Manager of Engagement and Public Programs at The South Street Seaport Museum

The South Street Seaport Museum invites applications for the full-time position of Manager of Engagement and Public Programs.

The South Street Seaport Museum—a fifty-four year-old cultural institution dedicated to telling the story of the rise of the New York port—engages visitors through interactive experiences with its fleet of historic ships, historic buildings and galleries, 19th-century letterpress shops, and large collection of artifacts. The Museum provides visitors the opportunity to appreciate the contributions of the Port of New York to the city, state, nation, and world, and to understand the current role of New York Harbor as a natural resource and a gateway to the world. On a path to full recovery and sustainability after several serious challenges, the Museum has an ambitious plan to restore and reconfigure its buildings, complete the restoration and stabilization of its fleet of ships, broaden its programmatic reach, and establish an endowment for long-term sustainability.

Job Summary: This person will be an innovator who will create new dynamic programming, as well as manage the Museum’s existing public programs (in-person and virtual) and creatively expand public engagement across multiple platforms. The Manager of Engagement and Public Programs will work with the senior leadership team and across the entire organization to tap new audiences and build relationships within the surrounding communities of Lower Manhattan and farther afield, through content-driven programming and events that support the Museum’s mission.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Propose and carry out innovative new public programs for expanded and existing Museum audiences;
  • Cultivate and nurture strategic public, private, governmental, and civic program partnerships, including new and existing partnerships with other museums and cultural organizations, to develop programs that will bring new audiences to the Museum, with particular attention to those audiences that have not historically been a focus in Museum programming and those that don’t immediately see the Seaport Museum as “their place”;
  • In coordination with the Director of Marketing and Communication, contribute to an innovative and expanding Social Media program that will increase and diversify public engagement, including planning, execution, and audience analysis;
  • Connect and support the Museum’s anticipated 2021 in-person activities — Ship Open Days, in-person visits to Bowne Printers, and public sails — to enhance public engagement and expand audiences. Assist with direct onsite program management and hiring and/or training of seasonal Visitor Experience staff members to ensure impactful and integrated visitor engagement across
    Museum platforms;
  • Communicate and partner with key departments within the Museum to successfully implement each program or event and align it with Museum-wide objectives for external engagement;
  • Plan and execute each program or event in alignment with the Museum’s mission, within budget parameters and in coordination with external program sponsors or partners if applicable;
  • Create and manage detailed production schedules and timelines with external artists, program providers, creative team members and production staff, as well as all relevant internal Museum departments, including Education, Development, Marketing and Communications, Collections, Waterfront, Finance, Facilities, etc.;
  • Host online/virtual Museum programs, including speaker introductions, program facilitation, technical management and Q&A;
  • Collect, maintain and report on public program participation data, quantitative and qualitative, including grant-funded programs when applicable;
  • As needed and in coordination with Grants and Research Manager, support grant proposal writing;
  • In coordination with the Director of Marketing and Communications, draft engaging program descriptions for use in collateral materials and contribute to biweekly newsletter to increase and expand public engagement.
  • Other assignments as directed.

Required Qualifications:

  • Track record of innovative program development and impactful public engagement
  • 3+ years of experience in programming and/or event production, including festivals, lectures, panels, walking tours, book talks, etc., or equivalent
  • Bachelor’s degree or similar combination of academic and practical work experience
  • Broad interests and knowledge of culture, art, music, museums, and/or public dialogue
  • Experience with community organizing and/or working with diverse groups of adults and communities
  • Social media and digital programming skill set
  • Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
  • Knowledge of and existing relationships with Lower Manhattan community institutions preferred
  • Knowledge of maritime and/or NYC history highly desirable
  • Fluency with MS Office and Google Suite required; experience with ticketing, bulk e-communications, and photo- and video-editing technology desirable
  • Creativity and ability to think outside the box
  • Attention to detail and follow-through; ability to plan and execute projects professionally
  • Ability to handle multiple time-sensitive tasks simultaneously
  • Ability to work collaboratively and with staff at all levels and to communicate clearly with teammates and diverse members of the public
  • Flexibility, adaptability, and positive outlook
  • Second language proficiency desirable
  • Ability to work flexible hours including weekends, holidays, and evenings as necessary

Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

  • Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, climb stairs, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
  • Work Environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions.
  • COVID-19 Interim Period: Due to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic, the Museum is currently closed to the public. We are committed to putting our employees’ health and safety first. As such, the majority of our staff are currently working from home during this period. If there is an essential business need for an employee to be onsite we have strict approval procedures in place for this (including a daily
    health screening questionnaire). We follow both CDC and OSHA guidelines for preventing and reducing transmission among employees while onsite, including social distancing, wearing face masks, regular thorough cleaning of office spaces, and making disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer readily available to all staff. Position will be primarily remote through April 30, 2021, with occasional onsite work as needed, and later onsite full time.

Non-traditional applicants and/or those with suitable alternatives to the above criteria are encouraged to apply. The Seaport Museum strongly encourages applications from members of groups underrepresented in careers related to museums; we seek to foster a collaborative and respectful work environment with a staff as diverse as New York City and our audience.

This is a full–time salaried, non-exempt position offering company-subsidized medical dental, vision, HRA, FSA, DCFSA, commuter, vacation, sick leave, and personal leave benefits. Position is eligible for employee-contributed retirement and pension. Compensation is based on qualifications and experience. Work schedule is generally 9am-5pm, but occasional evening hours and/or weekend work may be required.

How to Apply:
Email your cover letter with salary requirements and your resume with “Manager of Engagement and Public Programs” in the subject line to: careers@seany.org. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Position is open until filled, with priority to applications received by 3/31/21.

No phone calls, please.

South Street Seaport Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment with a staff that reflects the diversity of the City it represents.