Assistant Public Art Director

Job Description

Position Summary

Creative Philadelphia seeks a full-time Assistant Public Art Director who will assist and support the Public Art Director and the Chief Cultural Officer on various initiatives within the City of Philadelphia’s Public Art program such as the commissioning of permanent public art projects, and developing programs centered around the City’s public art collection. The City of Philadelphia’s public art collection is one of the City’s greatest assets. Located in indoor and outdoor spaces throughout every neighborhood in the city, Philadelphia’s public art reflects its rich history, diverse communities, and long-standing commitment to the arts. 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Special Projects –Manage special public art projects as assigned, such as commissioning of public artworks, public art exhibits and other projects outside of the Percent for Art program as assigned. Assist with applying for and executing grant funded public art projects and related initiatives as assigned. Manage outside consultants as part of the day-to-day administration of special and/or grant funded projects. 

Conservation and Collections Management - Assist the Public Art Director on the conservation, restoration and collection management of the City of Philadelphia’s 1000+ works of public art. Update and maintain the City’s database of public artworks, including overseeing interns and other staff, when available. Manage external consultants’ work related to the City’s cloud-based Collection Management System. Coordinate and manage the work of outside conservators who provide conservation and maintenance services to the city. 

Percent for Art Program - Assist with administration of assigned aspects of the City’s Percent for Art Program and coordinate with Percent for Art Project Managers as needed on tasks to administer reports, create program templates, and execute strategic initiatives related the Percent for Art Program. Occasionally represent the Public Art Director in their absence, as needed in public events related to the Percent for Art Program. See the “Administration” section below for additional details. 

Artist Professional Development –  Administer and manage Creative Philadelphia’s public art professional development programs, including “Public Art, How to Start,” which supports emerging public artists. Assist the Public Art Director to develop, plan, facilitate and execute other professional development initiatives and events to build the capacity of local creatives. 

Donation Management - Assist the Public Art Director on administering the policies and processes related to proposed donations of public art, memorials, and monuments to the City of Philadelphia and guide potential donors through the public art donation process for placing art on public property. 

Communications - Assist the Public Art Director and the Communications Manager on fostering the relationship between Philadelphians and the City’s public art collection through public engagement and communications efforts. Tasks may include drafting copy for press releases, communications related to public art projects and programs. 

Administration – Generate documents for meetings, internal and external communications, and reports for all Public Art related functions. Assist with creating templates and tools to enhance administrative and project management efficiency across projects. 

Collaboration – Represent Creative Philadelphia on project-specific initiatives that require collaboration with city-related departments. 

Data Management and Reporting – Maintain and update project notes, program files, and program budgets. Track metrics and performance measures related to Public Art on a timely and consistent basis for internal and external reporting. Coordinate all data tracking for the Public Art program, including updates and information provided by Public Art project managers. 

Complete other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications

• Experience with arts related project management and organizing projects with many stakeholders and partners, 

• Experience with grant writing and managing grant funded public art programs, 

• Passionate about public engagement and comfortable with public speaking in diverse communities, 

• Highly organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated and creative, 

• Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, and digital), 

• Experience with leading and organizing meetings with diverse communities or in urban settings, 

• High level of Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, 

• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite is a plus, 

• Familiarity with digital marketing tools such as Mailchimp, Canva, and WordPress, 

• Familiarity with form builders or survey tools such as Cognito, Survey Monkey, Submittable, Google Forms, 

• Pro-active, self-directed, teachable, and show enthusiasm to take on new projects, 

• Ability to multi-task and monitor multiple projects simultaneously, 

• Ability to effectively work under pressure to meet deadlines, 

• Capacity to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team. 

TRAINING and EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s degree in relevant field AND a minimum of 3-5 years leadership experience, OR 5-7 years related leadership experience.   The ideal candidate will have leadership experience in arts administration, arts-related project management, arts education, or other related public facing work. Experience with community engagement is a plus. Knowledge of Philadelphia arts and culture sector is a plus.  

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be a Philadelphia resident. Candidate must pass a background check. Must be able to work full-time on-site in City Hall, Room 116, with the flexibility to attend constituent/partner events (e.g. networking or speaking engagements) on occasional evenings and weekends, as needed.   

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS: Position requires a high level of mental concentration and commitment. Position requires some travel to sites within Philadelphia County. Meetings will include sites that are active construction zones. 

Additional Information

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit:

• cover letter
• resume
• 3 samples of arts related projects you have managed
• 2 writing samples (1 page each)

Salary Range: $80,000-$90,000

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to [email protected].

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx