Current Opportunities

This is an exciting opportunity for an inspiring, agile, strategic, creative, and bold leader to join the Aga Khan Museum as its next Director, Collections and Public Programs (DCPP).

With a global mandate to celebrate the contributions of Muslim civilizations, bridge cultures and promote pluralism through the arts, the Aga Khan Museum is the first and only Museum in North America devoted to the Arts of the Muslim World. Opened in 2014, it features more than 1,000 years of artistic, cultural, and intellectual accomplishments in its Permanent Collection. Internationally renowned manuscripts, works on paper, metalwork, ceramics and a wide range of other artistic media originating from regions that range from North Africa to the borders of China serve to tell impactful stories of achievements and interconnectedness past and present. Through its permanent collection, temporary exhibitions, educational and Performing Arts programming, as well as academic activity and research both onsite and online, the Museum, built by Pritzker-Price winning Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki strives to redress stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding Muslim civilizations as well as growing intercultural understanding and dialogue among communities.

Part of the global Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), one of the largest development organizations in the world, the Aga Khan Museum, famous for its Islamic art collection worldwide, is unique in its pluralistic, peace-making mandate, and boldly continues to push the envelope of what a museum can and should be in the post-pandemic world. Change brought about by COVID-19 has now opened up unprecedented new opportunities to grow AKM’s online impact globally, with digital products to date including virtual performances, 3D tours, as well as educational offerings delivered both synchronously and asynchronously to audiences around the world through AKM’s newly dedicated virtual platform —#MuseumWithoutWalls.

Reporting to and working in close consultation with the Director & CEO, the DCPP is the Museum’s primary content expert and strategist, responsible for devising and delivering an audience-focused, strategically cohesive, and financially sustainable programming framework in line with the Museum’s new direction, to include all aspects of digital and onsite initiatives relating to permanent galleries, temporary exhibitions, education, community, and performing arts initiatives. The DCPP also oversees the Museum’s collection’s care, management, research, and publications programs to ensure their value to the Museum’s mandate is maximized.

As the ideal candidate, you are a visionary, agile, and forward-thinking expert leader who is passionate about AKM’s mission to advance intercultural, pluralistic understanding and empathy through the arts, creatively leveraging its transformative educational potential for a wide range of local and global audiences. Curious, innovative, and deeply knowledgeable in the broader field of Muslim civilizations and their arts, you think outside-of-the-box and are excited to oversee the development of and experimentation with cutting-edge content and format approaches, directing particular focus towards maximizing the potential of digital media. You are an expert relationship builder and team player who thrives within a complex, multi-stakeholder environment as part of a multi-faceted global organization. A dedicated, interculturally competent and passionate individual who understands and champions the potential of Islamic art and culture as a catalyst for driving positive social change through growing knowledge and education, you will want to be part of an organization that is like no other in the current museum landscape.

You will have extensive experience in making expert knowledge around Islamic art and culture accessible to a wide range of audiences onsite and online in close reference to their needs, utilizing both in-person and digital approaches. You will have extensive and diverse professional networks, and will be able to grow the Museum’s content-related partnerships and community connections. Having experience in devising and overseeing a wide range of programming content and format frameworks, you will provide thought leadership that will carry the Museum’s programmatic, interpretative, and educational ambitions to new heights. An advanced knowledge of Islamic art and culture is an asset, as is the ability to speak multiple languages (French as well as English preferred, Arabic and Farsi additional assets).
If you are interested in being part of a vibrant cultural institution that is committed to bringing people together through the arts, submit your CV and cover letter here. For more information, please reach out to Michael Naufal (mnaufal@boyden.com) or Mike Young (myoung@boyden.com).

The Aga Khan Museum and Boyden thank all applicants; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. If contacted for an interview, please inform us should accommodation be required. The Aga Khan Museum has a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunity employer.