Requisition #: 2026-22292
Date Posted: 2026-09-30
Department: Art Museum
Category: Arts and Museum Administration
Job Type: Full-Time
Overview
As part of the Princeton University Art Museum's mission to create spaces for community learning, support creativity and critical thinking, foster dialogue, and make the visual arts accessible to all, the Audience Engagement Specialist (AES) will work with local community groups and organizations, as well as University students and partners, to collaborate on the development of mutually beneficial programming on campus and in local community spaces. The AES will support the Museum's efforts to nurture strategic and sustainable partnerships with neighborhood and community development groups, city agencies, Princeton University programs, local nonprofit organizations, libraries, schools, and other civic institutions. They will collaborate with these partners to develop, implement, and evaluate inclusive programs designed to generate dialogue and provide meaningful and transformational engagement with the visual arts. The AES will spend time outside of the Museum/office and in the local communities—participating in events, building relationships, and listening. The AES will manage a range of public programs, including planning, ordering supplies, contracting vendors and program principals, and overseeing the events. The AES will serve as the advisor to the Museum's Student Advisory Board. This position will require a flexible work schedule including most Thursday evenings and frequent weekends.
About the Museum
With a collecting history that dates back to 1755, the Princeton University Art Museum is one of the leading university art museums in the country, featuring collections that have grown to include over 117,000 works of art, ranging from ancient to contemporary pieces and spanning the globe. Committed to advancing Princeton's teaching and research missions, the Art Museum also serves as a gateway to the University for visitors from around the world.
The bold and welcoming new Princeton University Art Museum is open daily at the heart of Princeton's campus. Admission is free to all. The Museum also operates Art@Bainbridge, a gallery project at 158 Nassau Street; two Museum Stores; and Mosaic restaurant.
To learn more about the Princeton University Art Museum, visit artmuseum.princeton.edu.
Responsibilities
Relationship Building
- Work to strengthen relationships with existing partners and build new relationships in communities, including those who have not regularly engaged with the Museum to date, including regional Black, South Asian, and Spanish-speaking populations
- Work to strengthen relationships and foster new connections with University students and partners
- Participate in Museum, University, and community events, meetings, and forums.
- Recruits students for the Student Advisory Board and engages them over their four years at Princeton, serving as a mentor by providing guidance and support. The Audience Engagement Specialist helps students become leaders. The incumbent develops relationships, helping students feel connected to the Museum and valued and supported in their volunteer efforts.
Events and Programs
- Collaboration with students and community-based partners to develop and lead programs.
- Advocate on behalf of students while ensuring that they understand the Museum's mission, goals, guidelines, and rules. They must stay abreast of students' ever-changing social preferences and behaviors in order to create programs that will appeal to each new generation.
- Work with the Student Engagement and Program Manager to manage a portfolio of public programs.
- Maintain timely communication with all event staff
- Order supplies
- Contract vendors and program principals
- Oversee events
Best Practices
- Connect with peers at other institutions who are working on community engagement initiatives to share challenges and progress
- Keep current with best practices in community engagement, including attending professional development trainings
Qualifications
Essential Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree or equivalent
- 5+ years of related work experience
- Excellent written, verbal, and social media communication skills
- Demonstrated commitment to building inclusive partnerships and spaces
- Emotional intelligence, including the ability to recognize and respect cultural context, read situations and people, and interact with all levels of audiences, including educational professionals and volunteers
- Proven ability to work as part of a team and to foster collaboration and relationships
- Strong organization and planning skills, including project and budget management skills
- Excellent time management skills
- Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously
- Demonstrated ability to take initiative, solve problems, and work independently
- Detail and deadline-oriented
- Must be willing to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, an average of one evening per week and 2 weekend days per month
- Must be proficient in email, word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint, social media platforms, Teams, and Zoom
Preferred Requirements
- Proficiency in more than one language, with Spanish preferred
- Driver's license preferred
Additional Information
- Standard Weekly Hours: 36.25
- Eligible for Overtime: No
- Benefits Eligible: Yes
- Probationary Period: 180 days
- Essential Services Personnel: No
- Physical Capacity Exam Required: No
- Valid Driver's License Required: No
- Experience Level: Entry Level
Salary Range
$77,000 to $83,000