Coordinator of Community Programs and Partnerships

Reporting to the Director of Social Impact, the Whitney Museum seeks a Coordinator of Community Programs and Partnerships to help cultivate and sustain relationships with community partners and develop responsive and collaborative programs. The Education department has established partnerships with a diverse group of community-based organizations, with a special focus on our downtown neighborhood, that serve LGBTQ+ youth and seniors, low-income communities, adults affected by HIV/AIDS and homelessness, immigrants and English Language Learners, and other audiences that have traditionally been underserved by cultural institutions. This is a key position for the Whitney as the Museum embarks on its sixth year in the Meatpacking District and looks to expand partnerships beyond Lower Manhattan. The Coordinator will lead and advance the Whitney Education Community Advisory Network (WECAN) as it enters its 10th year of existence. The Coordinator will work closely with colleagues across Education and the Museum to make the Whitney a welcoming, accessible, and community-centered institution. 

Responsibilities:   

●   Contribute to broad institutional efforts to position the Museum as a welcoming, relevant, and accessible resource for people who have traditionally experienced barriers to participation in cultural institutions. 

●   Work with the Director of Social Impact to design educational programs, policies, and services for diverse audiences including visitors with disabilities, low-income seniors, residents of the nearby NYCHA houses, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ youth.

●   Develop and implement strategic partnerships with community-based organizations creating opportunities for new audiences to access and make meaningful connections with the art and artists of the Whitney.

●   Facilitate and hone the mission of the Whitney Education Community Advisory Network (WECAN), a group of downtown neighborhood stakeholders who meet regularly to advise the Museum on programming and audience development initiatives; write and send out regular monthly newsletter information to this group about upcoming programs.

●   Coordinate and develop collaborative projects that bring artists and art into local communities to build long-term relationships between the Museum and New York City residents.

●   Develop, coordinate, and implement virtual and in-person educational programs on and off-site for diverse audiences, in partnership with a wide range of community-based organizations, including accessible programs for people with physical, sensory, developmental, and cognitive disabilities. 

●   Plan and coordinate the Museum’s yearly Immigrant Justice Night and Pride Celebration events in collaboration with community partners and Education colleagues.

●   Mentor, evaluate, and support the Community Programs team of educators, interns, and volunteers.

●   Foster strong relationships within the local community and contribute to audience outreach initiatives.

●   Maintain email communications with our audiences and communities through the development of e-blasts advertising upcoming programs.

●   Explore how the Whitney can be a convener and a catalyst to bring diverse communities together.

Qualifications:

●   B.A. degree in education, museum studies, disability studies, studio art, art history, or a related field. Or equivalent experience. 

●   Demonstrated experience in community-based arts programming, museum education and gallery teaching as well as knowledge of contemporary artistic practice.

●   Experience with research, outreach, accessibility, and/or community arts education

●   Knowledge of Microsoft Suite. Background working with art materials. Strong writing skills. Experience in arts programming for medium to large audiences. Event planning experience a plus. 

●   Fluency in Spanish and/or Mandarin preferred. Knowledge of ASL a plus. 

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role.

About the Whitney:

The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.

EEO Statement:

The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.

COVID guidelines:

The health and safety of our Museum community is the highest priority. As such, the Whitney Museum requires all newly hired staff members to be fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized and/or approved COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. Requests for reasonable accommodations for medical, religious, or other reasons will be considered in accordance with applicable law.