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Overview
Reporting to the Director of the Yale Peabody Museum, the Director of Public Engagement is responsible for creating a unified vision and framework for exhibitions, education, and public programming that will enhance the understanding and appreciation of the Museum’s collections, expertise, and resources. The Director will evaluate and structure offerings to position the Peabody as a community hub for Yale and New Haven with strategic, sustained partnerships, will forefront collaborative projects that are responsive to Yale and community needs, and will develop a culture of experimentation and evaluation to support data-driven decisions. The Director is expected to be a leader in the museum engagement professional community. The incumbent will supervise exhibition and education teams to set a bold, unified vision and provide strategic oversight of exhibition development, design, and production for exhibitions, education, and programs. As a member of the senior leadership team, they will foster robust collaborations with YPM collections, student programs (Yale community), development, communications, and operations leadership to guide institutional priorities, problem solve and strategically align museum-wide issues and efforts.
Develops, directs, and executes the Museum’s Public Engagement. Conceptualizes and oversees implementation of creative, innovative, and intellectually stimulating educational and social programming and exhibitions that interpret the Museum’s collections and activities to diverse audiences. Works closely with curators, collections staff, educators, Yale undergraduate and graduate students, and other Museum stakeholders to research and develop concepts and content, to develop and formalize culturally responsive practices.
Provides oversight and strategic vision regarding the development, design, and production of exhibitions. Supervises the Associate Director of Exhibitions towards a strong and intellectually stimulating exhibition program at the Museum. Conducts research, in partnership with the Associate Director, on the relevant objects, themes, and ideas related to the Peabody’s exhibition programming to ensure intellectual integrity and quality of the Museum’s exhibitions.
Conceptualizes and oversees the public educational agenda for the Museum. Supervises the Assistant Director of Education and Outreach providing strategic guidance to the Education department to plan, direct, and implement creative and innovative initiatives to further engage and spark curiosity with the local K-12 educational community. Develops content and sound pedagogical frameworks for programming, to encourage active learning through the Peabody’s collections.
Collaborates with collections staff to develop a philosophical approach to teaching with objects and cross-disciplinary thinking. Improves and refines programs to appeal to diverse audiences by evaluating quality, attendance, and educational content.
Evaluates and structures the Peabody’s programming offerings, with a focus on collaborative projects that are responsive to Yale and community needs. Leads evaluation and research initiatives that inform the museum field.
Establishes (and regularly re-evaluates) strategic priorities and ensures that they remain the focus of time, funding, and other resources.
Develops both free and revenue driving programs and guides budgetary and fundraising decisions that support robust programming.
Organizes and coordinates scheduling and implementation of programs and exhibitions, working across all Museum departments to complete the tasks. Identifies, initiates, and fosters contact with individuals and/or community organizations interested in the Museum’s public programs and encourages their participation.
Works with University and community partners to conceive and implement cross-disciplinary content and programs to enliven discussion and expand interpretation of collections and exhibitions, enhancing the Museum’s profile as a cultural and intellectual hub on campus and in the New Haven area.
Serves as an articulate and compelling advocate for the Peabody to prospective donors and collectors, the museum community, the media, and potential collaborators.
Manages annual and program-specific budgets. Works with finance, development, and grants management staff to secure funding to support all programs, including grant writing.
Plans strategically for documentation of programs and use of media and the web to extend the impact of public programs. Collaborates with Communications to expand audience awareness and participation.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Skills and Abilities
1. Flexible, energetic, creative, entrepreneurial leader, with strong consensus-building skills. Talented problem solver. Highly proficient at managing multiple priorities and a proven ability to build and maintain influence and trust with a wide array of constituencies, including staff, researchers, and colleagues, and to work collaboratively and independently.
2. Ability to translate institutional identity, ideas, direction, and themes into exhibitions and programmatic experiences across a wide range of topics, toward enhancing the Museum’s long-range academic program and profile at the University and in the greater New Haven community.
3. Strong interest in and familiarity with museums; commitment to object-based research and teaching. Strong written, editing, and oral communication skills; ability to think analytically and quantitatively to formulate budgets. Superior interpersonal skills with the ability to work with a range of individuals to adapt and exceed visitor expectations.
4. Demonstrated ability to represent the Museum through public speaking engagements. Ability to lead, manage, delegate, and juggle multiple tasks and meet demanding deadlines. Excellent organizational skills.
5. Proven ability to work well under pressure while exhibiting professionalism, a customer service attitude, and consistent flexibility in a busy multi-task environment. Demonstrated ability tracking and forecasting financial data and in writing successful grant applications. Demonstrated ability to cultivate sponsor relationships in collaboration with Development.
Preferred Skills and Abilities
1. Proven experience in programming, exhibitions, or education with demonstrated experience in museum leadership.
2. Knowledge of and interest in natural and cultural history.
Principal Responsibilities
1. Develops, directs, and executes the Museum’s Public Engagement. Conceptualizes and oversees implementation of creative, innovative, and intellectually stimulating educational and social programming and exhibitions that interpret the Museum’s collections and activities to diverse audiences. Works closely with curators, collections staff, educators, Yale undergraduate and graduate students, and other Museum stakeholders to research and develop concepts and content, to develop and formalize culturally responsive practices.
2. Provides oversight and strategic vision regarding the development, design, and production of exhibitions. Supervises the Associate Director of Exhibitions towards a strong and intellectually stimulating exhibition program at the Museum. Conducts research, in partnership with the Associate Director, on the relevant objects, themes, and ideas related to the Peabody’s exhibition programming to ensure intellectual integrity and quality of the Museum’s exhibitions.
3. Conceptualizes and oversees the public educational agenda for the Museum. Supervises the Assistant Director of Education and Outreach providing strategic guidance to the Education department to plan, direct, and implement creative and innovative initiatives to further engage and spark curiosity with the local K-12 educational community. Develops content and sound pedagogical frameworks for programming, to encourage active learning through the Peabody’s collections.
4. Collaborates with collections staff to develop a philosophical approach to teaching with objects and cross-disciplinary thinking. Improves and refines programs to appeal to diverse audiences by evaluating quality, attendance, and educational content.
5. Evaluates and structures the Peabody’s programming offerings, with a focus on collaborative projects that are responsive to Yale and community needs. Leads evaluation and research initiatives that inform the museum field.
6. Establishes (and regularly re-evaluates) strategic priorities and ensures that they remain the focus of time, funding, and other resources.
7. Develops both free and revenue driving programs and guides budgetary and fundraising decisions that support robust programming.
8. Organizes and coordinates scheduling and implementation of programs and exhibitions, working across all Museum departments to complete the tasks. Identifies, initiates, and fosters contact with individuals and/or community organizations interested in the Museum’s public programs and encourages their participation.
9. Works with University and community partners to conceive and implement cross-disciplinary content and programs to enliven discussion and expand interpretation of collections and exhibitions, enhancing the Museum’s profile as a cultural and intellectual hub on campus and in the New Haven area.
10. Serves as an articulate and compelling advocate for the Peabody to prospective donors and collectors, the museum community, the media, and potential collaborators.
11. Manages annual and program-specific budgets. Works with finance, development, and grants management staff to secure funding to support all programs, including grant writing.
12. Plans strategically for documentation of programs and use of media and the web to extend the impact of public programs. Collaborates with Communications to expand audience awareness and participation.
13. Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Education and Experience
Master’s Degree and five years of museum programming experience or equivalent education and experience.
Job Posting Date
05/21/2026
Job Category
Manager
Bargaining Unit
NON
Compensation Grade
Galleries & Museums
Compensation Grade Profile
Director of Public Programs, YPM (27)
Salary Range
$105,000.00 - $174,000.00
Time Type
Full time
Duration Type
Staff
Work Model
On-site
Background Check Requirements
All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.
Health Requirements
Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.
Posting Disclaimer
Salary offers are determined by a candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education in relation to the position requirements, along with the role’s grade profile and current internal and external market conditions.
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring department.
The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.
Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).
Note
Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.
