Manager of Academic and Public Engagement

College of the Holy Cross; United States; On-site; USD 62,000 - 72,450; Full time

Job summary

The College of the Holy Cross Cantor Art Gallery seeks a Manager of Academic and Public Engagement to expand and enrich student, faculty, and public engagement with exhibitions and collections. This role leads curricular engagement, develops learning resources, and fosters cross‑campus collaboration with a focus on inclusive pedagogy.

The position coordinates academic learning, public programs, and visitor experience, while managing budgets, grant opportunities, and outreach—and it supports an

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• 3–5 years of experience in museum education, public programming, academic engagement, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience designing and facilitating programs for diverse audiences.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize multiple projects.
• Collaborative thinker with ability to work in a team setting.
• Commitment to an inclusive environment and to the promotion of diversity and equity.
• Ability to work occasional evening and weekend hours.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement the gallery’s academic engagement strategy and curricular programs for students, faculty, and the public.
• Develop public programs that explore exhibitions and engage community audiences.
• Recruit, train, and supervise student gallery attendants; mentor and coordinate coverage for programs.
• Oversee program budgets, assist with grants, and promote inclusive campus outreach.

Skills

Academic engagement

Public programs

Communication

Organization

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

A/V coordination

Budget tracking

Job description

Job Overview

The Manager of Academic and Public Engagement at the Cantor Art Gallery supports the Gallery Director in expanding and enhancing student, faculty, and public engagement with exhibitions and collections. The role leads the planning and delivery of curricular engagement and public programs connected to the Gallery’s exhibitions, with a focus on inclusive pedagogy, student participation, and cross‑campus collaboration.

Responsibilities

Academic Learning and Engagement: Design and implement the gallery’s academic engagement strategy, develop interpretive and curricular programs for students, faculty, and the public, liaise with faculty to plan class visits, and create learning resources, including guides, prompts, and digital materials. Coordinate experiential learning opportunities and track participation to improve programming.

Public Programs and Engagement: Partner with the Gallery Director and campus collaborators to develop public programs that explore gallery exhibitions and respond to community interests, identify target audiences, and manage program logistics, including contracts, hospitality, and technical coordination.

Visitor Experience Support: Recruit, hire, train, and supervise student gallery attendants, provide mentorship, and coordinate coverage for public programs and classes.

Operations, Budgeting, and Development: Oversee and track program budgets, assist with grant writing and grant opportunities, support an inclusive environment, and communicate outreach throughout the campus.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• 3–5 years of experience in museum education, public programming, academic engagement, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience designing and facilitating programs for diverse audiences.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize multiple projects.
• Collaborative thinker with ability to work in a team setting.
• Commitment to an inclusive environment and to the promotion of diversity and equity.
• Ability to work occasional evening and weekend hours.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or advanced coursework in art history, studio art, arts administration, museum studies, or art education.
• Experience supervising employees and/or student workers.
• Comfort with event production logistics (contracts, A/V coordination, accessibility planning).

About the Cantor Art Gallery

Located in the Prior Performing Arts Center, the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery promotes the intellectual and cultural life of Holy Cross by linking exhibitions to the college’s liberal arts curriculum and fostering meaningful engagement with broader audiences.

Compensation

Salary range: $62,000 – $72,450. Weekly hours: 40.

Application Process

Submit an updated resume and cover letter. In your cover letter, describe how your professional and personal values align with the College’s mission to foster individuals of integrity and purpose.

Contact Human Resources for questions or accommodation requests at [e-mail] or 508‑793‑3391.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The College is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and complies with all federal and Massachusetts laws concerning equal opportunity in the workplace. The College provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities during the hiring process.