Manager of Education

Sacbar; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Paid time off

Hybrid schedule

Retirement savings plan

Job summary

The Asian Art Museum seeks a Manager of Education to design and support educational experiences and programs across the Learning & Civic Engagement department. You will supervise staff, manage curricular design, and coordinate with multiple teams to connect audiences with Asian and Asian American art.

You will lead trainings, oversee school tour activities, and develop public programs, while aligning curricula with standards and research to ensure high-quality learning experiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Museum Studies, Art History, Asian Studies, Ethnic Studies, or a related field with 3–5 years museum education experience.
• Master of Arts in the above disciplines or related field preferred.
• Proven expertise in education theory, curriculum development, and student engagement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and update adult and family learning curricula and initiatives.
• Coordinate alignment of programs to state/local standards and latest pedagogy.
• Ensure smooth scheduling and delivery of tours, online experiences, and gallery activities.
• Develop and deliver docent trainings and events.
• Provide school tour support and classroom activities as needed.
• Project-manage public programs such as cultural celebrations and educator events.
• Collaborate with Digital and Audience Engagement to create visitor materials.

Skills

Program management

Staff supervision

Curriculum development

Community engagement

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Education/Museum Studies/Art History/Asian Studies/Ethnic Studies

Master of Arts preferred

Job description

Division: Experience

Department: Learning & Civic Engagement

Reports to: Director of Learning & Civic Engagement

Supervises: Various Staff

FLSA Status: Exempt

Representation: N/A

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the supervision of the Director of Learning & Civic Engagement (LCE), the Manager of Education will play a vital role in designing and supporting the delivery of the Asian Art Museum’s educational experiences and programs. This role will be responsible for managing curricular design, project management, and cross-departmental coordination necessary to ensure the highest quality educational programming. They will also supervise various staff in the execution of the LCE department strategy. This position will play a key role in connecting audiences of all ages to Asian and Asian American Art and culture through innovative and vibrant learning experiences and programs.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Education Programs

• Develop adult and family learning, including regular review and updating of existing curricula and programs, writing grade-banded, scoped, and sequenced curricula, and creating new initiatives.
• Coordinate and contribute to the alignment of all education programs to state and local standards, and the latest pedagogical research.
• Ensure the smooth coordination, scheduling, and delivery of high-quality tours, online experiences, and in/out of gallery educational experiences.
• Develop and deliver all docent/storyteller/gallery guide trainings and events.
• Provide school tour support by conducting tours and assisting with activities as needed.
• Develop and project-manage education and family-focused public programs such as cultural celebrations, educator events, family-focused days, and other programs.
• Work with Digital and Audience Engagement department to create educational materials, calendar announcements, website updates, magazine articles, in-museum signage/resources, social media, and other visitor-facing materials as needed.

AAM Foundation

• Coordinate meetings, process contracts, review spending against budgets, track team tasks, and maintain schedules with all relevant stakeholders as needed.
• Work with Audience Engagement and other departments to collect, maintain, and report on visitor engagement for educational programs.
• Attend inter-departmental meetings to build trusting, effective relationships across the museum.
• Provide the administrative oversight needed to ensure the highest quality interactions with school groups, educators, community partners, and the public.
• Act as a liaison between LCE department and schools, community organizations, and partners.
• Perform other duties and projects as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Museum Studies, Art History, Asian Studies, Ethnic Studies, or a related field, and 3-5 years of experience in museum education or a related educational setting with increasing responsibility that includes program management, and supervision of staff and/or volunteers (or an equivalent combination of education and experience). A Master of Arts in the above disciplines or a related field is preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of Asian/Asian American art, culture, history, along with a strong understanding of current trends, issues, and best practices in museum education and community building.
• Expertise in education theory, curriculum development, and student engagement with marked experience in program and curriculum development and implementation.
• Proven experience in the advancement of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with various stakeholders, promote educational programs, and foster positive relationships; work effectively as part of a team or independently.
• Flexibility, sound judgment, problem-solving skills, tact, and diplomacy.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain perspective, and work well under pressure.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, along with exceptional administrative, analytical, and organizational abilities.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in multiple digital tools and platforms.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Environment

• Standard museum and office environment, including gallery spaces with variable lighting, ambient noise from public programming, and occasional exposure to art-handling or installation activities.
• Occasional local travel to off-site locations for meetings and events.
• Exposure to art materials, including paints, markers, clay, and adhesives, with appropriate safety protocols.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk working on a computer.
• Extended use of a computer monitor, tablet, stylus, phone, and other technology; sustained visual concentration required.
• Ability to stand and move for extended periods throughout museum spaces.
• Ability to bend, kneel, and crouch.
• Reaching above shoulder height and below waist level to access supplies, including occasional ladder use.
• Occasional lifting or carrying of materials up to 25 pounds.
• Schedule and Availability
• Sunday to Thursday, 9am to 6pm is the expected schedule, subject to change based on seasonality.
• Must be available to work on evenings and weekends to support museum events and deadlines.
• Ability to work up to two days per week remotely, if operational needs allow and supervisor approves.

Cognitive and Sensory Demands

• High degree of sustained concentration, creative problem-solving, and attention to detail required throughout the day.
• Must be able to manage multiple concurrent projects under deadline pressure while maintaining quality.
• Hearing ability sufficient for phone and video calls, facilitating ranging from quiet to noisy environments, and communicating with others across varied acoustic settings.
• Ability to project voice clearly in a variety of settings.

COMPENSATION

The Asian Art Museum is committed to practicing salary transparency. The minimum salary for this position is $80,000 and the maximum salary is $95,000. Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. Many factors are taken into consideration when setting starting pay including education, experience, the external labor market, and internal equity. This opportunity includes a generous benefits package, including but not limited to:

• Medical, dental, and vision plans with flexible spending accounts
• Paid time off (holidays, vacation, and sick leave)
• Immediate eligibility to enroll in a voluntary retirement savings program upon hire
• Group Retirement Plan available after 1 year of employment with employer match
• Hybrid schedule for eligible positions

OUR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION COMMITMENTS

At the Asian Art Museum, we are dedicated to ideating, building, and holding ourselves accountable for Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion in everything we do. We strive to foster a culture of respect, belonging and inclusivity for all employees.

Our mission is to celebrate, preserve, and promote Asian and Asian American art and cultures for local and global audiences. We provide a dynamic forum for exchanging ideas, inviting collaboration, and fueling imagination to deepen understanding and empathy among people of all backgrounds.

Diversity of thought and experience is essential to our mission, and we are committed to recruiting, hiring, and retaining a diverse workforce. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Ensuring a smooth and enjoyable candidate experience is critical for us. Application materials will be screened in relation to the criteria described. Candidates deemed to be the most highly qualified will be invited to participate in the interview process. Our interview process tends to take about 4 weeks to complete but may fluctuate depending on the role. Appointment is subject to completion of a thorough background check process.

The Asian Art Museum is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories (arrest and criminal histories) consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law.