Museum Manager Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

The Des Moines Art Center is a museum, art school, and sculpture park in Iowa's capital city, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. As one of the state's oldest cultural organizations and an American Alliance of Museums-accredited institution, the Art Center is a dynamic employer grounded in public service, collaboration, and meaningful community impact.

Our historic facility, situated within Greenwood Park, features three architecturally significant buildings designed by Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei, and Richard Meier, and is home to one of the most prolific collections of 20th- and 21st-century art in the Midwest. Through exhibitions, public programs, and educational experiences, the Art Center connects people with art and ideas, cares for visitors, art, and community, and fosters lifelong learning. Our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is central to this work and is reflected across every aspect of our mission and programming.

Position Summary

The Museum Learning and Engagement (MLE) Coordinator provides administrative support for all Museum Learning and Engagement functions. The Museum Learning and Engagement Coordinator combines resources, processes, and people to execute the Art Center's robust tour program. This position supports all department staff in an administrative capacity for public programming, school tours and events, and docent class, including scheduling, communication, attendance tracking, and reporting.

The ideal candidate for this position is passionate about museum education and believes in the power of art to foster curiosity, learning, and meaningful connections. They are energized by supporting the Museum Learning and Engagement department through strong administrative, organization, and technology skills, bringing exceptional attention to detail and a proactive approach to coordinating multiple varied projects and priorities. A committed relationship-builder and fast learner, this person is motivated by helping activate the Art Center primarily by scheduling and coordinating tours, public programs, and visitor engagement initiatives. They are a strong communicator who brings positivity, professionalism, and energy to their interactions with colleagues, Docents (tour guides), tour participants, local school systems, and museum guests. 

Reporting Relationship

This position reports to the Tour and Docent Program Manager. The position has frequent contact with peers and managers in Museum Learning and Engagement, Security and Visitor Experience, Community Access Programs, Information Technology, and the Studio Arts team. In addition, this role provides administrative and operational support to the Senior Director of Museum Learning and Engagement.

Essential Functions

• Proficient with Microsoft 365 including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. Experience with Forms is desirable.
• Provides administrative support for Museum Learning and Engagement events using multiple software platforms and a museum-wide database. Prepares events for public registration, marketing, internal resource bookings, and communication. Systems include Artifax, Staff Savvy, and MUSE.
• Manages the full cycle of tour bookings, from first inquiry to confirmation to post-visit survey. Tour schedule consists of 300-500 tours annually.
• Communicates tour assignments both internally to museum staff and externally to Docent volunteers, tour contacts, and city partners on a weekly basis. 
• Responsible for the meticulous and timely tracking and reporting of tour and event attendance for Museum Learning and Engagement events and programs.
• Supports the Tour and Docent Programs Manager in the scheduling and execution of all Docent training classes and Docent-based programs. 
• Provides excellent customer service via email, over the phone, and in person. 
• Liaises daily with members of the Docent Program, which currently numbers 70 volunteers and cultivates positive and supportive relationships with all. 
• Acts as the key point of contact between Museum Learning and Engagement and Security and Visitor Experience on all aspects relating to tour schedules. 
• Provides in-person staff support for Museum Learning and Engagement programs as requested.
• Works collaboratively with other departments on fulfilling tour requests and event support. 
• Works with Information Technology to enhance scheduling and associated tracking systems. 
• This position requires the use of a personal cell phone, for which the Art Center reimburses an allowance per pay period.

Other Responsibilities

• Acts in ways that reflect favorably on the Art Center and maintains professional standards in the quality of performance and demonstration of concern for the Art Center's collection, programs, and facilities. Uses guidelines in the AAM Code of Ethics for Museums, (aam-us.org) and adheres to the Art Center Code of Conduct, Employee Handbook, and all organizational policies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Able to focus attention on details; must be highly organized and timely with deliverables.
• Displays willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process and makes timely decisions. 
• Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests. 
• Builds morale and group commitments to goals and objectives and supports everyone's efforts to succeed 
• Exceptional collaboration skills, including the ability to work with a range of communities, co-workers, and audiences.
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal, writing, and verbal skills.
• Excellent organizational, project, and time management.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and emotional intelligence. 
• Comfortable using all forms of technological devices including PCs, tablets, AV, and recording equipment. 
• Experience working with databases (software related to event management) highly preferred. 

Required Education, Experience, and/or Professional Certification

• High school diploma or equivalent
• 1-2 years previous experience as an administrative assistant

Decision Making

• Day-to-day operational decision making under the guidance of the Senior Director of Museum Learning, Engagement, and Community Access. 
• Regularly exercises judgement pertaining to the tour schedule. 

Special Considerations (Work Environment, Schedule, Required Travel, etc.)

• Most work is performed in an indoor office
• Monday – Friday with some flexibility 
• While this position offers a hybrid work schedule working both in the office and remotely, required in-office hours are 9 am – 2 pm, Tuesday – Friday. Must be consistently at work and on time; ensuring work responsibilities are covered when absent and arriving to meetings and appointments on time. 

Physical Factors

Work is mostly sedentary or light work.

Benefits

The Des Moines Art Center offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package supporting employee health, financial well-being, and work-life balance. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage; Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) and employer Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions; a generous retirement match; paid time off and holidays; and hybrid work options for some roles. Additional offerings include life and disability insurance, as well as voluntary accident and critical illness coverage.

Recruitment

Jessica McGlynn, People and Culture Manager, is the Art Center's primary recruiter for this role. She can be reached at jmcglynn@desmoinesartcenter.org with questions or follow up! (Please submit your application online instead of via email.)