Careers
Our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and access (DEIA)
The Contemporary Austin values a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace and we seek to model these values in our hiring and engagement practices for all our artistic and educational programs. We welcome applications by BIPOC candidates as well as individuals who bring new perspectives in a host of ways. It is the policy of The Contemporary Austin not to discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, or veteran status and to take action to ensure that those seeking to do business with the Contemporary are treated fairly. The Contemporary Austin aims to create a safe, welcoming working environment and doesn’t tolerate discrimination of any kind. The organization is currently pursuing a multi-year DEIA effort and seeks individuals who share our commitment to this work.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
Opportunities:
Communications Coordinator
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The Communications Coordinator supports all aspects of museum marketing, communication, and outreach. The ideal candidate will have a significant impact on the overall Museum’s messaging and brand through their advanced administrative, organizational, project management, and communication skills.
Department: Communications
Reports to: Director of Marketing & Communications
Pay Range: $21.63-$24.52/hour
Status: Full-time, Non-Exempt
Responsibilities:
ADMINISTRATIVE (40%)
Provide general administrative support to the department
- Support weekly departmental meetings, cross-departmental, and external meetings by scheduling invites, creating agendas, taking notes, and more as needed
- Submit POs and credit card statements on a weekly and monthly basis respectively
- Download, sort, and organize event photos immediately following the event
- Oversee file and asset management
- Organize internal calendars for print, content, and design deadlines
- Assist with media and data tracking on a monthly basis
- Input event and program information into community calendars
- Create support documents and tracking reports as requested
- Serve as point of contact for department for Salesforce
PROJECT MANAGEMENT (35%)
Provide project management support for the department and cross-departmental projects
- Maintain and track milestones and deadlines for the department within project management platform
- Set up project folders and discussions for campaigns and projects involving cross-departmental collaboration
- Assign tasks to staff members within the project management platform
EMAIL & SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING (20%)
Perform technical tasks related to email and social media marketing planning and more as needed for coverage and professional development
- Build emails for templated, ongoing communications (digests, dedicated emails, email reminders and follow-ups, etc.)
- Manage recipient lists for all types of email sends
- Dispatch emails after review with Senior Marketing Manager & Director of Marketing & Communications
- Schedule social media posts after review with Marketing Manager and Director of Marketing & Communications
- Serve as support and/or coverage as needed
OTHER DUTIES (5%)
- Support Director of Marketing & Communications and Communications Team as needed
Qualifications:
- Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook
- Proficient with Canva and project management applications (we use Teamwork)
- Experience with email marketing and social media platforms
- Experience with database management (we use Salesforce)
- Experience with data reporting
- High level of accuracy and organization
- Ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks with excellent attention to detail
- Ability to work well in a collaborative, team environment with the ability to self-direct and be proactive in completing assignments
- Familiarity and interest in contemporary art and/or nonprofits
- Strong communication skills, professional demeanor, and work ethic
- Can-do, flexible, resourceful, and team- and goal-oriented attitude
- Bachelor's degree preferred
- 2 years of experience in administrative or project management position, ad agency experience strongly preferred
How to Apply:
Submit resume and cover letter HERE.
Thank you for your interest in The Contemporary Austin and please keep an eye on our careers page for current opportunities.
Director of Finance
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The Director of Finance (DOF) is a pivotal leadership role responsible for overseeing the museum's financial, legal, and compliance operations to ensure financial stability and integrity for The Contemporary Austin. The DOF is a key member of the leadership team reporting directly to the Executive Director and playing a vital role in guiding the museum's financial decisions. The DOF is responsible for the organization’s financial health, reporting, tax filing, auditing, and oversight of all matters to do with the business best practices, contracts and compliance matters. The DOF supervises two finance team members and serves as the liaison for the finance and endowment committees of the Board of Trustees. This role demands a blend of financial expertise, strategic thinking, and a deep commitment to the museum's mission, promoting transparency, ethical practices, and a culture of continuous improvement.
Department: Finance and Operations
Reports to: Ernest and Sarah Butler Executive Director & CEO
Pay Range: $130,000-$150,000
Status: Full-time, Exempt
Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
Skills and Approach:
Benefits:
Physical Requirements:
How to Apply:
Submit resume and cover letter HERE.
Thank you for your interest in The Contemporary Austin and please keep an eye on our careers page for current opportunities.
