The www.TheLawrenceAdvisory.com has been engaged to lead this search.
For additional information regarding this opportunity, please contact Kathy Johnson: kathy@thelawrenceadvisory.com
POSITION SUMMARY
The Asian Art Museum, a prestigious and forward-thinking institution located in San Francisco, is seeking a creative, visionary, dynamic, and collaborative Deputy Director/Chief Experience Officer (CXO) to lead a major initiative to reshape all facets of the audience experience onsite, offsite, and online in accordance with a recently conceived strategic plan. This individual will develop and implement strategies to engage new and diverse audiences; strengthen the museum’s relationship with existing constituents; and leverage the museum’s considerable assets in the service of new digital and immersive experiences to engage contemporary audiences. Additionally, the ideal candidate will ensure that the audience experience is aligned with and reflects the museum’s mission, with a commitment to accessibility, meaningful engagement, diversity, and inclusion.
Reporting to the CEO and serving as a member of the leadership team, the CXO will ensure cross- organizational alignment with a visitor-centric approach. The CXO will be responsible for leading 5 direct reports and a newly unified division of approximately 40 individuals encompassing collections, interpretive programming, exhibitions (physical and digital), marketing and design. In alignment with the strategic plan, the CXO will also be responsible for developing creative and innovative ways to elevate the museum’s digital experience.
This is a unique and new role for an inventive and experienced leader who understands how to translate research into experience-driven exhibitions. In addition, the CXO will design, develop, and implement strategies for evaluating the impact of new programming, exhibits, and partnerships that are regional, national and global in scope.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic & Operational Leadership
- Build action plans that drive attendance and ultimately build earned revenue and the museum’s reputation as a must-see destination
- Integrate a master interpretive plan throughout the museum’s upgraded facilities and extend it into a digital presence that holistically links online collections, e-communication and social media with the in-gallery experience
- Design, develop, and implement strategies for evaluating the impact of new programming, exhibits, and partnerships that are regional, national, and global in scope
- Support the creation of annual division and project budgets and annual department plans, including both operations and staffing, with a minimum of a three-year outlook
- Ensure that planning is data-driven and use research techniques to evaluate success; report regularly to peers, staff, and board the tangible results of program efforts
Experience Development & Engagement
- Recraft the museum’s products to focus on experience-centered exhibitions and programs to drive new and diverse audiences
- Oversee all aspects of the audience experience, from digital strategies to formal and informal educational and public programming, immersive exhibition planning, design and interpretation, and collections
- Direct, develop, and lead teams focused on improving and enhancing the audience experience of new and existing programs and exhibitions, including digital-based interactions and multi-sensory experiences
- Advocate for consumer needs in the development and deployment of programs and strategies throughout the organization
Team Leadership
- Oversee a team of designers and developers dedicated to improving user experience through understanding consumers and their motivations, the ease of their encounters, and their takeaways
- Craft the staffing of the division with the goal of ultimately building an effective, functional, and sustainable team structure
- Act as a trusted advisor and coach to managers and supervisors, helping to build empathy and cultural competence with the goal of improving leadership and management of a diverse workforce
- Support employees by ensuring they embody the museum’s visitor promise and deliver upon expectations. Empower employees to make visitor-centric decisions and increase leadership’s understanding of their employee experiences and needs.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Provide vision, leadership, and coordination to create an intersectional, institution-wide framework to ensure a positive experience journey
- Lead and directly engage in cross departmental projects, especially major exhibitions and the installation and interpretation of exhibitions
- Collaborate closely with the Marketing team to ensure program work is aligned with overall institutional messaging and brand standards
- Work across marketing channels to develop and launch campaigns that help increase attendance and grow repeat visitors
QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration, arts management, or closely related field and a minimum of 10 years of relevant management experience related to program planning and improving customer experiences. A combination of education and experience will be considered.
- Demonstrated experience in managing the design and implementation of digital and immersive strategies to engage audiences
- Ability to communicate clearly, effectively manage projects and teams, and coordinate the work of a wide range of museum professionals, specialists and consultants
- Proven track record of managing complex operations and ability to bring great ideas to fruition through the alignment of ideas, people and processes
- Proven track record of initiating change and innovation to make a meaningful impact for visitors across diverse communities and demographic segments
- Ability to extract and analyze data to make effective, efficient decisions
Competencies
- Mission Driven: Demonstrated commitment to the museum’s mission and the ability to understand and explain the museum’s mission-driven strategic plan initiatives in terms that resonate with staff and visitors
- Visionary Leadership: Ability to quickly seize upon trends and breakthrough opportunities to create an inspiring, world-class, visitor-oriented experience
- Driving Results: Ability, dedication, discipline, and ambition to translate vision into concrete action; Excellent leadership skills with the ability to set a vision and lead the team to deliver
Compensation
A competitive compensation package, including a comprehensive benefits package, will be offered, commensurate with experience. The salary range for this position is $230K – $275K per year.
Diversity of thought and experience is essential to the Asian Art Museum’s mission and they are committed to recruiting, hiring, and retaining a diverse workforce. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
The Lawrence Advisory has been engaged to lead this search.
For additional information regarding this opportunity, please contact Kathy Johnson: kathy@thelawrenceadvisory.com