Posted: 12/7/2007
Level: Mid
Type: Permanent

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is an AAM-accredited, American Renaissance estate in a spectacular subtropical setting on Biscayne Bay in Miami. Vizcaya consists of 14 National Historic Landmark buildings on 50 acres of grounds, with 2,500 art and 35,000 archival objects spanning 2000 years.

The museum is in midst of developing new programs to engage the local community in learning through the arts, history, and the environment, and embarking on a government-funded $50-million capital program to rehabilitate the main house, gardens, and the Vizcaya village. Vizcaya attracts approximately 150,000 visitors each year and is working to strengthen its profile as a cultural resource.

The Deputy Director for Learning will play a leadership role in continuing to make the historic collections, architecture, gardens and grounds of Vizcaya relevant and educational for a broad spectrum of Miami-Dade residents and visitors by developing, implementing, and evaluating programs and interpretive materials, personally and in a managerial capacity. The position supervises two Learning Programs Managers—one responsible for school and family programs the other with oversight of the museum’s large corps of volunteer guides; the Deputy Director will supplement the programming capacity of the Learning Program Managers to effectively reach audiences of diverse age and background, and given current staffing an interest and experience in adult programming is needed. The Deputy Director will be responsible for working with Learning Division and other museum staff to refine audience development goals and strategies, with the intent of enhancing visitor experience and fostering repeat visitation, particularly among local residents. Toward this end, the Deputy Director will be asked to identify and pursue strategic partnerships with selected cultural providers, professional membership organizations, institutions of higher learning, and community-based/social-service organizations. The Deputy Director will provide oversight of educational components associated with the museum’s new Contemporary Arts Project, which currently invites two artists per year to develop site-specific installations at Vizcaya. The Deputy Director for Learning will collaborate with curatorial and horticultural staff on interpretation of permanent exhibits. The Deputy Director will be asked to plan for the growth in size and programmatic reach of the Learning Division and to participate in fundraising to advance such plans.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Art, Art History, Art Education, Humanities, Social Sciences or related field. A minimum of two to four years of experience in museum education to include visual arts or historic museum experience is required. Prefer master’s degree in a related field; excellent knowledge of museum education theory and practice; knowledge of Gilded Age/American Renaissance, including experience in a historic property; museum education experience of at least five years, including direct educational interaction with the public, administration, and supervision; exceptional communication skills; individual must be collaborative, ambitious, visionary, and results-oriented. Excellent compensation includes Executive Benefits.

Salary Salary Based on Experience (Starting Point in Range $59,504-Ending Point in Range $96,751) plus Executive Benefits

Applicants MUST APPLY ON LINE AT miamidade.gov/jobs through March 28, 2008. Those who previously applied in December need not reapply.

Hiring decisions are contingent upon the results of a physical examination, including alcohol/drug screening. EOE/M/F/D/Veterans Preference

Vizcaya’s Mission Statement: Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a National Historic Landmark that preserves the Miami estate of agricultural industrialist James Deering to engage our community and its visitors in learning through the arts, history, and the environment.