Manager of Community Programs

Denver Art Museum • Denver, CO, United States • $53k - $66.20k / year • 3d ago

Description

Manager of Community Programs, Full-Time (Exempt)

Why Join Us?

At the Denver Art Museum (DAM), we work together to build a world where art sparks creativity, and connects, inspires, and empowers people and communities.

As a Manager of Community Programs, you will be responsible for bringing art and creativity experiences to kids and families furthest from the Denver Art Museum (DAM) and its resources. Under your leadership, community members in the seven-county Science and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) will feel engaged and supported by the DAM through programs that foster well-being and deepen connections to the museum and to one another. You will design innovative programming, forge new partnerships, and grow our impact as a strategic leader in the Learning & Engagement (L&E) department. Reporting to the Associate Director of Youth & Community Engagement, you will envision, manage, and evaluate programs to ensure metro Denver's diverse communities enjoy equal access to all things art and creativity.

Be a part of a curious, respectful, dynamic, inclusive and creative team who are committed to creating memorable museum experiences for all! If you share our passion for creativity and community building, we encourage you to apply!

Schedule: Generally Monday - Friday during business hours, but willing and able to work some weeknight evenings (1-2x month) and weekend days (1-2x month), with higher frequency during Creative Caravan season (approximately April 1 through October 31).

Pay Range: $53,000 - $66,200 per year based on experience.

Perks and Benefits: A comprehensive medical/dental/vision plan, that can be extended to domestic partner, spouse, and children. DAM 100% paid Life Insurance, and Short/Long Term Disability. Generous sick and vacation paid time off and one personal day. Ten paid holidays. 403(b) Retirement Plan with immediate eligibility to contribute and those who meet the requirements after one year will qualify for the 3% non-elective contribution and 2% match program. A free RTD Eco Pass. Free Telehealth and Employee Assistance Program. Access to Headspace. Two weeks Paid Parental Leave. A free DAM Family Membership.

Please note: The Denver Art Museum does not provide parking for its employees.

What You'll Do

As a Manager of Community Programs, your responsibilities will include:

Leading the DAM's marquis community engagement programs, Art Lives Here and Creative Caravan, including:
- Designing and maintaining high-quality experiences that are responsive to community needs, cultures, and contexts
- Running the programs with a focus on efficient operations that support growth in activations and impact
- Driving alignment with the DAM's strategic priorities, L&E's Action & Impact Framework, annual goals, and funder commitments
- Cultivating new and stewarding existing partnerships that extend our reach and build our reputation
- Gathering and analyzing data on program reach and impact to continuously improve
- Contributing to grant narratives and summative reports to support the Development department's funding efforts
- Setting a long-term vision for the programs and coordinating infrastructure updates and additions to achieve it
Supervising staff, currently the Coordinator of Community Programs, including regular check-ins and intentional coaching to support their professional development and growth. Currently, the Coordinator's primary focus is Art Lives Here and their role is covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement with AFSCME-CWU.
Coordinating and maintaining a Youth Advisory Group (YAG), supporting the Youth & Community Engagement division in recruiting community members for co-visioning, co-design and co-evaluation opportunities. This includes:
- Aligning with peers in Youth & Community Engagement on recruitment priorities and selection process
- Recruiting cohorts of 25-35 kids, caregivers, and educators for 2-3 year commitments
- Producing quarterly YAG meetings from room reservations and email communication to catering requests and agenda development
- Performing administrative functions associated with the YAG, such as payment requests and governance documentation
- Advocating for additional opportunities for YAG members, such as inclusion in Partner Night events, annual membership videos, media interviews, etc.
Managing access ticketing programs, including Community Access Tickets and Golden Tickets. This includes:
- Aligning program operations with institutional and departmental goals
- Collaborating with L&E colleagues to develop and refresh partner lists to expand the DAM's reach
- Building meaningful relationships with partners while setting and delivering on their expectations
- Coordinating across departments, including Sales & Services, Development, and Marketing & Communications
- Collecting and analyzing data to reflect on success and act on growth opportunities
Fostering a culture of commitment, reflection, and innovation to maintain high-quality and effective community programs. This includes:
- Contributing to annual strategic planning for your programs
- Building and managing the Community Programs budget
- Maintaining program statistics and stories of impact
- Assisting in fundraising efforts, including reports, site visits, and events
- Project management of your programs and initiatives, including timelines
Fulfilling the operational and administrative requirements of the role, including:
- Contributing to annual strategic planning for your programs
- Building and managing the Community Programs budget
- Maintaining program statistics and stories of impact
- Assisting in fundraising efforts, including reports, site visits, and events
- Project management of programs and initiatives
Work with Associate Director of Youth and Community Engagement on the development of future in-community programs
Consistent usage of the Racial Equity Lens in day-to-day operations and yearly goal setting to support Racial Equity Roadmap initiatives

Qualifications

What We're Looking For

You might be a great fit if you have:

Demonstrated passion for engaging youth and family audiences within under-resourced or historically marginalized communities
A Bachelor of Arts or comparable degree; relevant professional experience may be substituted for educational requirements
3-5 years' experience working in museum education, art education, community engagement, or a related industry/field
3-5 years' experience independently managing a complex suite of programs or long-term projects, including budget and timeline ownership
2-3 years' experience creating and facilitating art experiences for kids and grownups
2-3 years' experience directly supervising one or more employees, interns, and/or volunteers
Skilled at managing multiple projects at different stages of development at the same time
Excited by the challenge of scaling programs sustainably
Strong interpersonal communication and customer service skills with colleagues and visitors
Enjoys a mix of community-facing work (e.g. leading an art activation at a community festival) and internal-facing work (e.g. cross-departmental meetings)
Fluency in Spanish is encouraged
Must be able to legally and safely operate a motor vehicle in compliance with museum policy. Driver eligibility will be verified before hire and on an ongoing basis.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Willing and able to work some weeknight evenings and weekend days
Requires regularly driving a cargo van
Requires lifting and moving medium-weight supplies
Requires extended periods on your feet during in-community events

This position is not covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement with AFSCME-CWU.

The DAM prioritizes adaptability and a human-centered work environment. We are happy to consider accommodations. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.

Our Hiring Process and What to Expect

We know job searching can be overwhelming, so here's a transparent look at our process:

Application close date is: February 19, 2026.
Our hiring team will review applications and resumes and select candidates for interview. The interview process may include a phone screening, a video call with a small panel of interviewers, and a final in-person interview at the DAM.
Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to respond to phone calls or emails regarding application status. Candidates selected for interviews will be contacted directly.

Who We Are

At the Denver Art Museum, we are deeply committed to standing against discrimination, violence, and hate in all forms against any individual or group. We remain focused on fostering inclusion, equal opportunity, and belonging inside and out.

The museum serves as a platform for creative expression and community well-being by collecting and presenting work by artists from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, including those communities that have been historically underrepresented in museums.

We believe that art and creativity have the power to promote mutual understanding and highlight our shared humanity-connecting, inspiring, and empowering people and communities. The museum's board of trustees, volunteers, and staff remain committed to being an anti-racist organization and making the Denver Art Museum an inclusive and diverse place where everyone always feels welcome.