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Function of the Position

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director, Education and Public Programs is the chief educator and primary strategic lead for all learning and public programming at the Foundation’s National Historic Landmark home, The Octagon, and across the AIA Global Campus for Architecture & Design.

The Director designs and stewards a shared learning strategy that connects public programs, exhibitions, and museum experiences across the campus, including the Octagon’s permanent exhibition, temporary exhibitions in the AIA Headquarters, and a sustainability focused walking tour, creating a coherent learning journey for visitors of all ages.

The Director also provides educational leadership for the Architects Foundation’s scholarship and fellowship portfolio, integrating recipients and alumni into the broader Foundation programming while managing a multi-area operating budget and supervising two staff positions.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Campus Educational Strategy and Interpretation

Lead the campus-wide educational, interpretive and public programming vision.

Develop and steward an overarching educational framework that unifies The Octagon, the AIA Headquarters, and the courtyard into a coherent visitor and learner experience.
Lead the narrative and content strategy for the reinterpretation of The Octagon, including its reimagined permanent exhibition, serving as educational lead and primary internal client for exhibition and interpretive planning vendors.
Provide strategic and educational oversight of exhibitions and public-facing experiences across the campus, working in close partnership with the Sr. Manager, Octagon Museum & Global Campus Exhibitions.
Establish evaluation structure and outcome measures for all educational and public programming, using data to refine campus wide learning and support growth toward a target of up to 100,000 visitors annually within three years (2029).
Embed inclusive, community centered, and equity focused practices across all interpretive and educational initiatives.

Public Programs and Visitor Engagement

Design and deliver public programs that deepen engagement with architecture and design.

Develop and oversee a four seasons public programming calendar engaging design enthusiasts, students, professionals, and general audiences across the campus.
Implement the shared educational framework through lectures, workshops, tours, civic dialogues, and special programs that connect exhibitions, the built environment, and campus stories, including the sustainability focused walking tour.
Collaborate with Architects Foundation and AIA partners on community engagement and external partnerships to extend the campus’ reach and relevance, including with historically underrepresented communities.
Build the campus's identity as a public destination for design thinking, civic conversation, and creative learning, supporting sustained growth in annual visitation.

Scholarship and Fellowship Educational Leadership

Shape the learning arc for scholarship and fellowship recipients.

Design the educational arc for Architects Foundation scholarship and fellowship recipients, from selection through alumni engagement, integrating cohort experiences, mentorship, and campus-based experiences that draw on the Octagon and campus programs.
Own the learning strategy and alumni experience for scholarship and fellowship recipients, ensuring meaningful engagement beyond the award and clear connections with educational programs and interpretation.
Guide the design and delivery of the fellowship experience in partnership with the Foundation Specialist, Scholarships and Administration, who manage day to day administration of scholarship and fellowship cycles.
Collaborate with development and marketing colleagues to translate scholarship and fellowship learning experiences into compelling stories for donors, partners, and public audiences.
Manage the scholarship and fellowship budget of $475,000.

Museum Operations and Campus Presence

Ensure a welcoming, high quality visitor experience at The Octagon and across the campus.

Ensure The Octagon is staffed and welcoming during public hours, Wednesday through Saturday, through a coverage plan shared with the Sr. Manager and front of house staff.
Set and uphold standards for visitor experience, tour quality, and public facing engagement across the campus, modeling an active, visible on-site presence.
Work closely with the Sr. Manager, Octagon Museum & Global Campus Exhibitions, who leads daily operations, manages part time and docent staff, and executes logistics for exhibitions and programs.
Support strategies to increase public visitation, deepen engagement, and position The Octagon and the campus within Washington DC's cultural landscape.

Team, Budget, and Institutional Leadership

Provide leadership across people, finances, and institutional strategy.

Directly supervise, coach, and evaluate the Sr. Manager, Octagon Museum & Global Campus Exhibitions, and the Foundation Specialist, Scholarships and Administration.
Manage a combined annual operating budget of approximately $975,000 across scholarships and fellowships, Octagon care and operations, and exhibitions and programs.
Partner with the Executive Director on strategic planning, reporting, and board engagement related to educational, interpretive, and campus goals.
Play a key role in shaping long range strategy for the AIA Global Campus as it grows toward welcoming up to 100,000 visitors annually by year three.
Represent the Architects Foundation and the campus as a visible ambassador within the architecture, museum, and public humanities fields, participating in selected professional networks and collaborations.

Qualifications

Required

Significant progressive experience of 8 or more years, in museum education, public humanities, design education, or a closely related field, including demonstrated senior or leadership responsibility.
Demonstrated success developing public programs and interpretive frameworks for broad, diverse audiences.
Background or strong interest in architecture, design, urban history, or the built environment.
Experience directly supervising staff, including coaching, performance development, and accountability.
Strong fiscal management skills with experience overseeing significant operating budgets across multiple program areas.
Demonstrated commitment to inclusive, community centered educational practice that welcomes diverse visitors and learners.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across organizations and with a wide range of stakeholders.

Preferred

Passionate advocate for design education, design history, and design and architecture disciplines.
Experience working on capital or renovation projects involving interpretive exhibition design.
Experience managing scholarship, fellowship, or grant programs within a nonprofit, foundation, or cultural institution.
Familiarity with collections management practices and the operational realities of a historic site open to the public.

Education

Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in museum education, public history, public humanities, architecture, design, or a related field preferred.

Travel

Minimal travel; occasional local or regional travel for programs, partnerships, or professional engagements as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Directly supervise:
- Sr. Manager, Octagon Museum & Global Campus Exhibitions.
- Foundation Specialist, Scholarships and Administration.
May collaborate with consultants, contractors, interns, and volunteers on program and exhibition delivery.

Work Location

Washington DC, hybrid, DC Metro area only. Standard schedule of four days in office or on campus and one remote day per week, with occasional evenings and Saturdays for programs and events.

Benefits Offered

A comprehensive benefits package aligned with AIA offerings, which currently includes medical, vision, and dental coverage, 401(k), paid time off, flexible spending accounts, income protection through life and disability insurance, tuition and membership reimbursements, and additional employee programs such as transportation benefits, employee assistance, and wellness related discounts.

Equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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