Grants Manager
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Under the direction of the Institutional Giving Officer, the Grants Manager will be responsible for developing and writing inquiries, letters, and proposals requesting funds to support The Contemporary Austin. The Grant Manager will also assist with tracking and developing reports, as required by each funder.
Department: Development
Reports to: Institutional Giving Officer
Pay Range: $63,000-$70,000
Status: Full-time, Exempt
Responsibilities:
Application Development
- Draft high-quality and competitive funding proposals to support an annual portfolio of institutional donors.
- Stay abreast of emerging trends and updates in the field, paying particular attention to research findings to supplement compelling application narrative.
- Work cross-departmentally within the organization to aggregate data related to programming and organizational metrics.
- Work alongside program teams to define viable and measurable outcomes related to internal organizational metrics and participants’ interaction with the museum.
- Collaborate with the Institutional Giving Officer, as well as the museum’s finance department to develop grant budgets and financial narratives.
- Prepare supplementary administrative proposal documents, as requested by the funder.
- Ensure that all drafts and feedback from program staff and senior leadership are completed in a timely manner.
Post-Award Management
- Write acknowledgment letters to corporate and foundation donors, as required.
- Oversee the development and submission of required narrative reports.
- Assist the Institutional Giving Officer with developing grant expense reports, ensuring that spending aligns with contracted use of funds.
Record Maintenance
- Maintain accurate and updated electronic files of donors and prospects, including copies of correspondence, proposals, reports, and notes on significant phone conversations or donor visits.
- Work in conjunction with administrative and financial staff to ensure that corporate and foundation gifts are logged in Salesforce
Additional Duties as Needed
- Support prospecting efforts; participate in the ongoing expansion of the donor base at all levels through prospect identification and screening, research, and strategic solicitation.
- Represent The Contemporary Austin and the Development Department as needed, including assistance with special events.
Qualifications:
- Minimum 3-5 years of grant writing experience
- Exceptional writing and verbal persuasion skills, with the ability to translate complex strategies and artistic concepts into compelling stories
- Familiarity with funding opportunities and application processes, particularly within the arts sector
- Working knowledge of research resources for foundation and government fundraising
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to build trusted relationships
- Budgeting acumen for the preparation of grant budgets in proposals and reports
- Exceptional attention to detail and ability to manage confidential information
- Working knowledge of Salesforce or another CRM preferred
How to Apply:
Please submit your resume, cover letter, and 3 grant-related writing samples at the application link HERE.
Thank you for your interest in The Contemporary Austin and please keep an eye on our careers page for current opportunities.
Senior Marketing Manager
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The Senior Marketing Manager helps to connect audiences to contemporary art and programs offered by The Contemporary Austin. Working in close collaboration with others, both inter- and intra-departmentally, this position will develop campaigns and communications around exhibitions, fundraising, membership, educational programs, and other public-facing activities at The Contemporary Austin to engage and grow the museum’s audiences online and in person.
Department: Communications
Reports to: Director of Marketing and Communications
Pay Range: $60k-70k
Status: Full-time, Exempt
Responsibilities:
COMMUNICATIONS PLANNING & EXECUTION
- Collaborate within and across departments on integrated strategies and campaigns to effectively promote a broad range of museum activities to diverse audiences across mediums and platforms (e.g., print, digital, social media, email, signage, video, and audio)
- Outline content ideas in the editorial calendar to ensure all audiences are engaged on a regular basis and implement once approved
- Propose and implement paid and owned media strategies for a portfolio of campaigns
- Serve as communications point of contact for gathering information from third parties (e.g., speaker bios, head shots, event details, etc.) when needed
DIGITAL
- Input and maintain all content on the museum’s website including the home page, exhibition pages, events, special landing pages, and more
- Manage Google Adwords and SEO/SEM for the museum
- Create and distribute email communications including newsletters and dedicated outreach
CONTENT CREATION
- Partner with Digital Content Coordinator to gather compelling content (photos and video) for social media, email, blog, and other uses to support institutional and brand storytelling and museum event and program promotion
- Engage with other departments to gather content ideas, stories, and assets
- Develop short- and long-form copy and content for use in social media platforms, email, blog, event webpages, print collateral, and more
OTHER DUTIES
- Support Director of Marketing & Communications as needed
Qualifications:
- Strong written, visual, and verbal communications skills
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Skilled in organization, task prioritization, and attention to detail
- Demonstrated experience of creative and innovative approaches to responsibilities
- Desire to try new things and a willingness to push boundaries to increase effectiveness of marketing
- Ability to set and achieve goals in established timeframes
- Experience with content management systems, email marketing tools, data analytics, and social media platforms and scheduling tools
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
- Strong experience with WordPress, email marketing platforms, Adobe Acrobat, Google Analytics, and social media management tools
- Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite
- Ability to work well in a collaborative, team environment with the ability to self-direct and be proactive in completing goal-oriented assignments
- Can-do, flexible, resourceful, and goal-oriented attitude
- Familiarity and interest in contemporary art and/or nonprofits
- Bachelor’s degree
- 5+ years of experience working in marketing, preferably in the arts and culture sector
How to apply:
Submit resume and cover letter HERE.
