Coordinator of Teen Programs, Special Projects
Philadelphia, PA
Full Time
Mid Level
We Are Committed to an Inclusive Workplace
At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we actively seek to employ a diverse group of people who embody our organizational values. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, especially those from marginalized and underrepresented groups in the museum field, who are inspired by our shared purpose and enjoy working collaboratively with others.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status.
How You Will Contribute
The Student and Educator Engagement department at the Philadelphia Museum of Art seeks a full-time Coordinator of Teen Programs, Special Projects. As a part of the museum’s 2026 American art exhibition and programming marking the 250th anniversary of America, the Coordinator will connect teen audiences to the exhibition through new out-of-school programs and initiatives as well as other educational opportunities. Targeted to students from middle and high school grade levels, initiatives include multi-media summer programs, teen outreach, in-school teaching artist residencies, and other opportunities to learn outside of school.
The Coordinator’s primary focus will be on developing and supporting programs and initiatives connected to the upcoming American art exhibition in collaboration with the Learning and Engagement team. Programs and initiatives include a summer intensive focused on a teen-produced podcast and a teen exhibition. Working closely with colleagues, the Coordinator will participate in the delivery of PMA-based programs and link the American art exhibition to signature teen programs throughout the year such as Teen Sketch, Museum Motion Pictures: Teen Animation, and Summer Teen Media. Additionally, the Coordinator will connect the exhibition and support the delivery of Art Futures: Visiting Artist Residencies for high school and middle school and Middle School Art Club, which take place within Philadelphia schools. The Coordinator reports to the Associate Director and/or Manager of Teen Programs within the Student and Educator Engagement department.
About A Nation of Artists
The special exhibition, A Nation of Artists, will inaugurate the newly reimagined second-floor American art galleries at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, coinciding with the Museum’s 150th and the nation’s 250th anniversaries. Spanning 1850 to 1960, the installation presents a sweeping view of American art through iconic works and unexpected juxtapositions, inviting visitors to explore evolving ideas of identity, culture, and creativity.
Set within the Museum’s historic Beaux-Arts building, the exhibition affirms PMA’s civic role in shaping cultural narratives. Through dynamic education and public programs spearheaded by Learning and Engagement, A Nation of Artists will celebrate the richness of American art while encouraging new ways of seeing and understanding history through artists and their work.
Specifically, you will:
- Support and collaborate with artists and other educators to develop and lead programs related to the American art exhibition for students during after school times, in-school residencies, and over the summer.
- Learn the museum’s collections and American art exhibition and lead gallery discussions with students.
- Assist in the development of an American art-inspired teen podcast, collaborating with partner organizations to establish the program and co-leading the planning and recording sessions with teens throughout the school year and summer.
- Assist in the development and implementation of a teen art exhibition inspired by the American art exhibition.
- Act as a liaison with students and teachers participating in student recruitment including organizing applications, conducting student interviews, and other activities.
- Maintain communication with students and teaching artists via calls, emails, and texts.
- Coordinate and attend meetings and professional development with teaching artists, PMA staff, and other program partners.
- Coordinate all program logistics including:
- Distribute, collect, and organize artist, teacher, partner, and student documentation related to programs and other supporting materials such as photo releases, payment info, transportation needs, and other types of permission forms.
- Organize and submit invoices for program expenses including vendor purchases, partner payments, artist check requests, and student stipends.
- Communicate with internal staff, artists, and teachers regarding supply needs, orders for program materials, and catering.
- Meet and greet students on their arrival and check them into the museum.
- Submit space reservations for programs and help prepare classroom spaces including some set-up and breakdown of chairs and tables.
- Attend internal programs to represent Teen Programs
- Other responsibilities as assigned.
Your background and experience include:
- Bachelor's degree in arts education, education, or equivalent experience in community arts programming and community partnerships with an interest in community engagement, museum studies, and museum education
- Ability to attain background clearances that meet the requirements for work with audiences under 18 years old: Pennsylvania Criminal Record Check, Federal Background Check, PA State Child Abuse History, and Mandated Reporter training.
- Experience working with middle and high school students in a school, museum, or other community organization
- Familiarity with, or a willingness to learn about anti-racist teaching methods, trauma-informed care, social-emotional learning, modeling restorative practices and facilitating conflict resolution in classroom management
- Strong communication skills including public speaking and leading students in a classroom. Ability to organize and implement highly detailed projects with an openness to collaborating with others
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to engage with diverse audiences, including middle school and high school students, partnering community organizations, teachers, school administrators, teaching artists and many other museum staff
- Availability for work till early evening and weekend hours while out-of-school time programs run
- Ability to move up to 30lbs for preparation of classes and programs.
- Preference will be given to applicants with the following qualifications:
- Ability to speak Spanish.
- Knowledge of a variety of art media, techniques, and skills, especially digital media, animation, video and audio recording and editing.
- The minimum salary for this position is $46, 956.
- This position is full-time, exempt, and 35 hours per week.
- This is a union position and part of the AFSCME Local 397 bargaining unit.
- This position reports to the Associate Director of Teen Programs.
- This a two-year term position, anticipated to begin in the fall of 2025
- Physical requirements:
- Able to remain stationary for extended periods of time, to utilize computers and other office equipment required of this job, to perform physically administrative duties in a typical interior office environment, gallery, or exhibit space, and to access most public and staff areas of the museum campus
- Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.
Application Timeline
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage candidates to apply early as the position will close once we have a robust applicant pool, or a candidate has been selected.
What We Offer
Our employees are at the center of the museum. As an employee, you will have access to numerous museum perks including, but not limited to:
- Free general admission to the museum for you and your immediate family
- Discounted guest tickets for admission
- Discounts on gift memberships
- Special staff tours and presentations from our curatorial and conservation teams
- Discounts at the museum restaurant, museum cafés, and museum retail and online stores
We offer a comprehensive benefits package for employees* including:
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits
- Fully paid short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, and life insurance
- Health savings or flexible spending account program
- Retirement savings program with museum match
- Paid vacation, personal days, sick days, and holidays
*Eligibility for certain benefits is based on a variety of factors including the employee’s regular schedule and tenure.
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