Director of Engagement and the Cambridge Science Festival

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Director of Engagement and the Cambridge Science Festival

The MIT Museum seeks a director of engagement and the Cambridge Science Festival to lead all of its work in educational and public programming, with particular reference to the greatly expanded opportunities for such programming provided by the new MIT Museum in Kendall Square. Will have immediate responsibility for year-round programmatic activities in the museum, for outreach activities including the annual Cambridge Science Festival, and for a number of national and global programming initiatives.

Internally, as part of the senior management team, the successful candidate will manage and lead the work of four program teams and work closely with colleagues in other key areas (e.g., Collections, Exhibitions) in the framing and delivery of the museum’s strategic plans. Externally, there will be close collaboration with colleagues across MIT, stakeholders in Cambridge, and with other institutions in North America and overseas in the development of the larger field of public engagement with science and technology.

A full description is available here.  

Required Qualifications:  

• Master’s degree in a relevant subject area
• Ten years’ relevant professional experience
• Record of successfully creating and implementing original engagement activities designed for the MIT Museum’s key audiences (middle/high-school students, general audiences, Cambridge residents, and MIT community)
• Experience developing and implementing engagement programs to reach diverse audiences
• Program evaluation expertise
• Experience drafting text and providing materials/presentations to support grant writing and fundraising
• Excellent organizational, budget preparation, planning, management, interpersonal, presentation, and public speaking skills
• Experience building departmental systems and workflows
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Demonstrated portfolio of programming with community partners and engagement with civic officials
• Strategic grasp of the challenges and opportunities in the wider field of science engagement and a vision for the MIT Museum’s distinctive role in this field
• Ability to build teams and work collaboratively and organize and schedule staff for seven-days-a-week service delivery
• Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize duties, and meet deadlines in a changing work environment
• Ability to network with MIT faculty/researchers/students and with Cambridge-based organizations in support of creative programming in the Museum    

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Doctoral degree
• Experience with daytime, evening, and outdoor programs/festivals/other activities
• Portfolio of relevant publications and/or conference presentations
• Interest in experimental public programming and online informal learning

Must be able to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Interested candidates may apply online (with both a cover letter and resume) at https://hr.mit.edu/careers.  Please reference job number 22319.

MIT is an equal-opportunity employer.  We value diversity and strongly encourage applications from individuals from all identities and backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive equitable consideration for employment based on their experience and qualifications, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin.  MIT’s full policy on Nondiscrimination can be found here.