Job Description

Senior Director of Education and Community Engagement

FLSA Classification: Full-Time, Exempt

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has an opening for a full-time, exempt Senior Director of Education and Community Engagement position in the Education Department.

Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has been called the “Smithsonian of country music,” celebrated for its broad cultural impact, educational mission, and unrivaled collection of historically important artifacts. Chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964, the Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization that documents and interprets the history of country music. The Museum collects objects and archival materials that illustrate the evolving history and traditions of country music and provides diverse learning opportunities through educational programs, publications, and exhibitions.

First opened in 1967 on Nashville’s Music Row, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum launched its current downtown location in 2001. In 2014, the Museum unveiled a $100 million expansion that doubled its footprint. The Museum now encompasses 350,000 square feet of exhibition galleries, archival storage, retail stores, and event space. The Museum owns Hatch Show Print, a letterpress print shop opened in 1879, and it operates Historic RCA Studio B, where Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, and many others recorded. In addition, the Museum offers the Taylor Swift Education Center for students, teachers, and families, and dedicated performance spaces in the CMA Theater and Ford Theater, both of which regularly host nationally recognized live music and cultural events.

In 2024, the Museum was awarded the prestigious National Medal of Arts by President Joe Biden. The medal is the highest award given to artists and arts institutions by the United States government. The White House Citation, which accompanied the medal, recognized the Museum’s work, which “preserves history, honors giants of the genre, and inspires future generations to write their own songs about the American story.”

What We Offer for Full-Time Staff:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance Options
• Competitive Pay
• Paid Vacation and Sick Days
• Paid Holidays (13) and Floating Holidays (2)
• 401(K) with Up to 3% Employer Match
• Employee Assistance Program (Free Counseling and Legal Services)
• Eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness
• FREE 24/7 Downtown Parking and Transit Benefits
• Continuing Professional Offerings
• Complimentary Museum Admission (For Yourself, Family, and Friends)
• Reciprocal Partnerships with Local Venues (The Nashville Zoo, Dollywood Theme & Water Parks, National Museum of African American Music, tours at The Opry and The Ryman Auditorium, and more)
• Up to 25% Discount in Retail Stores and Onsite Restaurant Venues
• Opportunities to Attend Exhibit Openings, Concerts and Special Events
• Employee Engagement Activities and Opportunities
• FSA and Dependent Care Options
• Dog Friendly Work Environment
• Volunteering and Community Engagement Opportunities

Departmental Overview: The Education Department develops programs and resources that bring country music history, themes, and stories to life for diverse audiences. Serving more than 100,000 people annually through nearly 2,000 programs, the team engages students, families, general Museum guests, and lifelong learners through hands-on activities, performances, and other educational experiences. Composed of educators, artists, museum professionals, songwriters, and musicians, the department takes a collaborative approach to creating dynamic offerings that reflect the Museum’s mission and connect audiences with one of America’s most visited history museums.

As one of the Museum’s senior leaders, this position plays a prominent role in advancing institutional priorities, shaping public-facing educational initiatives, and representing the department to internal and external audiencesReporting to the EVP, External Affairs, the Senior Director of Education and Community Engagement is a dynamic leader, educator, communicator, and strategic thinker who oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of the organization’s educational offerings for school and teacher, youth and family, community, and volunteer and intern populations of various ages and abilities. Overseeing a staff of 15, with a total annual budget of $1.5 million, as well as the robust volunteer and intern program, the Senior Director of Education and Community Engagement will be a highly creative and service-focused individual with the proven ability to guide history, language arts, music, visual arts, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), and college and career readiness (CCR) instruction in traditional and nontraditional education environments. This position also oversees the Museum’s Taylor Swift Education Center, which includes multiple classroom and gallery spaces, as well as the award-winning Words & Music® program.

Specific Job Duties Include:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Serve as a senior leader representing the Education Department, contributing to institutional strategy, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Lead the Museum’s Education Council in coordination with the EVP, External Affairs, and oversee reporting for the Council, Board, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Establish multi-year vision, annual goals, priorities, operating plans, and measurable outcomes for the Education Department.
• Lead, inspire, and support a team of 15 by fostering a collaborative, welcoming culture; setting clear objectives; and encouraging high standards of performance.
• Oversee the design, development, delivery, and evaluation of educational programs that align with the Museum’s mission, reflect exhibition themes, incorporate instructional best practices, and engage diverse audiences across in-person and digital platforms.
• Collaborate with Museum Services to ensure accurate historic interpretation across Education Department projects.
• Partner with Development on grant opportunities and donor stewardship, and work with Marketing and Public Relations to promote programs and communicate impact.
• Manage the Education Department’s total annual budget of $1.5 million in partnership with direct reports and the Museum’s financial team, including operating, forecasting, and capital planning.
• Oversee hiring, training, onboarding, scheduling, and ongoing staff support for the Education Department.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

• At least ten years’ progressive leadership experience in a museum or similar education organization
• Master’s degree in education, museum studies, fine arts, music, or a related field.
• Proven experience setting vision, strategy, and implementation for museum education programs, including curriculum design, experiential learning, and current best practices such as 21st century learning and SEL competencies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, inspire, and coach teams; cultivate a welcoming and collaborative culture; and partner effectively with senior leaders to align goals and resources.
• Passion for and knowledge of country music and popular music, with the ability to conduct independent research related to the Museum’s collection and represent the Education Department as a senior leader and spokesperson.
• Experience building authentic community relationships and developing audience-centered programming for students, youth, families, volunteers, and interns from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office 365, including Word, Teams, Excel, Project, and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Service as a member of an executive team, reporting to the CEO.
• Experience presenting reports and leading meetings with members of a Board of Directors.
• Skill with Basecamp (project management software), CRMs, ticketing software, Canva (design), and accounting software.

Key Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities):

• Experience and passion for learning and development, with dedication to providing high-quality, engaging, and developmentally appropriate educational opportunities.
• Strong communication, public speaking, dialogue-based teaching, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage people with authenticity and enthusiasm.
• Excellent project planning, time-management, research, organizational, analytical, multitasking, and detail-oriented skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, exercising professional initiative, self-discipline, and sound judgment.
• Creative, curious, and goal-driven, with an interest in pop culture and a commitment to serving a mission-driven organization.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment, pivoting as needed while maintaining attention to strategic priorities.

Conditions of Employment:

• Onsite work at the Museum is required Monday through Friday.
• Occasional work on weekends and evenings is required in support of Museum programming and departmental leadership.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to independently travel to various community organizations and public locations throughout Middle Tennessee (within 50 miles of Nashville).

Notes to Applicant:

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is an equal opportunity employer. We respect the varied attributes, characteristics, and perspectives that make each person unique. The museum promotes an environment of respect, communication, and understanding, while actively providing opportunities for all employees of all backgrounds the skills, experience, and information necessary to succeed. The museum does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), national origin, political affiliation, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information or characteristics, age, membership in an employee organization, military or veteran status, or other non-merit factor. The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum does not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

We are a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer that welcomes all qualified candidates to apply for open positions. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for its staff and visitors. All offers of employment are subject to and contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and employment verification, including federally mandated E-Verify processes, as required for position.?

Due to the high volume of applications received for this position, hiring managers will only contact candidates they are interested in scheduling for an interview. Please refrain from calling to inquire about the status of your application.

Please upload a resume and cover letter when applying for the position.

Applications are only accepted online on our career page: https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/careers