Director of Public Engagement
- Location
- Seattle, WA
- Listed
- Today
About the Role
The Director of Public Engagement leads the strategic direction, development, and performance of innovative, accessible, and engaging public engagement programs for adult and intergenerational audiences across all SAM sites. This role sets departmental priorities, manages resources and outcomes, and builds sustainable community relationships that advance institutional goals. They also provide leadership, coaching, and accountability for the Public Engagement team, including site managers, coordinators, and teaching artists.
Responsibilities
Department Strategy & Leadership
- Establish and execute a multi-year public engagement strategy aligned with SAM’s institutional priorities, audience goals, and commitment to equitable, visitor-centered experiences with art
- Direct the department’s portfolio of public programs, setting priorities, quality standards, resource allocations, and measures of success across all museum sites
- Develop and implement strategies to broaden participation, deepen audience engagement, and expand community awareness and appreciation of art
- Lead, coach, and evaluate department staff; establish performance expectations, develop talent, and foster a collaborative, accountable team culture
- Provide strategic direction for lectures, discussions, gallery talks, symposia, performances, film series, late-night events, outdoor programs, and exhibition-related experiences
- Establish effective operating systems, cross-functional processes, and decision-making practices to improve program quality, efficiency, and coordination
- Own departmental annual plans, goals, staffing and professional development priorities, program evaluation, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Partner with Development to identify funding opportunities, shape proposals, steward funder relationships, and ensure timely grant reporting and delivery against commitments
- Partner with Marketing & Communications and Visitor Experience to define audiences, align outreach, strengthen promotion, and translate audience insights into program decisions
- Represent SAM with artists, cultural leaders, community organizations, and peer institutions; initiate partnerships and collaborative initiatives that advance public engagement priorities
- Lead department participation in annual operating and capital planning, including resource forecasts and financial trade-offs
- Develop, manage, and monitor departmental budgets; ensure responsible financial stewardship, contract oversight, and reporting on program impact
- Program Strategy & Execution
About Sam
As SAM heads into its second century, we are boldly reimagining what we can and should be. Our goal is to be a model for the future of museums - a bold, dynamic hub of creativity, belonging, and cultural leadership, shaping the future of art and community. Embracing new ways of engaging communities and seeking innovative partnerships - all while keeping art and community at the center of what we do.
This ambitious effort represents a transformative shift and radically redefining how art museums operate. This is a pivotal moment for SAM, and we are seeking great talent to join us on our journey. Working at SAM is not just a job-it's a chance to be part of a vibrant, creative community.
From Seattle Art Museum's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on November 12, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.
How Rolev.ai helps with this application
Rolev.ai is a job search and application tool for US job seekers. For this Director of Public Engagement role at Seattle Art Museum, it shows how your resume fits, tailors your resume to the posting, and prepares the application for you to review.
See how you fit
Openings from employer career sites are ranked against your whole resume—and searchable inside Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor via Rolev.ai MCP.
Tailor without inventing
Every change to your resume is checked against your original. New experience goes in only with your yes—zero fabricated claims.
Draft the full kit
Tailored and Full Match resumes, role-specific cover letters, and answers to employer screening questions are prepared in seconds.
1-Click Extension Autofill
The Chrome extension fills the employer's Greenhouse, Workday, Lever, or Ashby form in 1 click. You review it and press Submit.
Similar roles
- Director of Engineering, Fleet ApplicationsAgility Robotics · Any Office (Fremont, CA
- Director of Sales, Industrial-PrecisionAeva · Mountain View, CA
- Director of PartnershipsAmperity · New York, NY
- Director of Product DesignArt Of Problem Solving · San Diego, CA
- Director of CopyBalsam Brands · Redwood City, CA
- Director of NursingBelmont Charter Network · Philadelphia, PA
Common questions
Where is the Director of Public Engagement job at Seattle Art Museum located?
This Director of Public Engagement position at Seattle Art Museum is located in Seattle, WA. Always check Seattle Art Museum's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.
How do I apply for the Director of Public Engagement position at Seattle Art Museum?
This listing links directly to Seattle Art Museum's Lever application page. You can apply directly on Seattle Art Museum's site, or use Rolev.ai to check your resume fit, generate a zero-hallucination tailored resume and cover letter for this posting, and autofill the Lever application form in 1 click with the Rolev.ai Chrome extension. You always review the form and press Submit yourself.