Associate Director, Public Programs
Apply NowCompany: Milken Institute
Location: Washington, DC 20011
Description:
About the Milken Institute
The Milken Institute is a globally minded, publicly supported, non-partisan, and nonprofit think tank headquartered in Santa Monica, with offices in Washington, DC, New York, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. For the past three decades, the Milken Institute has served as a catalyst for practical, scalable solutions to global challenges by connecting human, financial, and educational resources to those who need them. Guided by a conviction that the best ideas, under-resourced, cannot succeed, we conduct research and analysis and convene top experts, innovators, and influencers from different backgrounds and competing viewpoints. We leverage this expertise and insight to construct programs and policy initiatives. These activities are designed to help people build meaningful lives, in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities.
The Milken Institute's events and programmatic activities, involve the exchange of ideas with leaders from around the world. The Institute hosts more than 200 events each year, with our annual flagship event, Global Conference, bringing together 4,500+ participants from around the world, featuring more than 900+ speakers throughout 200+ sessions over the course of the event.
About the Center for Advancing the American Dream
The Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD) at the Milken Institute seeks a seasoned public program professional to join the team as an Associate Director of Public Programs. When the center opens in 2025, this position will provide public programming and community engagement.
The Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD), the newest center within the Institute, is catalyzing this work by building a new type of cultural center in the heart of Washington, DC. At MCAAD we celebrate the ideal of the American Dream and explore the ongoing challenges people face in pursuing opportunity, through exhibitions and programs. To accomplish this, we focus on four pillars of the American Dream: education, health, finance, and entrepreneurship. MCAAD's physical home, with a planned opening in 2025, is a remarkable renovation of several 120-year-old historic bank buildings, including Riggs Bank, known as the "Bank of Presidents." The Center's main halls are in the National Register of Historic Places, and our stewardship of the property-along with adjacent buildings on 15th St NW-will showcase and honor the history of these buildings while adapting them for use as a modern cultural center with immersive exhibition galleries. There will also be a state-of-the-art theater, events and lecture spaces, a holodeck experience, store and an atrium with caf. The six-building complex featuring nearly 300,000 square feet of space will also include a conference center, recording and broadcast studios, and the Washington, D.C., headquarters of the Milken Institute.
About the Position
WE are a dynamic, collaborative, and motivated team working to reopen the soaring halls of the Riggs Bank buildings as a place to imagine, explore, and expand the American Dream.
YOU are an accomplished museum programs specialist with a passion for providing innovative and creative public programs for various audiences. You are skilled at synthesizing ideas and content into audience-appropriate experiences. You deftly navigate institutional interests and audience needs to create compelling and relevant public programs. Our goal is to spark joy and curiosity and deepen engagement with the museum's exhibitions, mission, and vision.
Working under the supervision of the Director of Public Programs, this position will support a robust programming plan to connect audiences to the Center's strategic goals and objectives. The Associate Director will play a key role in programming elements, such as developing engaging public programs around the concept of the American Dream for various audiences. Programs can range from festivals to in-gallery activities, film screenings, author and artist talks, lectures, and performances.
Responsibilities
Planning and Operations
Program Development and Implementation
Evaluation and Reporting
Requirements
Working Conditions & Travel Requirements
We work in a professional office in Washington, DC, adjacent to our public Visitor Center opening in 2025. In the lead up to opening, this role will report to the Washington, DC office location at a minimum Tuesday-Thursday with telework available Mondays and Fridays. Once the Visitor Center is open, it is expected that this position will be available for additional onsite days. This role requires occasional evening and weekend programming as scheduled. This is subject to change.
Note
The statements herein are intended to describe the overall nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.
We are interested in qualified candidates who are eligible to work in the United States. Please note, we are not sponsoring visas at this time, being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment.
Please submit resume and cover letter illustrating how your experience and skills will contribute to the department and any unique qualities you bring to the position. If applying via Indeed, please upload your resume and any supporting documentation as one attachment. Any application that does not include both a resume and cover letter will be rejected. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact our Human Resources department to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.
