Institute for Contemporary Art Head of University and Community Partnerships

Advertising Summary: Working closely with curatorial leadership, the Head of University and Community Partnerships ensures that partnerships align with the ICA’s mission, artistic vision, and public engagement goals. The role supports the integration of artists and exhibitions into university and community life while overseeing the execution and implementation of partnership-based programs and initiatives from ideation through completion.

Unit: Institute for Contemporary Art MBU

Department: Institute for Contemporary Art

Department Summary: Designed by Steven Holl Architects and located at the corner of Broad and Belvidere, the Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) at VCU presents the art of our time and provides an open forum for dialogue and collaboration across the region and throughout the world. With free admission, the ICA is a major resource for VCU, Richmond, and beyond.

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Head University and Community Partnerships leads the development, coordination, implementation, and stewardship of the Institute for Contemporary Art’s (ICA) university-facing initiatives and community partnerships. Serving as the primary liaison between the ICA, academic departments, faculty, students, community organizations, and civic collaborators, this position oversees all partnership activity connected to exhibitions, programs, events, academic programs, including classes, and institutional space use. 

Working closely with curatorial leadership, the Head of University and Community Partnerships ensures that partnerships align with the ICA’s mission, artistic vision, and public engagement goals. The role supports the integration of artists and exhibitions into university and community life while overseeing the execution and implementation of partnership-based programs and initiatives from ideation through completion. 

As the primary liaison between the ICA and the university and the broader community for all engagement activities, this position will streamline collaboration requests, coordinate institutional relationships, and ensure successful implementation of mission-aligned public programs and partnerships across departments. 

Key Responsibilities 

Management of Community Relationships and Program Implementation 

• In concert with ICA leadership, cultivate and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with community organizations, local leaders, and other key stakeholders.
• Oversee all partnership-based initiatives and ensure alignment with the ICA’s mission, artistic vision, and public engagement goals.
• Manage program implementation through post-event follow-up, documentation, reporting, and relationship stewardship. 

University Relations and Academic Engagement 

• Serve as ICA liaison for faculty, academic departments, and university partners.
• Lead the planning, coordination, implementation, and follow-through of university-facing programs and initiatives from initial inquiry through final execution and assessment.
• Coordinate and execute university and community partner engagements, screenings, lectures, workshops, performances, symposia, classes, and curricular collaborations.
• Partner with appropriate colleagues and leaders in VCUarts administrative offices and academic units to ensure successful partnership development and collaborative management of engagement events, activities, and programs.
• Develop event plans and cross-departmental communication strategies to ensure successful implementation of academic and community initiatives.
• Oversee requests related to institutional space use connected to mission-aligned initiatives and ensure a collaborative review of requests is conducted with all appropriate parties.
• Collaborate with curatorial staff to facilitate artist engagement with students, faculty, and university partners.
• Oversee program implementation through post-event follow-up, documentation, reporting, and relationship stewardship. 

Manage Operations of Engagement Projects 

• In concert with the Curatorial Assistant, manage calendars, timelines, communications, and documentation related to ICA partnership activity and public programs.
• In concert with the Curatorial Assistant, coordinate travel, hospitality, itineraries, and logistics for visiting collaborators and community participants.
• Track partnership deliverables, agreements, and institutional records.
• Support institutional planning related to engagement initiatives, public programs, and collaborative projects.
• Ensure clear communication and workflow coordination across departments and external stakeholders. 

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

● Bachelor’s degree in Arts Administration, Museum Studies, Education, Public Humanities, Communications, or related field required or the equivalent combination of professional experience, education, and training. 

● Minimum 3–5 years of experience in partnership management, museum engagement, public programming, higher education, or community-based cultural work. 

● Strong capacity for relationship building and networking. 

● Strong organizational skills, project management abilities, and high attention to detail. 

● Exceptional interpersonal, public speaking, and communication skills. 

● Demonstrated experience managing collaborative initiatives and public-facing programs from planning through implementation. 

● Ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously. 

● Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU. 

Preferred Qualifications

● Knowledge of contemporary art and cultural institutions strongly preferred.

Salary Range: $70,000 - $82,000

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid

University Job Title: 1424B - Program Manager CE Base

Application Deadline: Monday, August 17, 2026

Contact Information:
Contact Name: VCUarts HR
Contact Email: artshr@vcu.edu