Description

The American Swedish Institute is a gathering place for all people to explore diverse experiences of migration, identity, belonging and the environment through arts and culture, informed by enduring links to Sweden. The American Swedish Institute and the historic Turnblad Mansion have been mainstays for cultural education and engagement in Minneapolis since 1929.

POSITION SUMMARY

Do you love museum experiences, historic mansions, contemporary Nordic design, and amazing events? Join our team at the American Swedish Institute and lead the vision for our visitor experience. 

As the Director of Experience at ASI, you will champion visitor experience, leading a team that includes exhibitions, content, design, collections, and programs. You are someone who develops excellent, collaborative creative teams. You might come from a museum or cultural arts background, but you might also come from audience development, digital or user experience, branding, advertising, or marketing. You’ll guide and collaborate with teams who bring experience to life across a variety of channels, from in-person events, to exhibitions, to the design of print, digital, and social media. You’ll also work in conjunction with our store and restaurant to help envision new experiences for our visitors. And you’ll care passionately about the broad community at ASI and the neighborhood, and offer vision for how it will grow and develop as ASI moves toward our 100th birthday.

Rate: $ 95,000

Hours & Classification: Full-time, Exempt, Salary, Benefit eligible.

Supervises: Manager of Collections and Historic Properties, Exhibition Manager, Program Manager and Content Manager.

Reports to the CEO/President 

In this role you’ll get to:

Create the experience vision and strategy

• Lead vision and strategy for exhibitions, programs, and content teams encouraging and cultivating staff collaboration and a visitor-centered approach to developing experiences, programs, content, and events.
• Initiate and direct strategic partnerships across exhibitions, programs and collections in regional, national, and international projects.
• Participate in strategic planning and organization oversight and participate in board meetings.
• Lead the process in developing and implementing comprehensive design, content, and communication for visitor experience on-site at ASI and across all print and digital channels.
• Collaborate and work cross departmentally with ASI staff of retail, visitor services, and facilities.
• Assist in donor cultivation, grant development, reporting and funding opportunities.
• Leverage data analytics for audience development and evaluation.

Foster teambuilding

• Hire, supervise, and lead the managers of the Experience Team and support the mentoring and development of all staff members to reflect ASI’s values of stewardship, hospitality, learning, difference, innovation, and sustainability.
• Lead Experience Team initiatives toward diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, staff development and work with leadership team toward DEIA initiatives across ASI.

Work with budgets and financials

• Set financial strategy for Experience Team and review monthly financials.
• Assist in identifying grant and other funding opportunities to support collections, exhibitions, programs, and marketing. 

Requirements

This job might be for you if you have:

•  Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in history, art, design, arts management, marketing, Scandinavian studies or other, related fields. Advanced degree preferred.
• 8 years' experience managing similar programs and staff in a museum or cultural center, creative, UX, advertising or marketing setting.
• 8 years’ experience managing revenue-generating programs and budget development for a museum, cultural center, educational, institution, or similar organization.
• A collaborative, respectful attitude that creates a positive, energetic work environment.
• Interest and networks in art, museums, cultural organizations, design, handcraft, performing arts, Swedish/Nordic languages and culture.
• Self-starter with initiative, willing to work hands-on, able to handle multiple responsibilities and demands with a high level of decorum and patience.
• The ability to solicit feedback, listen to differing points of view, and work through creative collaborative solutions.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills to work with many stakeholders including museum staff, volunteers, donors, trustees, vendors, corporate clients and the public.
• Experience with standard office, creative, social media, and CRM platform software.
• Experience and ability to effectively present and speak to staff colleagues, public groups, trustees, and media.
• Some evenings and weekend hours required 

 What success looks like in this role:

• You are excited to set the vision, course and strategy for creative museum experiences that integrate exhibits, collections, programs and learning, and content that narrate a cohesive story from season to season.
• You have your eyes on the experience and cultural horizon. You have an entrepreneurial mindset and bring new opportunities for cultural experiences to life.
• You are a leader in design and creative development.
• Your can-do attitude and ability to collaborate with key stakeholders leads to great ideas and smooth interactions.
• You are a leader that people are excited to work for.
• You leverage customer feedback, data, and market analysis to evaluate and chart ASI’s success and growth.
• You build relationships to create a special destination experience at ASI.
• You take pride in your work and enjoy collaborating with everyone across ASI. 

EEO STATEMENT 

The American Swedish Institute is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All our employment practices, benefits and programs will be administered without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry, familial status, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, status with respect to receipt of public assistance or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law.