Associate Director, Education - Schomburg Center

Associate Director, Education - Schomburg Center

Department: Schomburg Administration

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Schomburg Center

Compensation: $120,000 - $130,000 / year

Description

The Organization

Founded in 1925 and named a National Historic Landmark in 2017, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the collection, preservation, and study of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences.

A research library of the New York Public Library, the Schomburg Center features diverse programming and collections spanning over 10 million items, illuminating the richness of black history, arts, and experience worldwide for nearly a century.

The Center is committed to maximizing free and public access to its one-of-a-kind collections, exhibitions, educational activities, and much of its programming.

The Role

Location: New York City

Reports to: Director, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, NYPL

Position Summary
The Associate Director (AD) of Education serves as a key member of the Schomburg Center’s senior team and is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing a portfolio of robust education initiatives and programs, leveraging the Schomburg Center’s history in youth, adult and community education to showcase how the archive and 100 years of engagement enrich the humanities, and American and Global History.

Current education initiatives and programs include group tours and class visits for both formal and informal school programs (primary, secondary, and post-secondary), the Junior Scholars program (a uniquely designed academic year Saturday pre-college Black Studies program for students in grades 5-12), educator events and teacher development, and exhibition tour related activities offering broad access to resources and educational opportunities for all visitors. The AD of Education is also responsible for grant funded education initiatives, including the Mellon Summer Humanities Institute.

Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Schomburg Center Director, the Associate Director of Education will provide leadership and expertise for all aspects of Schomburg’s education programming and associated initiatives, including:

• Develop a rich platform that provides educational opportunities for instructors, students, and learners of all ages and needs.
• Assess current Education offerings and develop a vision for future initiatives, including budget and resource requirements.
• Manage a year-round portfolio of initiatives, including the Schomburg Curriculum, the Schomburg Mellon Summer Humanities Institute, the Junior Scholars program, and overall visitor experience.
• Create and organize new learning initiatives related to the Schomburg’s archival focus, exhibitions, and themes in African Diasporan history and culture.
• Manage recurring initiatives and festivals including the annual Black Comic Book Festival and the annual Literary Festival.
• Oversee and monitor current and future education program deliverables and budgets from multiple funding sources.
• Develop deeper connections to area schools, colleges, and visitor/tourism organizations.
• Research and develop education and visitor experience content independently and in collaboration with Schomburg curators and partner organizations.
• Serve as the public face of the Education department.
• Recruit and cultivate speakers, contributors, and instructors.
• Lead a team of experienced professionals and identify professional development needs.
• Manage and develop a year-round team of staff including academic year instructors.
• Coordinate and supervise docents and interns for education activities and tours.
• Develop and maintain processes for assessing education and group visitor activities.
• Continually assess current events and trends in education and visitor engagement.
• Other related duties and special projects assigned by the Director.

Specific to the Schomburg’s Junior Scholars Program, responsibilities are to:

1. Manage the annual program budget of approximately $200,000-$300,000.
2. Oversee the enrollment of over 100 students aged 11 to 18 from the New York Metropolitan Area.
3. Collaborate on curricula development with program faculty.
4. Manage program deliverables and reporting to program funders.

Priorities for this leader in their first six months will include:

• Immerse in current Schomburg education and tour/visitor initiatives.
• Develop a plan that offers consistent educational support for classes, tours, and visitors.
• Establish a regular cadence of meetings with education staff.
• Build collaborative relationships with colleagues within the Schomburg and NYPL.
• Understand current grant funded initiatives and schedules for reporting.
• Identify and assess the strategic needs of Education for the Director.
• Develop a full understanding of budget oversight and planning.

Required Education, Experience & Skills

Required Experience:

• 6+ years of experience developing educational initiatives or programming for broad audiences.
• Broad knowledge of African American and African Diaspora history and culture required.
• Experience or extensive knowledge of NYC & NYS education standards for curriculum and instruction.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize and conduct educational programs.
• Demonstrated supervisory and management experience.
• Strong budget and grant management experience.

Required Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
• The presence and credibility to serve as an effective spokesperson.
• Understanding of digital learning platforms.
• Program management and organizational skills.
• Ability to apply judgment, discretion, and professionalism.
• Flexibility, reliability, punctuality and attention to detail.

Education:

• Master’s Degree or higher in Education, related humanities, or similar academic discipline.

Core Values

All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:

• Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues.
• Be Resourceful in solving problems.
• Be Curious in all aspects of your work.
• Be Welcoming and Inclusive.

Work Environment: Research library setting.

Physical Duties: N/A

Pre-Placement Physical Required? No

Union/Non Union: Non-Union

FLSA Status: Exempt