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Public Programs Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Manager of Public Programs

New York, NY · On-site

$126.90K - $127.50K/yr

Manager of Public Programs DEPARTMENT: Public Programs REPORTS TO: Senior Manager of Public Programs ABOUT THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL New York's first museum, The New York Historical is a leading ...

Your mission as the Vice President of Public Programs will be to provide the leadership necessary ... Manage the divisional budget such that revenue goals are met and spending limits are adhered to

... management, helping to ensure a safe and visually appealing site for visitors. JOB FUNCTION Public Programs Assistant * Facilitate Public Programming at MOCA,including film screenings, concerts ...

Manager of Film Programs Education & Public Programs JOB SUMMARY Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Public Programs, Film, Music, and Gallery Learning, the Manager of Film Programs leads ...

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Public Programs Manager information

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$11K

$48.6K

$60.5K

How much do public programs manager jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for public programs manager in the United States is $48,613.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $40,000.00 and $57,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Public Programs Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Public Programs Manager, you need expertise in program development, event planning, and community engagement, often supported by a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as public administration, education, or arts management. Familiarity with project management tools, CRM systems, and event management software is typically required. Outstanding communication, organizational, and leadership skills help you effectively collaborate with stakeholders and manage diverse teams. These competencies are vital for delivering impactful public programs that meet organizational goals and serve community needs.

What are some common challenges faced by Public Programs Managers when planning community events?

Public Programs Managers often encounter challenges such as balancing diverse community interests, managing tight budgets, and ensuring logistical details run smoothly. They must coordinate with multiple stakeholders—including vendors, local officials, and partner organizations—to deliver engaging and accessible programs. Flexibility and strong problem-solving skills are crucial, as unforeseen issues like weather changes or last-minute cancellations may arise. Successful managers proactively communicate with their teams and adapt plans to meet both organizational goals and community needs.

What are Public Programs Managers?

Public Programs Managers are professionals responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing educational or community-focused events and initiatives, often within museums, cultural organizations, nonprofits, or government agencies. They coordinate public outreach activities, manage budgets, and collaborate with various stakeholders to ensure programs meet organizational goals and serve the community effectively. Their work involves strategic planning, team leadership, and evaluating program success to enhance audience engagement.

What is the difference between Public Programs Manager vs Community Outreach Coordinator?

AspectPublic Programs ManagerCommunity Outreach Coordinator
CredentialsBachelor's degree in public administration, communications, or related field; experience in program managementBachelor's degree; experience in community engagement or outreach
Work EnvironmentOffice-based with fieldwork for community eventsPrimarily community-facing, organizing events and outreach activities
Employer & IndustryGovernment agencies, non-profits, educational institutionsNon-profits, government, social service organizations
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles in public program managementComparing community engagement roles

The Public Programs Manager oversees the planning and execution of public initiatives, often managing teams and budgets. The Community Outreach Coordinator focuses on engaging with communities directly, organizing events, and building relationships. While both roles involve community interaction, the manager has broader program oversight, whereas the coordinator emphasizes grassroots engagement.

More about Public Programs Manager jobs
What cities are hiring for Public Programs Manager jobs? Cities with the most Public Programs Manager job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Public Programs jobs? The most popular types of Public Programs jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Public Programs Manager jobs? The top employers for Public Programs Manager jobs are:
What states have the most Public Programs Manager jobs? States with the most job openings for Public Programs Manager jobs include:
Infographic showing various Public Programs Manager job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, 43% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $48,613 per year, or $23.4 per hour.

Public Programs Coordinator

Strong National Museum

Rochester, NY • On-site

$19.03 - $21/hr

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago


Job description

The Strong offers programs for individuals of all ages to learn about the power and importance of play in their lives. The public programs coordinator is responsible for collaborating with team members on creative brainstorming, program coordination and communication, and general administrative tasks relating to the planning and execution of all public program events. This position develops guest-centered, hands-on programs with playful, educational themes that celebrate diversity, inclusion, and exploration at every age.

This position requires a dynamic individual who is passionate about crafting fun, engaging, and educational experiences for guests and members, is comfortable and able to experiment with creative ideas, and is highly organized and consistently able to meet strict program deadlines. The public programs coordinator is required to expend such personal efforts as may be needed to keep up with advances in subject matter information related to this position. The employee must learn the constraints, with particular consideration of the budget, within which this job must be performed, and work within those parameters.


Essential Functions:



  • Collaborate with the Vice President for Education and Public Programs, the Public Programs Manager, and other public programs coordinators to establish a full-year schedule of diverse and inclusive public programming that includes signature events, themed summer weeks, and recurring themed series.

  • Together with the Public Programs Manager and other public programs coordinators, develop and implement public programs from the idea stage through program delivery and analysis that are accessible, inclusive, and inspiring for all guests.

