understand how visitors perceive and experience religion and spirituality at the Gardner, and how interpretation (unfacilitated, facilitated, and programmatic) can improve religious literacy and interfaith respect.
• Conduct data collection using qualitative and quantitative methods, which may include interviews, literature reviews, surveys, asset or neighborhood mapping, and observations.
• In collaboration with Public Programs and Collections teams, organize convenings of scholars, clergy, chaplains, and community leaders to provide continuing insights and create feedback loops as interpretation, programming, and exhibition planning evolve.
• Interpret, contextualize, and clearly communicate data insights to internal and external stakeholders through written reports and internal and public presentations, translating data into meaningful findings and actionable recommendations for data-informed work.
• Liaise with external research partners, including contracted firms and area academic partners.
• Collaborate across Museum teams to weave evaluation work into Museum practices.
• Support the training of staff involved in evaluation and data collection.
• Facilitate project management of the implementation of a multiyear grant supporting this work, including budget tracking, tracking deliverables and milestones, and supporting cross-functional communication and reporting.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Director of Interpretation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Museum Studies, Religious Studies, Education, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology or related field
• 3-5 years of experience in evaluation in a cultural or informal learning environment
• Demonstrated experience with qualitative and quantitative research methodologies
• Knowledge and understanding of culturally responsive evaluation frameworks
• Comfort with engaging in world religions and spiritualities
• Demonstrated skills in speaking and writing about data and insights for internal and external stakeholders
• Demonstrated commitment to creating welcoming, inclusive, and accessible experiences for diverse audiences
• People-centered with skills in relationship building and listening
• Strong skills in project management and in maintaining and meeting deadlines
• Flexibility, openness to learning, patience, and a sense of humor

Preferred

• Bilingual language skills, especially in Spanish, Chinese, Krèyol (Haitian Creole), or Portuguese

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Museum is committed to affording equal opportunity to qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, age (40 or older), disability, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions, ancestry, or status as a veteran. Consistent with our core values and our founder's legacy, the Museum is dedicated to building a work community that fosters collaboration, excellence, belonging, and a diversity of perspectives and experience.

Request an Accommodation

Applicants with disabilities who are unable to access ISGM's online application system fully may contact us at [e-mail] for assistance with a reasonable accommodation.