Thank you for your interest in The Contemporary Austin and please keep an eye on our careers page for current opportunities.
Summer Programs Assistant
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The Contemporary Austin is seeking three Summer Programs Assistants to provide support for Art School summer children’s classes. This is a temporary position working 35 hours per week from May 28, 2024, through August 9, 2024. There will be an onboarding orientation on Wednesday, May 15. Please note our summer schedule does not allow for time off.
Summer Programs Assistants play a crucial role in the Art School’s summer class experience. Programs Assistants will assist with drop off and pick up, help keep our studios and supplies organized and stocked, will work closely with our faculty as on-call classroom helpers with students ages 4-11, and will assist in other functions as needed.
Department: Art School
Reports to: Senior Manager of Studio Affairs
Pay Range: $16.50/hour
Status: Temporary
Weekly Schedule:
Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
How to Apply:
Submit resume and cover letter at this link.
Thank you for your interest in The Contemporary Austin and please keep an eye on our careers page for current opportunities.
Groundskeeper
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The Contemporary Austin is hiring a part-time Groundskeeper (25 hours/week) to help oversee the property and landscape maintenance of its Laguna Gloria location. This person will help to ensure the pristine condition of this 12-acre site, which requires regular landscaping duties and grounds maintenance, including along the extensive shoreline.
Department: Operations
Reports to: Horticulturist
Pay Range: $18-20/hour
Status: Part-time, Non-Exempt
Weekly Schedule:*
Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
Working Conditions:
- Environmental Demands
- Physical Tasks
- Additional Working Conditions
How to Apply:
Submit resume and cover letter at this link.
Thank you for your interest in The Contemporary Austin and please keep an eye on our careers page for current opportunities.
Additional opportunities to get involved:
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Our Mission
We invite you to discover contemporary art in settings that provoke thought and joy. Our programs join art with place in a pursuit of a deeper experience, a bigger conversation, and a closer community.
Our Vision
We believe in the capacity of art to transform lives. We dream of a future where more eyes, ears, hearts and minds are opened by contemporary art in all of its forms.
Our Values
Extending the Welcome – We want every person to feel like they belong here. Our invitation is completely open and inclusive.
Always Caring - We know that details matter. We care deeply about the quality of our work and about the experiences of our guests, the artists we collaborate with, our staff, and all those we have yet to meet.
Socially Mindful - We believe that contemporary art is a way for people to connect their personal experiences with the broader social and cultural dialogues of our place and time.
Staying Curious - We observe closely, listen intently, and inquire sincerely because we have a boundless fascination with people, art and ideas.
Making Progress - We always want to be better—to inspire more deeply, to engage more openly, and to serve more joyfully. We are mindful of feedback and committed to ongoing reflection and iteration.
Being Here - A place can transform your experience of art, and art can transform your experience of a place. We activate our downtown exhibition space and our lakeside sculpture park in imaginative ways to serve Austin.
Trying New Things - We believe in the importance of experimentation, play, and the surprise that often results from trying something new. We know that progress comes through both bravery and vulnerability.
About The Contemporary Austin
As Austin’s only museum focused on contemporary artists and their work, The Contemporary Austin offers exhibitions, educational opportunities, and events that start conversations and fuel the city’s creative spirit. Known for artist-centric projects and collaborations, The Contemporary invites exploration at both its urban and natural settings—downtown at the Jones Center on Congress Avenue, lakeside at the Laguna Gloria campus (including the Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park, the Art School, and the historic Driscoll Villa), and around Austin through the Museum Without Walls program.