SUMMARY
The Tom & Betsy Brady Creative Director for the Glass Pavilion serves as the senior leader responsible for activating the Glass Pavilion as a laboratory for museum innovation, public engagement, and interdisciplinary creativity. Operating with significant autonomy under the Toledo Museum of Art's strategic framework, this role develops and tests new approaches to programming, community engagement, technology, learning, and audience participation. The Creative Director serves as both a public ambassador and organizational catalyst, advancing TMA's vision by exploring what museums can and should become in the 21st century.
The role will have strategic and programmatic oversight for the renowned Glass Pavilion. Structured around two state-of-the-art hot shops, the Creative Director will have the responsibility to develop seasonal, themed programming for five galleries totaling approximately 12,000 square feet as well as the Pavilion’s outdoor spaces. Activations could be curatorial, educational, outreach-oriented, or some combination thereof; they could be digital or analog; there are no restrictions on use or conception except that programs are intended to be experiential, experimental, and encourage repeat visitation.
The Creative Director will pull in resources from across the institution as needed for each season’s engagements rather than having direct reports. Managing through influence and leading with a compelling vision are prerequisites for success.
TMA strives to be the model art museum in the United States for its commitment to quality and its culture of belonging. Working in close partnership with enterprise leaders across curatorial, education, development, and marketing, the Brady Director ensures that the Glass Pavilion advances this vision, intentionally taking calculated risks and experimenting with programming, community engagement, and the very idea of what a museum can and should be in the 21st century.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
Vision, Innovation & Institutional Leadership
- Establish a long-term vision for the Glass Pavilion as a national model for museum experimentation and public engagement.
- Serve as a catalyst for innovation, piloting new ideas, partnerships, technologies, and experiences.
- Adapt successful initiatives for integration across the organization.
Site Leadership & Strategy
- Translate TMA’s institutional strategy into a clear, compelling, and actionable vision for the Glass Pavilion experience.
- Ensure alignment with enterprise priorities while tailoring execution to the Glass Pavilion’s unique audience, program model, and physical environment.
- Serve as the primary ambassador for the Glass Pavilion within the community and field.
Technology & Experience Design
- Identify and implement emerging technologies that enhance visitor engagement, interpretation, learning, and community participation.
- Collaborate across departments and with external partners to develop interdisciplinary initiatives that connect art, technology, creativity, and lifelong learning.
- Evaluate programs through data-informed decision making and audience feedback.
Visitor Experience & Public Engagement
- Champion a high-quality, welcoming, and accessible visitor experience that reflects TMA’s standards of excellence and belonging.
- Collaborate with Visitor Services, Retail, and Protective Services to ensure friendly and welcoming engagement by public-facing staff.
- Partner with Education and Curatorial teams to activate the Glass Pavilion through demonstrations, classes, exhibitions, and interpretive experiences.
- Drive earned revenue through retail, programs, classes, facility utilization, and other service lines.
- Identify opportunities for growth, efficiency, and sustainability in operations.
- Oversee the coordination of the facilities, including the unique needs of hot shop operations and public spaces.
Team Leadership & Culture
- Build strong cross-functional relationships with departments across the museum, exercising influence to align multiple stakeholders.
- Foster collaboration and inspire investment from colleagues across the organization.
- Offer clear, proactive communication and systematic project management to ensure coordination across a matrixed workforce.
Programming & Activation
- Oversee the execution (not sole creation) of innovative and engaging programming that highlights glassmaking and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Develop a multi-year programming plan, with season themes developed in conjunction with the activities scheduled in the Green Building, Peristyle and Woodruff Buildings.
- Support artist residencies, demonstrations, and special events that enhance TMA’s reputation and audience engagement.
External Relations & Advancement Support
- Partner with the Development team to support donor engagement, sponsorship opportunities, and funding initiatives specific to the Glass Pavilion.
- Build and maintain relationships with artists, collectors, community partners, and industry leaders.
- Represent the Glass Pavilion and TMA in external forums, events, and collaborations.
Performs other duties as assigned or required.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- A bachelor’s degree is required, with a preferred concentration in arts administration, museum studies, theater, performing arts, visual arts, art history or a related field.
- 7-10 years of progressive leadership experience leading innovative cultural, educational, civic, academic, or creative organizations in a museum, cultural institution, or comparable visitor-focused organization.
- Experience managing operations, teams and budgets in a complex, public-facing environment.
- Demonstrated success in launching new programs, partnerships, or audience engagement initiatives driving audience engagement and earned revenue.
RELATIONSHIPS & WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Reports to the Chief Culture & Brand Experience Officer and matrixed to the President & CEO
- Work in close partnership with curatorial, education, marketing, development, and operations teams across TMA.
- Driver of entrepreneurial thinking and strategic innovation.
- Comfortable leading and operating in ambiguous and evolving environments.
- Requires regular on-site presence, including evenings and weekends in alignment with public programming and events.
SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE, COMPETENCIES, AND ABILITIES
- Strong knowledge in and passion for contemporary art across disciplines, with a preferred interest in glass as a medium.
- Passion for and experience creating exceptional visitor experiences.
- Strong operational and business acumen with the ability to manage a defined unit within a larger institution.
- Ability to lead through influence in a matrixed organization (critical given the position’s shared services model).
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- Experience balancing creative programming with operational execution.
- High energy with demonstrated presentation skills, enabling the engagement of diverse audiences and advocacy for the role of experiential programming in a museum setting.
- Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, as needed for programming.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Standard open office work environment shared with co-workers, with related phone, computer, and printer noise. Position requires the ability to operate a computer and other office productivity software/equipment and audio/visual equipment such as a copy machine, printer and phone and sound systems. Hours may include some evenings and/or weekends as necessary.
BENEFITS
- 25 Days of Paid Time Off Annually
- 6 Paid Holidays Annually
- 2 Floating Holidays Annually
- 3 Paid Volunteer Days Annually
- Birthday Paid Day Off
- Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
- 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with the Option to Direct Eligible Employer Matching Contributions Toward Qualified Student Loan Payments
- Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Term Life and AD&D Insurance Plans
- 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
- Pet Insurance
- Discounted Membership to YMCA of Greater Toledo for Fitness and Childcare Services
- Employee Assistance Plan
- Museum Family Membership
- Employee Discounts in the Museum Store, Café, and Studio Art Classes
The Toledo Museum of Art provides equal opportunity for employment and promotion to all qualified employees and applicants. No person shall be discriminated against in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status or condition protected by applicable federal or state statutes. The Museum is committed to maintaining an environment in which all employees are treated equitably and given the opportunity to achieve their full potential in the workplace. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting People & Talent at [email protected] or (567)-666-0387. 