Public Programs Manager, General Operations

American Museum Of Natural History

Public Programs Manager, General Operations

The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world's preeminent scientific and cultural institutions, and has as its mission to discover, interpret, and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education, and exhibition.

The Public Programs department is seeking a full-time Public Programs Manager, General Operations to serve as a senior producer and operational leader. Reporting to the Director of Public Programs, this role carries lead producer responsibility for a portfolio of public-facing programs spanning science, culture, conversation, and community, while also serving as the department's operational anchor for event systems and cross-program logistics. The Manager brings both a producer's creative instincts and a systems-oriented mindset to one of the country's most dynamic public programming environments.

Job duties include, but are not limited to:

• Serve as lead producer for an assigned portfolio of public programs, managing all aspects of programming from concept to execution.
  • Source, cultivate, and book scientists, artists, scholars, and thought leaders in alignment with Museum priorities and audience interests.
  • Manage event logistics, production timelines, vendor relationships, and day-of execution across the full assigned slate.
  • Handle all agreements, internal meeting coordination, and partner communications for assigned programs.
  • Track attendance, collect feedback, and prepare program reports.
  • Create and manage program budgets, creatively maximizing impact while ensuring accurate accounting.
  
  
  
• Contribute as a collaborative and onsite support across the broader Public Programs slate. Support colleagues on large-scale or high-complexity events as needed. Manage strategy, planning, and impact meetings across the Museum.
• Own and manage team meetings, including organizing agendas and leading scheduling and next steps. Manage departmental needs including departmental orders and software license management. Ensure administrative workflows are efficient, documented, and consistently followed. Manage and maintain project management tools.
• Lead the department's annual planning process with the Director, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timely submission across all program areas.
• Manage interns, fellows, and other departmental staff from hiring, scheduling, and portfolio to post-program support.
• Actively scout local and national organizations, artists, scientists, and cultural figures to build a robust pipeline of potential collaborators and program ideas.
• Cultivate and maintain ongoing relationships with external partners, community organizations, and industry peers. Stay current with trends in public programming, museum practice, and relevant fields through performances, conversations, screenings, convenings, and professional networks.

• Bachelor's or associate degree in a relevant field.
• Demonstrated interest in all aspects of public programming (e.g., adult lectures, family workshops, festivals, cultural events).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, online video platforms (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) and databases.