Director of Adult Public Programs
Education & Public Programs
Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Public Programs, Music, Film, and Gallery Learning, the Director of Adult Public Programs oversees LACMA's public programming for adult and general audiences, including lecture series, artist and curator conversations, panel discussions, performances, and symposiums. The position supervises a team of programmers with additional oversight of part-time staff, contractors, and vendors and holds strategic and budgetary ownership of the department's public-facing programming. The Director provides leadership in best practices in museum public programming, overseeing program development, production, and evaluation, and works to maintain LACMA's role as a leading cultural voice connecting contemporary ideas, artists, and public figures to the museum's collection and exhibitions. The Director builds and maintains relationships with artists, cultural leaders, media connections, institutional partners, and community organizations across Los Angeles and beyond, and stays current on trends shaping the local and global cultural landscape.
This position will lead the Public Programs team in setting program strategy, identifying opportunities, and securing high-impact and innovative programs that reflect LACMA's ambitions as a global cultural institution.
Responsibilities:
- Sets the strategic direction for LACMA's public programs, ensuring a distinctive, mission-aligned slate that complements the permanent collection, special exhibitions, and institutional priorities.
- Oversees the development, production, and evaluation of public programs, including lecture series, artist and curator talks, symposiums, conversations, performances, and workshops.
- Leads planning across multiple concurrent programs, establishing timelines, milestones, and success metrics, and ensuring the team proactively identifies and resolves scheduling conflicts, calendar density issues, and resource constraints.
- Secures high-profile speakers, artists, and cultural figures for public programs, working directly with publicists, agents, managers, and internal stakeholders to confirm participation and negotiate terms and contracts.
- Collaborates with curatorial staff and museum leadership to ensure public programs are aligned with current and upcoming exhibitions and reflect the museum's broader curatorial priorities.
- Serves as senior on-site presence for programs as needed, ensuring programs are supported at a level appropriate to their visibility and institutional importance.
- Manages two staff members and collaborates closely with colleagues across the department, providing strategic guidance, mentorship, and professional development, and oversees their management of part-time staff, contractors, and vendors. Participate in hiring and building the team as the department grows.
- Builds a strong, accountable team culture by setting clear goals, giving direct and constructive feedback, and coaching staff through complex logistics and high-profile relationships to bring out their best work and meet the department's high standards.
- Manages department contracts and vendor relationships, including venue and production logistics, hospitality, and compliance requirements such as insurance and COI documentation.
- Owns budget performance for public programs, tracking spend against plan, identifying variances early, and realigning resources as needed to protect program quality and departmental priorities.
- Ensures the department meets revenue and attendance goals, proactively monitoring registrations, flagging underperforming programs, and adjusting strategy, marketing, pricing, or program mix as needed to hit targets.
- Represents the department and deputizes for the AVP as needed, including in cross-departmental meetings and external engagements.
- Drafts and oversees program descriptions, web pages, marketing collateral, and other high-visibility program copy produced by staff.
- Partners with Marketing and Communications, the department's Data Specialist, and program staff to develop marketing plans and ensure timely, accurate, and compelling promotion across web, email, social media, print, and in-person channels.
- Sets strategy for audience development across public programs, applying an equity lens to reduce barriers to participation and ensure programming reflects the diverse communities LACMA serves locally, nationally, and internationally.
- Oversees grant reporting related to public programs, ensuring program data, attendance figures, and impact narratives are accurate and delivered on schedule to support Development's fundraising and sponsorship efforts.
- Oversee department-wide debriefs and systems for tracking program attendance, audience feedback, and other qualitative and quantitative data to evaluate program impact and inform future planning.
- Regularly reports on program performance and strategic recommendations to museum leadership, using data and audience insight to advocate for resources and shape future programming.
- Conducts research into cultural trends and audience interests to keep LACMA's public programs distinctive and responsive.
- Proposes innovative new public program content, formats, partnerships, and/or initiatives that reflect current priorities for the institution and advance the department's long-term strategic goals.
- Serves as a key partner to Visitor Services and Membership, Curatorial, Development, Marketing and Communications, and other Education teams, ensuring public programs are integrated into institution wide planning and priorities.
- Coordinates with colleagues across Film, Music, Gallery Learning, and all of Education to align programming, share resources, and maintain a cohesive departmental calendar and voice.
- Builds relationships across the institution that support the department's ability to secure resources, align timelines, and deliver programs that reflect LACMA's broader strategic goals.
Benefits:
- The expected annual salary for this Los Angeles, CA-based position is $85,000.00- $95,000.00, subject to change, and the position is eligible for LACMA's comprehensive benefits package, including pension plan.
- LACMA is committed to providing its employees with valuable and competitive benefits as a core part of a strong overall employee experience.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Art History, Art Education, Museum Studies, or a related field is preferred; a combination of relevant education, training, and applicable experience will be considered.
- Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in public programming for a museum or comparable cultural institution.
- Experience setting and overseeing program strategy, budget oversight, and supervision of staff.
- Demonstrated success managing complex, concurrent projects and coordinating across multiple internal and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to identify, cultivate, and secure high-profile programming and/or cultural figures, and to negotiate contracts and terms directly with agents and representatives.
- Familiarity with current trends, issues, and best practices in museum public programming, including experience producing lectures, talks, symposiums, and live events at scale.
- Experience analyzing program and audience data and preparing reports to support institutional decision-making.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to represent LACMA and its mission to external stakeholders, partners, and public figures with professionalism, rigor, and enthusiasm.
- Ability to conduct or direct independent research relevant to LACMA's collection and cultural programming.
- Strong interpersonal and leadership skills for building effective working relationships at all levels within the Museum, and the ability to foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment.
- Demonstrated success in serving the needs of a diverse range of audiences. Experience designing programs that address diversity, accessibility, equity, and inclusion.
- Flexibility and adaptability to handle various needs in a dynamic and changing environment.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, in support of departmental programs, events, and operational priorities.
- Ability to manage shifting priorities and increased workload demands during peak programming periods.
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