Manager of Academic and Public Engagement

College of the Holy Cross; Worcester (MA); On-site; USD 62,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, seeks a Manager of Academic and Public Engagement for the Cantor Art Gallery. The role focuses on expanding curricular and public programs, with emphasis on inclusive pedagogy and cross-campus collaboration.

Responsibilities include leading engagement strategy, coordinating class visits, developing teaching resources, supervising student staff, and growing partnerships with faculty, schools, and community groups. 40-hour weeks, full-time.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• 3-5 years of experience in museum education, public programming, academic engagement, arts administration, or related field.
• Experience designing and facilitating programs for diverse audiences.
• Facilitation/teaching experience with groups.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; ability to manage multiple projects.
• Commitment to inclusive environment and equity.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Gallery's academic engagement strategy; design and deliver interpretive and curricular programs for students, faculty, and the public.
• Serve as primary liaison to faculty for class visits; schedule, facilitate, and instruct groups.
• Consult with faculty to design course-specific engagement with rotating exhibitions.
• Develop interpretive tools and learning resources for diverse learning styles.
• Coordinate experiential learning opportunities for students via internships and fellowships.
• Expand partnerships with College student groups, K-12, and regional colleges.
• Track participation and use data to improve programming and demonstrate impact.
• Partner with Director and campus collaborators to develop public programs that extend the Gallery's contributions campus-wide.
• Conceive, co-create, and produce public programs; respond to community interests.
• Identify audience groups and develop programs to meet needs.
• Manage logistics for programs: contracts, hospitality, schedules, spaces, AV.

Skills

Public engagement

Curricular design

Museum education

Diversity & equity

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Grant writing

Event production tools

Job description

Manager of Academic and Public Engagement

College of the Holy Cross

Full Time

JREQ-000286

At Holy Cross, we are focused on creating a world-class workforceby attracting and retaining employees dedicated to fostering aculture of professionalism, pride, mutual trust, and respect-onethat values appreciation and recognition, empowering each of us toflourish both individually and collectively. We seek candidates whoare inspired by our mission and values, and who are eager to make ameaningful difference on our campus.

Learn more about Life at HolyCross here.

The Manager of Academic and Public Engagement at the Cantor ArtGallery will support the Gallery Director in expanding andenhancing student, faculty, and The Manager of Academic and PublicEngagement at the Cantor Art Gallery will support the GalleryDirector in expanding and enhancing student, faculty, and publicengagement with exhibitions and collections. Reporting to theDirector, this role leads the planning and delivery of curricularengagement and public programs connected to the Gallery'sexhibitions and collections, with a strong emphasis on inclusivepedagogy, student participation, and cross-campus collaboration.The Manager will play a key role in situating the Gallery within adiverse intellectual community at Holy Cross by maintainingrelationships across academic departments on campus, integratingthe liberal arts values of the classroom with the Gallery'sexhibitions and collections, and shaping meaningful experiencesthat foster belonging, dialogue, and critical engagement throughthe arts. The Manager also oversees student employees who supportdaily visitor experience and program operations.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

Academic Learning and Engagement

• Lead the Gallery's academic engagement strategy, shaping the design and delivery of interpretive and curricular programs for students, faculty, and the public with key pedagogical strategies.
• Serve as primary liaison to faculty for planning class visits; schedule, facilitate, and instruct various student, school, and adult groups.
• Consult with faculty to design course-specific engagement with rotating exhibitions.
• Develop interpretive tools and learning resources (gallery guides, prompts, object labels/handouts, digital resources, activity stations, and self-guided materials) that support andextend multiple learning styles and accessible engagement.
• With Director, help coordinate experiential learning opportunities for students through Roger Hankins internship, Weiss summer research fellowship, and other academic experiences.
• Expand partnerships and programs, in consultation with Director, with College student groups, as well as area K-12 students and regional colleges and universities.
• Track participation in academic engagement (courses served, student participation, feedback), and use data to improve programming and demonstrate impact.

Public Programs and Engagement

• Partner with the Director and campus collaborators (including the Prior Performing Arts Center and academic departments) to develop programs that extend the Gallery's contributions throughout campus and into the community.
• Conceive, co-create, and produce public programs that explore themes and objects from exhibitions and the collection, and respond to community interests.
• Identify target audience groups and develop public programs to respond to the needs and interests of various constituents.
• Manage logistics for Gallery programs: create and process contracts, make hospitality arrangements for visiting scholars, work with contacts across the Prior Performing Arts Center and the College to coordinate schedules, spaces, and technical needs.

Visitor Experience Support

• Recruit, hire, train, schedule, and supervise student gallery attendants.
• Foster a student work environment grounded in professionalism, learning, and belonging; provide regular feedback and mentorship.
• Coordinate coverage for public programs, class visits, and busy gallery periods, in collaboration with the Office Coordinator.

Operations, Budgeting, and Development Support

• Oversee and coordinate budget activities related to academic engagement and public programs, including tracking expenses and reconciling program costs.
• Assist with grant writing; initiate, research, and execute grant opportunities to support educational programs.
• Support inclusive environment and foster culture of the recognition and support of diversity and equity.
• Perform other related duties as assigned in a small-staff environment.
• Play a key role in communications and 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, arts administration, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience designing and facilitating programs for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated facilitation/teaching experience with groups.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail, excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize multiple projects.
• Flexible, collaborative thinker and demonstrated ability to work with a team setting.
• Strong commitment to supporting inclusive environment and fostering culture of the recognition and support of diversity and equity.
• Able to work occasional evening/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, etc.).

About the Cantor Art Gallery

The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery exists to promote and support the intellectual and cultural life of Holy Cross. Through its exhibitions and acquisitions, both historical and contemporary, the Gallery serves as a catalyst for the search for meaning and value in life and history. The Cantor Gallery has special responsibility for integrating the liberal arts values of the College and the classroom by linking exhibitions to the broader curriculum.

Through Gallery exhibitions, Holy Cross educates members of the College community, the Worcester community and the larger community of scholars and artists about the fundamental intellectual, cultural, spiritual and aesthetic issues encountered through art.

Located in the new Prior Performing Arts Center, a state-of-the art integrated arts building designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the Cantor Art Gallery is heavily integrated into the academic and intellectual life of the College. The role of the Gallery is rooted in the Catholic, Jesuit, liberal arts identity of the College, which is detailed in the College's Mission Statement http://www.holycross.edu/mission and Aspire, the College's strategic plan https://aspire.holycross.edu. In addition to the wide range of academic departments across the College and their faculty and students, the Gallery works closely with administrative offices including the Office of Risk Management; Public Safety; Graphic Arts; Communications and Marketing; and Campus Facilities.

The salary range for this position is $62,000 - $72,450 coupled with our comprehensive benefits package.

Priority consideration will be given to candidates that apply by Friday, August 7, 2026.

Weekly Hours: 40

The College also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities during the hiring process in compliance with law. Please contact Human Resources for questions or to request an accommodation via email at [e-mail], or by calling 508-793-3391.

The College is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and complies with all Federal and Massachusetts laws concerning Equal Opportunity in the workplace.