Barbara and Theodore Alfond Director of Interpretation at Museum Of Fine Arts, Boston

Job Title: Barbara and Theodore Alfond Director of Interpretation

Job Status: Full-time

Location: Boston, MA

Salary: $110,000 – $120,000

Description

OVERVIEW:

Reporting to the Senior Director of Community Engagement, the Barbara and Theodore Alfond Director of Interpretation oversees the development and implementation of content strategy and interpretation for all MFA exhibitions and gallery installations. Collaborating with colleagues in Curatorial, Exhibitions and Design, Creative and Interactive Media, and Learning and Community Engagement, they shape a comprehensive interpretative vision for the MFA. The Director of Interpretation works in partnership with colleagues across the Museum to advance matters of equity and inclusion within the MFA’s exhibitions and galleries, including but not limited to ensuring a welcoming visitor experience, driving forward IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity, and access) priorities, and helping to foster a sense of belonging across the institution. 

The Director of Interpretation defines and leads a culture of interpretation at the MFA that is collaborative, visitor-centered, and embracing of many voices from within and beyond the Museum’s walls. They oversee the content development and interpretive planning processes for all MFA exhibitions and gallery projects from inception to opening and reflection. They supervise interpretive planners and specialists, fellows, and other staff and supports their relationships with partners in Curatorial, Design, External Relations, Administration, Conservation, and, through Table of Voices, the broader Boston community. 

Leading the Interpretation team at the MFA, the Director of Interpretation oversees the management of Table of Voices (ToV), the Museum’s platform for incorporating outside perspectives into the creation of content and interpretation and serves as a liaison between internal and community based ToV partners. They work on all exhibition and gallery-related visitor studies, and with the Communications colleagues on the articulation of MFA gallery content for external audiences. They also work closely with the Chief of Curatorial Affairs and Conservation on long-range strategic planning for the Museum’s exhibition program that aligns with, builds, and supports institutional goals and priorities and delivers an outstanding visitor experience. Further, they work closely with Learning and Community Engagement colleagues and departmental teams to ensure broad awareness of exhibitions and curatorial initiatives.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

CONTENT AND INTERPRETIVE PLANNING: 

  • Lead content teams for each exhibition or gallery project, monitoring and communicating progress to MFA project managers, the Chief of Curatorial Affairs and Conservation, Directors of Exhibitions and Gallery Renovations, and, at times, the MFA Leadership Team.
  • Develop learning outcomes and “big ideas” for each project, in partnership with curators and other partners. 
  • Oversee and coordinate the development of in-gallery interpretive materials (i.e., written wall text, object labels, gallery guides, brochures) with curators, including copyediting and proofing final materials.
  • With colleagues in Creative and Interactive Media, lead the development of content and format for technology-based interpretive materials (handheld guide, interactives, videos, etc.), working closely with curators and members of the Design department, often in conjunction with appropriate members of the Learning department.
  • Supervise all staff within the Interpretation department and direct their work on interpretive and content planning, evaluation, editing, and proofing materials.

TABLE OF VOICES

  • Supervise full-time Program Manager for Table of Voices and direct ToV programming, iterating, and refining the program model.
  • With the Program Manager, oversee all aspects of the program, including the recruitment of external partners and the stewardship of relationships between internal and external collaborators.
  • Oversee regular program evaluation and report out findings to Leadership Team and other stakeholders.
  • With the Program Manager, document ToV to share and disseminate program practices and learnings with the broader art museum community and industry. 
  • Shepherd all ToV-influenced deliverables through the MFA exhibition planning processes.
  • Serve as the primary internal advocate for ToV, embedding and aligning it within MFA culture.
  • Participates in Museum programs and events, presents public talks, represents the Museum at conferences, workshops, meetings, committees, and professional groups, both locally and at the national level—with a particular focus on sharing Table of Voices with the wider art museum community. Remain abreast of current theory and practice in the museum field concerning interpretation.
  • Serve as an art historical resource for LCE staff, including teaching in the galleries and training volunteers. Also, serve as a content specialist and resource for other Museum departments as required.
  • Serve on cross-departmental and Museum-wide teams as requested.
  • Serve on the Learning and Community Engagement leadership team.
  • Serve as member of the Museum’s Strategic Programming Group.
  • Performs other duties as required or directed.
  • Other duties as requested or necessary.

 

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS

  • Advanced education in Art History, Museum Education, or relevant field.
  • Minimum seven years related experience managing interpretive planning in a complex art museum environment.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience leading audience-centered interpretive planning, content development, and evaluation. 
  • A creative and strategic thinker who contributes fresh and innovative ideas, while possessing strong operational and project management abilities. 
  • Excellent facilitator and convener of teams, establishing shared goals and actions.
  • Strong leadership skills with experience in hiring, coaching, mentoring, motivating, and evaluating employee performance and addressing employee issues when needed. 
  • Solid budget, project management, financial planning, integration, and priority-setting skills.
  • Evident deep commitment to developing a productive and accountable workplace culture that has at its heart the Museum’s institutional values of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility, and experience implementing IDEA in interpretive processes.
  • Outstanding verbal and written communication with a wide range of constituencies.
  • Deep knowledge and understanding of informal education and learning in art museums, with application to exhibition and gallery development. 

The Museum reserves the right to change job descriptions. While this job description is intended to include essential duties, it is conceivable that job duties may change before the job description is officially revised.

SALARY RANGE

Full-Time Salary, $110,000 – $120,000 per year

The MFA is an equal opportunity employer. The community and audience we serve is diverse, and we wish to foster that diversity in our workplace. Toward that end, the MFA does not discriminate against individuals in hiring, employment or promotion on the basis of race, religion, color, sex/gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, handicap or disability, veteran or military status, political belief, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law. 

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