Job Summary

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) seeks a Deputy Director, Audience Experience & Learning to join the RISD Museum.

The Deputy Director, Audience Experience & Learning provides leadership in shaping and delivering the RISD Museum’s audience-centric vision through strategic oversight of digital initiatives, graphic design, publications, marketing, visitor services, and education departments. This role drives audience development initiatives and ensures a cohesive, engaging experience for all museum goers, which include the RISD community, local audiences, K-12 students and educators, tourists, museum members, and donors. The Deputy Director advances the museum's new mission and strategic plan by aligning institutional priorities in areas of access, presentation, and audience engagement. In the absence of the Director, this position will serve as a key point person within the Museum to ensure effective delivery of museum initiatives.

As a Museum leader, the Deputy Director works closely with the Director, Museum Senior Staff, and Museum Board of Governors to participate in and assist with long-term planning, particularly in areas related to audience experience and engagement. 

We seek a culturally competent candidate who will thrive in a campus environment that is committed to advancing the principles of social equity and inclusion, environmental and climate justice, and equal access to resources and opportunities.

Essential Functions:

• Collaborates with the Director and key stakeholders to execute the museum-wide strategic plan, creating and implementing audience-centric strategies that support long-term goals and educational objectives.
• Sets, articulates, and implements audience engagement and interpretive strategies, enhancing visitor experiences across all touchpoints.
• Oversees and aligns the activities of visitor services, marketing, digital initiatives, graphic design, publications, and education departments to ensure cohesive, audience-focused experiences.
• Serves as the Museum's chief storyteller, working with curatorial, social equity and inclusion, publications, and marketing staff to craft compelling narratives about the RISD Museum's mission, collections, and exhibitions. Utilizes storytelling skills to engage diverse audiences, inspire collaborations, and secure financial support.
• Actively supports museum and college fundraising activities by developing relationships with donors and stakeholders through effective communication of the Museum's value and vision.
• Develops and implements data-driven strategies to enhance interpretation, increase visitation, audience diversity, and engagement. Oversees audience research and segmentation efforts to inform decision-making across departments.
• Ensures all audience-facing initiatives and interpretive materials align with the Museum's mission, identity, and commitment to accessibility and excellence.
• Cultivates partnerships and collaborations to enhance interpretive approaches and reach new audiences. Manages strategic partnerships with educational institutions and community organizations.
• Develops innovative approaches to audience engagement and interpretation, including digital outreach and interactive experiences.
• Oversees the development of interpretive materials and programs designed to make the museum accessible and inspiring to diverse audiences. Directs collaboration between departments to create cohesive strategies across exhibitions, programs, digital initiatives, and marketing.
• Coordinates the simultaneous launch of exhibitions, publications, digital content, and multimedia elements to maximize fundraising opportunities and enhance public relations efforts. Ensures strategic alignment of all Museum initiatives to amplify their impact and visibility.
• Manages departmental budgets and resources for all supervised departments.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Experience:

• 8-10 years of experience in a cultural institution, nonprofit, or museum, with at least five years in a management role. 
• Deep knowledge of and experience in the arts, with particular emphasis on visual art.
• Demonstrated track record of increasing visitation and engagement in a museum or cultural setting.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills, with experience in audience research and segmentation.
• Proven ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to be an effective storyteller to articulate the museum's new mission, vision, and impact to diverse audiences, including stakeholders, donors, and the general public. 
• Experience managing teams and budgets in a complex organizational structure.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and with external partners.
• Deep understanding of current trends and best practices in museum audience engagement and visitor experience.
• Commitment to accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion in museum practices.
• Demonstrated ability to embrace collaboration as an exciting form of creativity; welcome equally the opportunity to initiate projects, bring creativity to projects already in development, and open the call for participation through invited and public competitions.
• Ability to thrive in a creative and participatory team structure; be a good listener, mentor, delegator, catalyst, and decision-maker; and know how to create a sense of urgency, as well as give time and space to colleagues and collaborators.
• Demonstrated experience in digital initiatives, marketing, and social media, with a track record of projects or participation in both.
• Ability to see communications through a creative lens and to equally value the production and reception of the creative product.
• Ability to balance the creative and intellectual process of curating and programming with administrative, financial, and practical management duties.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in a relevant field preferred. 
• Experience working in an academic art museum preferred.