Director of Public Engagement

Director of Public Engagement – Yale Peabody Museum

Director of Public Engagement

Reporting to the Director of the Yale Peabody Museum, the Director of Public Engagement is responsible for creating a unified vision and framework for exhibitions, education, and public programming that will enhance the understanding and appreciation of the Museum’s collections, expertise, and resources. The Director will evaluate and structure offerings to position the Peabody as a community hub for Yale and New Haven with strategic, sustained partnerships, will forefront collaborative projects that are responsive to Yale and community needs, and will develop a culture of experimentation and evaluation to support data‑driven decisions.

The Director is expected to be a leader in the museum engagement professional community and will supervise exhibition and education teams to set a bold, unified vision and provide strategic oversight of exhibition development, design, and production. As a member of the senior leadership team, they will foster robust collaborations with YPM collections, student programs, development, communications, and operations leadership to guide institutional priorities, problem solve and strategically align museum‑wide issues and efforts.

• Develops, directs, and executes the Museum’s Public Engagement, conceptualizing and overseeing implementation of creative, innovative, and intellectually stimulating educational and social programming and exhibitions that interpret the Museum’s collections and activities to diverse audiences.
• Provides oversight and strategic vision regarding the development, design, and production of exhibitions. Supervises the Associate Director of Exhibitions toward a strong and intellectually stimulating exhibition program at the Museum.
• Conceptualizes and oversees the public educational agenda for the Museum. Supervises the Assistant Director of Education and Outreach providing strategic guidance to the Education department to plan, direct, and implement creative and innovative initiatives to further engage and spark curiosity with the local K‑12 educational community.
• Collaborates with collections staff to develop a philosophical approach to teaching with objects and cross‑disciplinary thinking, and improves and refines programs to appeal to diverse audiences by evaluating quality, attendance, and educational content.
• Evaluates and structures the Peabody’s programming offerings, with a focus on collaborative projects that are responsive to Yale and community needs, and leads evaluation and research initiatives that inform the museum field.
• Establishes and regularly re‑evaluates strategic priorities and ensures that they remain the focus of time, funding, and other resources.
• Develops both free and revenue‑driving programs, guiding budgetary and fundraising decisions that support robust programming.
• Organizes and coordinates scheduling and implementation of programs and exhibitions, working across all Museum departments to complete the tasks and identifying, initiating, and fostering contact with individuals and/or community organizations interested in the Museum’s public programs and encouraging their participation.
• Works with University and community partners to conceive and implement cross‑disciplinary content and programs to enliven discussion and expand interpretation of collections and exhibitions, enhancing the Museum’s profile as a cultural and intellectual hub on campus and in the New Haven area.
• Serves as an articulate and compelling advocate for the Peabody to prospective donors and collectors, the museum community, the media, and potential collaborators.
• Manages annual and program‑specific budgets, working with finance, development, and grants management staff to secure funding to support all programs, including grant writing.
• Plans strategically for documentation of programs and use of media and the web to extend the impact of public programs, collaborating with Communications to expand audience awareness and participation.
• Performs other duties as assigned.