Our Culture
The Milken Institute is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.
Every person at the Milken Institute is treated with respect, supported with resources and training, and exposed to a broad range of experiences. We foster a space for growth with opportunities to share knowledge and passion with both clients and colleagues. We are committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Our leadership is actively involved in our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and fostering a culture that creates opportunities for everyone.
Benefits
The Milken Institute is a globally minded, publicly supported, non-partisan, and nonprofit think tank headquartered in Santa Monica, with offices in Washington, DC, New York, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. For the past three decades, the Milken Institute has served as a catalyst for practical, scalable solutions to global challenges by connecting human, financial, and educational resources to those who need them. Guided by a conviction that the best ideas, under-resourced, cannot succeed, we conduct research and analysis and convene top experts, innovators, and influencers from different backgrounds and competing viewpoints. We leverage this expertise and insight to construct programs and policy initiatives. These activities are designed to help people build meaningful lives, in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities.
The Milken Institute's events and programmatic activities, involve the exchange of ideas with leaders from around the world. The Institute hosts more than 200 events each year, with our annual flagship event, Global Conference, bringing together 4,500+ participants from around the world, featuring more than 900+ speakers throughout 200+ sessions over the course of the event.
About the Center for Advancing the American Dream
The Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD) at the Milken Institute seeks a seasoned public program professional to join the team as an Associate Director of Public Programs. When the center opens in 2025, this position will provide public programming and community engagement.
The Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD), the newest center within the Institute, is catalyzing this work by building a new type of cultural center in the heart of Washington, DC. At MCAAD we celebrate the ideal of the American Dream and explore the ongoing challenges people face in pursuing opportunity, through exhibitions and programs. To accomplish this, we focus on four pillars of the American Dream: education, health, finance, and entrepreneurship. MCAAD's physical home, with a planned opening in 2025, is a remarkable renovation of several 120-year-old historic bank buildings, including Riggs Bank, known as the "Bank of Presidents." The Center's main halls are in the National Register of Historic Places, and our stewardship of the property-along with adjacent buildings on 15th St NW-will showcase and honor the history of these buildings while adapting them for use as a modern cultural center with immersive exhibition galleries. There will also be a state-of-the-art theater, events and lecture spaces, a holodeck experience, store and an atrium with caf. The six-building complex featuring nearly 300,000 square feet of space will also include a conference center, recording and broadcast studios, and the Washington, D.C., headquarters of the Milken Institute.
About the Position
WE are a dynamic, collaborative, and motivated team working to reopen the soaring halls of the Riggs Bank buildings as a place to imagine, explore, and expand the American Dream.
YOU are an accomplished museum programs specialist with a passion for providing innovative and creative public programs for various audiences. You are skilled at synthesizing ideas and content into audience-appropriate experiences. You deftly navigate institutional interests and audience needs to create compelling and relevant public programs. Our goal is to spark joy and curiosity and deepen engagement with the museum's exhibitions, mission, and vision.
Working under the supervision of the Director of Public Programs, this position will support a robust programming plan to connect audiences to the Center's strategic goals and objectives. The Associate Director will play a key role in programming elements, such as developing engaging public programs around the concept of the American Dream for various audiences. Programs can range from festivals to in-gallery activities, film screenings, author and artist talks, lectures, and performances.
Responsibilities
Planning and Operations
- In partnership with the Director of Public Programs, spearhead the development of dynamic experiences and programming with a new cultural organization.
- Synthesize content into compelling, audience-centered programmatic experiences for diverse ages, interests, and motivations.
- Build and maintain strong professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders to align public programming with organizational and community needs and interests.
- Develop intentions, clear goals, expectations, and measures for program resources and programs that align with institutional goals.
- Determine the best space for evergreen and specialized programming for intergenerational and general audiences.
- Collaborate with the visitor experience team and the Director of Public Programs on developing and iterating policies and protocols for welcoming various audiences to public programs.
- In consultation with the Director of Public Programs create processes and protocols to lay the foundation for successful programs.
