Community Engagement Program Manager

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Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
• Complete a Probationary Period.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Overview This position is located organizationally in Office of Audience Engagement, Content and Interpretation, National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL), Under Secretary for Museums and Culture, Smithsonian Institution (SI).

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. NMAL deepens our understanding of the United States and what it means to be American – it is SI’s cornerstone for visitors to learn how Latinos have contributed and continue to contribute to U.S. art, history, culture and science. This position oversees the development and implementation of NMAL’s community engagement program to include community partnerships, volunteer and visitor services, in alignment with strategic priorities regarding community-centered museum approaches.

Duties and Responsibilities The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL) seeks an enthusiastic and experienced educator to develop and facilitate interpretive learning and community programs for the museum. This position will:

• Lead the conceptualization and updating of community engagement program logic model and program plan as part of the unit’s strategic plan priority of creating a nationally-focused and community-centered museum.
• Formulate community engagement strategies that integrate visitor experience goals, volunteer program development and implementation and community co-created programming as a part of a community-centered museum model.
• Work alongside the program team to identify, develop, cultivate and maintain community organization-based relationships in strategic and priority cities, regionally and nationally.
• Develop and oversee community partner application and selection process, including recruitment, on-boarding, partnership activity research and co-development and co-implementation of short-, mid- and long-term relationships and activities, locally and nationally.
• Develop and implement community co-created programs (onsite and online), including logistics coordination and evaluation for multiple age range audiences and geographic locations that speak to the museum’s content areas in history, art, culture and science contributions, including interdisciplinary and STEM/STEAM-H learning activities.
• Collaborate across several departments including Curatorial, Collections, Exhibitions, Advancement and Communications to develop and implement community and volunteer program offerings, training and special visits.
• Oversee audience research and evaluation projects to develop best practices for community engagement co-created programs and volunteer program experiences.
• Work with CRM Unit Team to ensure transition and compliance with Visitor Services and Volunteer (VSYS) and Constituent Management for recording keeping and tracking of community partners and volunteers.
• Manage grant-funded budgets and a mixture of other federal and private funds. Work with departmental leadership and finance and procurement officials to develop annual budgets and reconciliation process, including working with fund managers to keep records and spending within budget guidelines.

Additional Position Factors

• Requires fluency in written and spoken English and Spanish
• Requires availability for travel of up to 25%
• Requires availability for occasional weekend and holiday hours.

Qualification Requirements Must be a current Smithsonian Institution employee. (This does not include positions held as a contractor.) Experience required for this position is as follows:

• Applied knowledge of procedures and methods used in the planning, execution, evaluation and funding of visitor engagement activities, including volunteer program activities. Possesses knowledge of research and cataloging methods.
• Knowledge of the various aspects of community-based organizations and their work approaches in order to develop community partnerships for the Museum.
• Knowledge of American Latino history and familiarity with different facets and points of view of the same story.
• Knowledge of arts and education practices and methodologies for engaging with various age ranges in learning opportunities.
• Ability to research and contextualize opportunities for engagement from members of multiple communities who speak different primary languages.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to respond to inquiries regarding NMAL program areas and volunteer opportunities from the general public, donors and vendors.

Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.

Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.

Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.

What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.

Relocation expenses are not paid.

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact youmansc@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

About Smithsonian Institution Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum and research complex of 21 museums and galleries, the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, and 14 education and research facilities. There are more than 6,500 Smithsonian employees, including approximately 500 scientists. The total number of objects, works of art and specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at more than 157 million.

Application Deadline May 19, 2026

Department National Museum of the American Latino

Employment Type Full Time

Workplace type Onsite

Reporting To Assistant Director for Learning and Public Engagement

Stage 1: Applied

Stage 2: Qualifications Review

Stage 3: Phone Screen

Stage 4: First Interview

Stage 5: Second Interview

Stage 6: Tentative Offer Letter

Stage 7: Hired