Museum Program Manager with Security Clearance

Ruchman and Associates, Inc.; New London (CT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Ruchman and Associates, Inc. is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead daily operations, workforce management, and service delivery for a high‑visibility museum facility in New London, CT.

The role focuses on visitor services, education programming, IT/AV support, and surge staffing. The position requires strong leadership, multi‑disciplinary team supervision, and the ability to maintain operations with extended hours during events, while ensuring safety and compliance with public trust

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in management, public administration, museum studies, business, or related field.
• 5–8 years of experience managing operations, programs, or staff in a museum, cultural institution, visitor‑center, federal facility, or high‑volume public attraction.
• Demonstrated experience supervising multi‑disciplinary teams (visitor services, education, technical support).
• Proven ability to manage staffing schedules, shift coverage, and high‑turnover roles.
• Strong background in quality assurance, risk management, and customer‑facing operations.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Tier 1 (T1) / NACI Public Trust clearance.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and conflict‑resolution skills.
• Ability to support occasional extended hours during peak events.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership, quality control, scheduling, and risk management for all museum support functions.
• Direct daily operations across Visitor Services, Education & Public Programming, and Technical/AV Support.
• Manage staffing plans, shift coverage, and performance for a year‑round operating schedule.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and training of baseline and surge personnel.
• Support new hire onboarding including Tier 1 NACI background check.
• Maintain operational readiness and ensure rapid response to technical outages, exhibit issues, and visitor‑flow challenges.
• Coordinate with USCG stakeholders, museum leadership, and contractor team members.
• Lead project phase in activities to achieve full operational capability.
• Monitor SLAs, produce performance reports, and implement corrective actions.
• Manage risk, safety stewardship, and crowd control strategies during peak visitor periods.
• Support event operations, VIP visits, and high‑visibility public engagements.

Skills

Operations management

Staffing planning

Quality assurance

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Customer service

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in management, public administration, museum studies, business, or related field

Master’s degree in a relevant field

Job description

Ruchman and Associates, Inc. (RAI) is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead daily operations, workforce management, and service delivery for a high‑visibility, 80,000 sq. ft. federal museum expected to host 300,000 visitors annually. The Program Manager is responsible for day to day operational oversight in visitor services, education programming, IT/AV technical support, and surge staffing.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership, quality control, scheduling, and risk management for all museum support functions.
• Direct daily operations across Visitor Services, Education & Public Programming, and Technical/AV Support.
• Manage staffing plans, shift coverage, and performance for a year-round operating schedule.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and training of baseline and surge personnel.
• Support new hire onboarding including Tier 1 NACI background check
• Maintain operational readiness and ensure rapid response to technical outages, exhibit issues, and visitor‑flow challenges.
• Coordinate with USCG stakeholders, museum leadership, and contractor team members.
• Lead project phase in activities to achieve full operational capability.
• Monitor SLAs, produce performance reports, and implement corrective actions.
• Manage risk, safety stewardship, and crowd control strategies during peak visitor periods.
• Support event operations, VIP visits, and high‑visibility public engagements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in management, public administration, museum studies, business, or related field.
• 5–8 years of experience managing operations, programs, or staff in a museum, cultural institution, visitor‑center, federal facility, or high‑volume public attraction.
• Demonstrated experience supervising multi‑disciplinary teams (visitor services, education, technical support).
• Proven ability to manage staffing schedules, shift coverage, and high‑turnover roles.
• Strong background in quality assurance, risk management, and customer‑facing operations.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Tier 1 (T1) / NACI Public Trust clearance.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and conflict‑resolution skills.
• Ability to support occasional extended hours during peak events.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• PMP certification or equivalent project management credential.
• Experience supporting federal museums, military heritage institutions, or government cultural programs.
• Familiarity with IT/AV exhibit systems, digital interactives, or technical troubleshooting workflows.
• Prior experience leading project phase‑in or standing up new operational programs.

RAI is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and will not discriminate against any application for employment on the basis of age, race, color, gender, national origin, religion, creed, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, disability, or sex including pregnancy and childbirth or related medical condition or on any other basis prohibited by law. RAI participates in the E-Verify program to confirm the employment eligibility of all persons hired. This means that we will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I‑9 to confirm work authorization. RAI will not use E‑Verify to pre‑screen job applicants.