Manager of Interpretation

The mission of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco is to connect our visitors with local and global art in order to promote their knowledge of and curiosity about the past, deepen their engagement with the art and ideas of today, and stimulate their creative agency in their own futures. We are committed to embracing Diversity, Inclusivity, Equity, and Access in our programs and culture, in order to provide our audiences and staff with inclusive and equitable lenses on historic and contemporary issues.

To help achieve this goal, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco launched an interpretation department in 2022 to advance the FAMSF mission to integrate equity into the systems of the institution by mapping more inclusive interpretive frameworks, co-creating and editing content, designing new processes to augment visitor and community engagement opportunities through the delivery of content, and evaluating metrics of interpretation success. Working in partnership with curators, educators, collaborators, and consultants, the department proposes new interpretive approaches and/or programs for permanent collection objects and special exhibitions at both the de Young and Legion of Honor. This department brings a critical lens to exhibitions and collections and suggests inclusive historical narratives to help maximize visitors' experiences as they consider objects from broader perspectives.

With partnership from Google.org, FAMSF will introduce a Nonprofit Interpretation Hub. Designed for high-impact nonprofit leaders from diverse backgrounds, these quarterly gatherings will foster creativity, collaboration, and innovation via professional development, opportunities for exploration, and team-building.

As the Museums launch the Nonprofit Interpretation Hub and embark on a number of major permanent collection installations we are adding a Manager of Interpretation role for the duration of these projects. This is a 24 month fixed-term hire from summer of 2024 to summer of 2026.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Under the direction of the Director of Interpretation, collaborate with curatorial colleagues to develop inclusive interpretive frameworks for upcoming permanent collection reinstallations and exhibitions
2. Review and propose edits to in-gallery didactics in collaboration with staff, and as appropriate, external collaborators, to ensure they are in alignment with the museum’s DEIA values.
3. Supervise Interpretation and Outreach Associates and paid interns assigned to interpretation projects.
4. Coordinate and schedule quarterly visits to the Nonprofit Interpretation Hub.
5. Manage administration of a subcontractor to evaluate the effectiveness of didactic changes on the viewing public.
6. Create and manage project timelines and work flows in close collaboration with the Director of Interpretation and colleagues in other departments.
7. Provide administrative support for the Interpretation department including:
   1. Scheduling meetings, preparing meeting agendas and presentations, and following up
   2. Reconciling accounts payable, accounts receivable, and credit card statements; making travel arrangements
   3. Managing Asana (project management software) tasks and workflows for Interpretation projects
   4. Developing and presenting operations requests to ensure interpretation is in alignment with facilities protocols and procedures
   5. Communicating with interpretation partners and subcontractors, including management of contracts and compensation disbursement.
   6. Managing project budgets to update and track Interpretation budget actuals.
   7. Assembling and recording data and timelines for education annual report and education department meetings

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Ethnic Studies, Visual Studies, Art History, Museum Studies or related field.

Work Experience: At least 5 years of experience managing museums programs and/or art interpretation for a large arts organization OR a Masters Degree in Ethnic Studies, Visual Studies, Art History, Museum Studies or related field, with at least three years of work experience.

Skills and Abilities:

• Basic knowledge of art history; interest in art and museums a must
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Familiarity with Asana Project Management software.
• Strong database and word processing skills; ability to quickly learn new software programs.
• Ability to tactfully and courteously deal with a diverse group of colleagues and community partners
• Capacity and organizational ability to work in a fast-paced, diverse, multi-tasked environment; ability to manage multiple work processes and projects simultaneously and the ability to be receptive to changing priorities.
• Must be comfortable in an interactive work environment that requires meeting with colleagues on a regular basis to discuss edits and ideas, and to engage in collaborative conversations.
• Must be highly organized and able to anticipate many long and short-term deadlines.

Schedule: This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule. Hybrid schedules typically include at least 3 days a week onsite and up to two days per week working remotely. This 2-year fixed-term position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule.

The benefits package includes medical, dental, vision and 401(k), and paid time off.

The annual salary range for this position is $82,000-87,000. The final offer amount within this range will be based on experience and internal equity.

If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HumanResources@famsf.org.

We recommend all new COFAM employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 but it is not required. Please contact humanresources@famsf.org with any questions.

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COFAM is the Corporation of Fine Arts Museums and is the privately funded non-profit corporation which supports the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, a department of the City and County of San Francisco.

COFAM is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in all phases of employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Comprising the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park and the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, we are the largest public arts institution in the City of San Francisco and one of the largest art museums in the United States. The de Young, designed by Herzog & de Meuron and located in Golden Gate Park, showcases American art from the 17th through the 21st centuries, international contemporary art, textiles and costumes, and art from the Americas, the Pacific, and Africa. The Legion of Honor displays a collection of over 4,000 years of ancient and European art including Auguste Rodin's The Thinker and houses the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts in a Beaux-Arts style building overlooking Lincoln Park and the Golden Gate Bridge