Visitor Engagement Manager

About the Wende Museum

“Wende” is a German word that means “transformation.” It is commonly used to describe the era of uncertainty and possibility leading up to and following the fall of the Berlin Wall. Headquartered in a renovated National Guard Armory in Culver City, the Wende Museum, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is an experimental and forward-thinking institution that pairs unparalleled collections from the Cold War era with contemporary artists, filmmakers, musicians, scholars, and others. 

We are looking for a collaborative, adaptable, detail-oriented Visitor Engagement Manager who can proactively lead the daily operations of our Visitor Engagement (VE) team, and who has a passion for visitor services and event planning. 

Job Description

The Visitor Engagement Manager plays a key role in developing the overall museum experience, from gallery visits and tours to hosting community organizers and collaborating on large-scale special events at the Wende. While many of these activities remain on hold in accordance with public health measures, they will entail a large part of this position's responsibilities.

This is a supervisory, fast-paced position with high inter-departmental exposure. This position reports to the Head of Operations.

The role of Visitor Engagement Manager requires the flexibility to work a Wednesday through Sunday week, including some (planned) evenings to support ongoing programming, the museum’s public open days (Fri–Sun), and events. An average workweek of 40 hours is expected.  Competitive salary, with medical/dental/vision benefits and paid vacation and holidays.

The full-time position is available May 2021.

Summary of Responsibilities

Visitor Engagement 

• Manage and supervise a team of Visitor Engagement Associates, including scheduling and training.

• Oversee daily VE operations including opening and closing procedures.

• Following L.A. County Health Guidelines, and as permitted by Culver City officials, coordinate weekly public and private visitation and events under the leadership of the Head of Operations. 

• Coordinate hospitality for special visits and internal meetings with the Development Associate.

• Produce monthly visitor engagement data reports.

Gift Shop 

• Manage gift shop operations.

• Stock and order exhibition-related and evergreen inventory. 

• Manage gift shop inventory, generate monthly reports for the Director of Finance. 

Education & Programming

• Coordinate with the Chief Curator, Head of Collections, and Education Manager to plan for tours, exhibition-specific programming, and special projects.

Requirements

Ideal candidate

• Responsive, resourceful and creative problem solver

• Organized and detail-oriented

• Must be able to quickly acclimate to a fast-paced environment

• Excellent time management, emotional maturity and interpersonal skills

• Ability to work both independently and with a team

• Can multitask a wide variety of activities, prioritizing conflicting needs

• Collaborative: able to coordinate a diverse lineup of events across all museum departments

• Enjoys interacting with museum patrons

Skills and Experience

• Minimum of 2 years' experience in event planning and hospitality

• Demonstrated team management experience

• Familiarity with cultural organizations or non-profits is ideal, but not required

• Strong computer skills including expertise in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Docs

• Valid California Driver’s License and reliable automobile with insurance coverage for use on the job

• Experience with Blackbaud/Altru and Adobe Creative Suite a plus

Recognizing that this is an ongoing process, the Wende Museum is committed to continually increasing diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and sustainability. People of color, LGBTQIA+ people, people without formal education, and others who may have been marginalized by conventional hiring practices are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Submit a resume and brief cover letter in a single PDF attachment with the subject line “Visitor Engagement Manager” to junderhill@wendemuseum.org.

Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship - Curatorial Intern

The Wende Museum has been awarded a grant from the Getty Foundation to hire a full-time paid intern for summer 2021. Interns will work for a consecutive ten-week work period between June and August 2021 with a stipend of $6,000. This summer internship is a remote position, with possibility of some onsite visits depending on COVID-19 guidelines. 

Working closely with the Chief Curator and Director of Programming, and the Exhibition and Programming Associate, the curatorial intern will assist with the preparation for the upcoming exhibitions “Questionable History: Contesting Interpretations” and “Jewish Life in the Soviet Union,” scheduled to open November 7, 2021, and “The Medium is the Message: Flags and Banners” and “Martin Roemers: Relics of the Cold War,” scheduled to open April 2022. Also, the intern will conduct research on other upcoming exhibitions and public programs, to be determined based on the successful candidates’ skills and interests. Candidates with an interest in experimental curatorial practices, cultural and political history, and art historical research are encouraged to apply. Familiarity with German, Russian, or another Eastern European language is desirable but not required.

In addition, each intern candidate must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Be a member of groups underrepresented in professions related to museums and the visual arts, including, but not limited to, individuals of African American, Asian, Latino/Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander descent.
• Be a currently enrolled undergraduate and have completed at least one semester of college by June 2021.
• Be a resident of or attend college in Los Angeles County.

Applications will be accepted until 5pm on Friday, April 30, 2021. To apply, please send a cover letter outlining your interest and a current resume to acanzano@wendemuseum.org and CC jsegal@wendemuseum.org. Please indicate that you are applying for the Getty Marrow Curatorial Internship in the email subject and cover letter. 

Collections Internship Program

Due to the continuing precautions in Los Angeles County regarding COVID-19, Collections Internships are only offered remotely until further notice.

The Wende Museum is pleased to offer Collections Internships for currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students, as well as recent graduates. Positions are part-time, unpaid, and available for course credit. For more information, please see our flyer.

Internships are offered year-round, typically beginning in January, June, and September. We are accepting applications for Summer 2021 through April 23, 2021. To apply, please send cover letter and resume to internships@wendemuseum.org.

Internship Program

The Wende offers internship opportunities for college and graduate students interested in careers in museums. Based upon their academic training, interests and language skills, as well as the availability of projects, interns work in one of the Wende’s departments. While some projects require reading knowledge of German, Russian, or another East Bloc language, these skills are not necesssary for a successful internship. Applicants of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

We have hosted interns from Bard College, Boston College, California Institute of the Arts, California State University, Dominguez Hills, CSU Long Beach, CSU Los Angeles, Claremont Graduate University, Dartmouth College, Duke University, Europa-Universität Viadrina, Freie Universität Berlin, Goteborgs Universitet, Grinnell College, Hampshire College, Loyola Marymount University, Macalester College, Manhattanville College, Occidental College, Otis College of Art and Design, University of California Davis, UCLA, UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz, University of Michigan, University of New Hampshire, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, Utrecht University, VU University Amsterdam, and Wesleyan University, among others.