Description
The Sugden Chief Curator of Education is a full-time senior leadership position responsible for the strategic vision, oversight, and excellence of all museum education programs, gallery interpretation, and educational exhibitions. This role leads the Education Department in developing, implementing, coordinating, and evaluating dynamic learning experiences that reflect audience needs and community values, while advancing the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s mission as an educational resource on a local and national level. The Sugden Chief Curator of Education supervises the Associate Curator of Education and Outreach, the Assistant Curator of Education, and seasonal interns, working collaboratively across departments to ensure educational integrity and innovation throughout the museum.
Position Duties and Responsibilities:
Department Leadership & Strategic Direction
- Provides overall vision, direction, and leadership for all aspects of the museum’s Education Department.
- Develop and implement educational strategies in alignment with the museum’s mission, vision, and long-term institutional priorities.
- Establishes goals and performance metrics for all education programs, learning initiatives, and outreach efforts.
- Contributes to planning for new/renovated education and gallery spaces as part of the building expansion and capital campaign, and that shapes a national education profile (digital content, traveling or partner programs, educator institutes, etc.).
Educational Program Oversight
- Oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of all museum education programs and activities—including youth, adult, community, and volunteer programming—offsite, onsite, and virtual.
- Working with the Volunteer Leadership Committee and staff leads to create meaningful volunteer roles, clear communication, and recognition practices that align volunteers with NMWA’s mission and pillars.
- Ensures educational programs welcome and serve diverse audiences of all backgrounds and abilities, with a focus on accessibility, inclusion, and community relevance.
- Guides staff in creating innovative, participatory, and mission-aligned learning experiences.
Exhibitions & Interpretation
- Organizes and oversees the development of educational exhibition proposals, ensuring timely presentation to the Program Team and Museum Director.
- Curates interpretive elements of education exhibitions, including labels, digital materials, hands-on learning experiences, and gallery resources.
- Collaborates with the Curatorial Department for interpretive elements of broader museum exhibitions.
- Ensures interpretive strategies support accessible, inclusive, and meaningful visitor engagement.
Partnerships & Community Engagement
- Cultivates and strengthens relationships with schools, educators, museums, community organizations, and partner with other cultural educational organizations on a local,regional, and national level.
- Represents the museum at professional conferences, community events, and peer-network gatherings to advance visibility and collaboration.
- Creates and implements new educational programs and events that engage a national audience.
Budget, Grants, & Administration
- Oversees the development and management of budgets for education programs, youth and community exhibits, volunteer programs, and the interpretive components of exhibitions.
- Collaborates with the Development Department to prepare grant proposals, funding requests, and reporting related to education and interpretation.
- Ensures responsible financial stewardship and accountability across all Education Department activities.
Departmental Coordination & Internal Collaboration
- Works closely with the Curatorial, Programs & Events, Marketing, and Development teams on museum-wide initiatives, exhibition planning, and public programming.
- Contributes to cross-departmental planning, ensuring educational perspectives are integrated into exhibitions, programs, and visitor engagement strategies.
Other Responsibilities
- Performs additional duties as assigned by the Executive Director of the Museum.
Supervisorial Duties:
- Serves on the senior management team and the Museum’s Program Team.
- Directly supervises the Associate Curator of Education and Outreach, the Assistant Curator of Education, and seasonal education staff (including summer interns and AmeriCorps volunteers).
- Provides mentorship, guidance, and professional development for Education Department staff.
Commitment to the Mission, Vision, and Values of the National Museum of Wildlife Art (NMWA):
Vision: Inspire connections with wildlife and nature.
Mission: Impart knowledge and generate wonder through art and education.
Values: Integrity, Excellence, Collaboration, Transparency, Accountability, Financial Responsibility.
Requirements
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Museum Studies, Studio Art, Art History, or a related field required; Master’s Degree preferred.
- Minimum of five years of experience in education, museum interpretation, or related fields.
- At least five years of administrative experience, including staff supervision and department or program management.
- Demonstrated ability to develop innovative, engaging, and accessible educational programs.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Knowledge of current educational theory, museum education best practices, and interpretive strategies.
- Experience working with diverse audiences and ensuring programs are accessible and inclusive.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Windows/Office products or a similar operating system.
Benefits:
- Full-time, salaried-exempt position starting at $80,000
- Comprehensive NMWA benefits including:
- Housing and Transportation Stipend
- Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
- Life Insurance
- 403(b) Retirement Plan Contribution
- 20 days Paid Time Off (PTO)
- 11 Paid Holidays
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to stand, sit, reach, and kneel throughout the workday
- Ability to work at a computer for up to 8 hours daily
- Ability to lift up to 15 lbs
- Ability to communicate via phone for extended periods
- Valid driver's license and ability to operate a car
The National Museum of Wildlife Art is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. We believe that diversity drives innovation and success, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
About the Museum:
The National Museum of Wildlife Art, founded in 1987, is a Jackson Hole museum holding more than 5,000 artworks that depict wild animals from around the world. Featuring work by prominent artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Carl Rungius, Rembrandt Bugatti, Rosa Bonheur, Eugène Delacroix, John James Audubon, and Rembrandt van Rijn, the Museum’s unsurpassed permanent collection chronicles the history of wildlife in art from 2,500 B.C.E. to the present.
In 1994, the National Museum of Wildlife Art received the Wyoming Humanities Award for exemplary efforts in fostering the humanities in Wyoming. The Museum received its designation as the “National Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States” by order of Congress in 2008. The ¾ mile-long Sculpture Trail was designed by award-winning landscape architect, Walter Hood, and completed in 2012. More than 65,000 people visit each year, and over 3,000 children take part in our school tour programming annually. Boasting a museum shop, interactive children’s gallery, onsite restaurant, and outdoor Sculpture Trail, the Museum is located two-and-a-half miles north of Jackson’s Town Square, and two miles from the gateway of Grand Teton National Park.