  • Conduct web-based back
  • Collaborate with the Vice President for Education and Public Programs, the Public Programs Manager, and other public programs coordinators to establish a full-year schedule of diverse and inclusive public programming that includes signature events, themed summer weeks, and recurring themed series.
  • ground research for programs and related activities.
  • Think broadly and systematically about how programs and events fit into the museum’s mission and how such programs can and should relate to museum collections and interpretation.
  • Arrange all program logistics for scheduled and assigned programs, including securing and managing supplies, booking rooms and spaces, ensuring appropriate set-up and AV support, coordinating external talent and entertainment, and training or guiding program staff as necessary. Monitor the progress of assigned events and troubleshoot issues as they arise.
  • Hire diverse and inclusive actors, musicians, performers, and vendors. Manage their relationship(s) with the event or program on behalf of the museum and maintain good communication throughout all phases of development and execution.
  • Develop an operations plan for each assigned event to be used by all teams to assist in the set-up and take-down of events and programs. Serve as the main point of contact for each event.
  • Develop a schedule of diverse and inclusive activities for each assigned event for the purpose of providing visitors with an engaging, educational, and fun visit.
    • Plan and develop programs within budgetary parameters. Obtain quotes and setup new contracts for upcoming events and performances.
    • Oversee, in coordination with the guest services team and Public Programs Manager, appropriate staffing for public programs and events.
    • Provide quality service to guests, both onsite and offsite, regardless of specific program assignment. Understand the importance the museum places on extraordinary guest service and treat everyone with dignity and respect.
    • Greet, welcome, and interact with museum guests on behalf of public program activities. Provide answers to guests’ questions, including information regarding daily events, programs, and museum membership.
    • Support public programs’ publicity and outreach activities as needed.
    • Record and maintain documentation of procedures and processes related to program development and implementation, including contact information for all assigned events.
    • Regularly reflect on event facilitation and implementation.
    • Research new program ideas and make suggestions for improvements to signature events.
    • Take initiative to identify and solve problems. Publicly support team decisions, even if they conflict with personal opinions.
    • Provide day-to-day administrative support to the Vice President for Education and Public Programs for multiple projects, interacting regularly with other project participants, partner organizations, and various internal teams.
    • Welcome new staff and create a positive work environment.
    • Identify and act on opportunities to help and support the efforts of coworkers and staff from other teams.
    • Assist with training and overseeing public programs interns and volunteers.
    • Participate in all required museum trainings.
    • Attend public programs team and general staff meetings, and others, as needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

    The candidate may have any combination of education and experience but should possess the required skills and knowledge for successful performance. Our general minimum requirements are:

    • Bachelor’s degree in education, museum studies, event management, or related field.
    • Experience successfully working in event planning, coordination, or other programming, preferably in an educational environment or at a museum.
    • Experience working with children and families.
    • Flexibility to work both weekday and weekend shifts as job duties require.
    • Conflict Management: Ability to use appropriate interpersonal skills and methods to reduce tension and resolve conflict in difficult or complex situations to achieve resolution or adherence to policies and/or procedures. Extraordinary ability to communicate matters and resolve issues face-to-face with patience and good judgment.
    • Creativity: Strong creative thinking and the ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
    • Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for educational program and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
    • Enthusiasm: Must be able to maintain a high level of energy throughout the workday, especially when interacting with guests.
    • Hospitality: Strong customer service background. Social perceptiveness to assist in executing successful interactions with guests and creating a welcoming environment for all.
    • Interpersonal Tact: Frequent contact with individuals within the museum in situations where considerable tact and initiative are needed. Excellent listening skills, a high degree of diplomacy and maturity, and the ability to balance empathy and objectivity.
    • Organization: Remain highly organized and pay close attention to each detail to ensure all programmatic activities and related materials contain appropriate and accurate content. Ensure that all projects are planned, organized, and properly executed.
    • Program Evaluation: Skilled in identifying measures or indicators of event or program success and the actions needed to improve or correct execution, relative to the goals of the institution.
    • Public Speaking: Enthusiastic presentation and public speaking skills and comfort engaging with diverse audiences.
    • Collaboration: We work in a team-oriented environment, so it is vital that our employees maintain effective interpersonal relationships. Team members must be good at active listening, conflict management, cooperation, facilitation, negotiation, and be open to feedback.
    • Communication: Our employees should always communicate and act in a respectful manner when working with others, including those from outside the museum. The ability to process and handle confidential information with discretion and to handle difficult and stressful situations with professional composure is vital for this position. This job requires the ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form using the English language.
    • Guest Service: All museum employees provide extraordinary service to our guests. People are filled with anticipation when they visit. When they leave, they feel enriched, are glad they came, and look forward to returning. The public programs team’s work should contribute to these sentiments every day.
    • Problem-Solving: Things don’t always go as planned. This job requires the ability to understand and follow instructions while recognizing, analyzing, and solving a variety of problems. The public programs coordinator should exercise sound judgment when making decisions.
    • Time Management: The ability to work well under pressure and handle several projects at once in order to meet the varying needs of the museum is fundamental to this role. The employee must be self-motivated, well-organized, and flexible. A strong ability to multi-task and work with competing deadlines and varying priorities without compromising attention to detail or quality of work is essential.
    • Computer Proficiency: This position requires work on a computer, in databases, and with related equipment. Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Word), various document processing applications, and internet search engines. Comfort using online platforms and web-interfaces, such as Pinterest.


    These qualifications are considered a plus:

    • Marketing or public relations skills.
    • Bilingual written and verbal skills


    Pre-Employment Requirements:
    Must consent to and pass a drug screen and criminal background check as conditions of employment.

The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Within reason, duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. Employees are expected to accept reasonable assignments whether or not they are specifically included in this position description.


Equal Opportunity Statement:

The Strong is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of The Strong to provide equal employment opportunity to all persons without regard to gender identity, sexual preference, age, race, color, religion, genetic information, national origin, disability, military, or marital status. This policy of nondiscrimination applies to all aspects of the employment relationship, including but not limited to: recruitment, selection, advancement, compensation, benefits, layoff, recall, transfer, and termination.