Program Development and Implementation
- Develop and implement programming for serving all audiences, including intergenerational, teens, and generational Z audiences onsite, to deepen engagement around the MCAAD's pillars, mission, and strategic plan, as well as the museum's opening in 2025.
- Create a welcoming space where all visitors and audiences feel included
- Contribute and execute activities and engagement for museum-wide special programs.
- Collaborate with the visitor experience team, operations, partnerships, communications, and other colleagues to successfully message and execute evergreen, signature, and special programs.
- This role may supervise contractors, facilitators, vendors, and interns for public programs.
- Manage and coordinate public programming and quarterly programming schedules.
- Ideate, brainstorm, and execute programming to celebrate the nation's semi-quincentennial in 2026.
- Facilitate programs, tours, and workshops as required.
Evaluation and Reporting
- Reflect on and evaluate public programs and work with the Director of Public Programs and Visitor Services to gather visitor and audience data to improve evergreen and signature programs.
- Duties as assigned.
Requirements
- The ideal candidate has a can-do attitude and a healthy sense of humor, doesn't shy away from a challenge, and isn't afraid to think out of the box. Thrives in a highly collaborative and fast-moving environment while taking ownership of their duties.
- You will succeed in this role if you enjoy helping to shape new initiatives and programs and deepen engagement around the institution's mission and exhibitions.
- Must have at least 5 years of experience developing and working on public programs at museums, history centers, science centers, or public-facing cultural organizations. Additionally, the candidate must have experience working with artists, creatives, experts, and vendors to execute public programs, and have 3 years of leadership experience with managing public programs.
- A 4-year degree in a related field of study-- American Studies, History, Art History, and English is required. A master's degree in Museum Studies, American Studies, Public Health, or Art History is an added plus.
- Has a strong sense of attention to detail, time management, and ability to manage and adhere to budgets, as well as experience working with various audiences, including adults, families, intergenerational, teens, and Generation Z.
- Has demonstrated experience in the development of innovative programming, project management and strong organizational skills; in addition to proven track record in audience and community engagement.
- Exhibits a high level of adaptability to support the changing needs of audiences and the organization.
- Holds a special interest in or experience with MCCAD's mission and pillars: health, education and learning, finance, entrepreneurship, plus unique aspects of the American journey (U.S. history, immigration, aspiration and inspiration, advocacy, democracy, civic and community engagement, and audience development, and more).
- The ability to develop positive working relationships, support colleagues, be flexible, and thrive in a fast-paced, fun, and creative environment is essential.
- A successful completion of a security background check.
Working Conditions & Travel Requirements
We work in a professional office in Washington, DC, adjacent to our public Visitor Center opening in 2025. In the lead up to opening, this role will report to the Washington, DC office location at a minimum Tuesday-Thursday with telework available Mondays and Fridays. Once the Visitor Center is open, it is expected that this position will be available for additional onsite days. This role requires occasional evening and weekend programming as scheduled. This is subject to change.
Note
The statements herein are intended to describe the overall nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.
We are interested in qualified candidates who are eligible to work in the United States. Please note, we are not sponsoring visas at this time, being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment.
Please submit resume and cover letter illustrating how your experience and skills will contribute to the department and any unique qualities you bring to the position. If applying via Indeed, please upload your resume and any supporting documentation as one attachment. Any application that does not include both a resume and cover letter will be rejected. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact our Human Resources department to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.
Our Culture
The Milken Institute is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.
Every person at the Milken Institute is treated with respect, supported with resources and training, and exposed to a broad range of experiences. We foster a space for growth with opportunities to share knowledge and passion with both clients and colleagues. We are committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Our leadership is actively involved in our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and fostering a culture that creates opportunities for everyone.
Benefits
- Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
- Retirement Plan - 403b (5% match)
- Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
- Paid Time Off (Personal, Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
- Family Leave (Maternity & Paternity)
- Fertility Support
- Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
- Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)
- Pet Insurance Discount
- Training & Development:
- LinkedIn Learning - over 15,000 self-guided classes offered
- Annual Mentor Program
- Wellness Resources:
- Employee Assistance Program
- CALM app membership