| Location | Austin, TX |
Job Posting Title:
Associate Director for Exhibitions & Education, The Harry Ransom Center
Hiring Department:
Harry Ransom Center
Position Open To:
All Applicants
Weekly Scheduled Hours:
40
FLSA Status:
Exempt from FLSA
Earliest Start Date:
Nov 20, 2026
Position Duration:
Expected to Continue
Location:
UT MAIN CAMPUS
Job Details:
General Notes
About the Harry Ransom Center
The Ransom Center is an internationally renowned humanities research library and museum at The University of Texas at Austin. Its extensive collections provide unique insight into the creative process of writers and artists, deepening our understanding and appreciation of literature, photography, film, art, and the performing arts. Visitors engage with the Center's collections through research and study, exhibitions, publications, and a rich variety of program offerings including readings, talks, symposia, and film screenings.
The Ransom Center encourages discovery, inspires creativity, and advances understanding of the humanities for a broad audience through the preservation and sharing of its extraordinary collections.
Purpose
The Associate Director for Exhibitions & Education provides strategic leadership for the Ransom Center's exhibitions program and other educational activities. Reporting to the Director, this role oversees a portfolio of interpretive initiatives including exhibitions, public programs and symposia, classroom instruction, and fellowships.
Working closely with the Director, senior leadership team, and unit heads within the portfolio, the Associate Director for Exhibitions & Education translates institutional strategy into coordinated programs that deepen engagement, build partnerships across campus, and expand public understanding and appreciation of the Center's collections. This position plans, coordinates, and manages the Center's active schedule of public exhibitions and associated public programs. In coordination with the Head of Instruction & Archival Engagement and Library Services staff, it oversees a robust program of classroom instruction with rare and unique primary sources, and in coordination with the Head of Education & Public Programs, it ensures consistently engaging visitor experiences. The Associate Director for Exhibitions & Education collaborates with the Head of Fellowships & Scholarly Programs in the review, selection, and administration of the Center's fellowship program which serves approximately fifty fellows a year. The position works closely with exhibition curators, events staff, teaching faculty, speakers, and community partners to deliver consistently engaging experiences in the Center's exhibition galleries, theatre, classrooms, and online.
The Associate Director for Exhibitions & Education serves as a member of the Ransom Center's senior leadership team and participates in setting institution-wide priorities and strategic directions. The position manages the annual budget for the Exhibitions & Education Department and collaborates with development staff in securing exhibition sponsorships.
Responsibilities
Program Execution
Plan and manage the Center's rotating exhibitions (2 to 4 per year), and with the support of the Registrar, oversee a national and international program of collection loans to peer research libraries and museums.
In collaboration with the Director, the Head of Education & Public Programs, and Ransom Center leadership, develop an engaging series of readings, lectures, and other program offerings that amplify exhibition themes or engage public audiences with the Center's collections.
In collaboration with the Head of Education & Public Programs and Visitors Services team offer rich engagement opportunities for all ages of learners.
In collaboration with the Head of Instruction & Archival Engagement, provide rich instructional opportunities for the UT undergraduate and graduate student community.
In collaboration with the Head of Fellowships & Scholarly Programs, manage a campus-focused works-in-progress series, the Flair Symposium, and other occasional symposia.
In collaboration with the Membership Manager, coordinate around exhibition opening member events and scheduling of 6 - 8 membership events annually.
Supervise, support, and provide guidance to department program leaders in setting goals, managing projects, and navigating operational challenges.
Foster a collaborative culture within and across the Exhibitions & Education Department.
Work closely with curatorial, collections, conservation, Reading Room, and operations teams to support integrated approaches to access and engagement.
Partner with communications and development colleagues to promote programs, and support exhibition sponsorship and other fundraising opportunities.
Strategic Leadership for Exhibitions and Education
Provide vision and strategic direction for engagement initiatives that connect the institution's collections with public audiences, teaching faculty, fellows, and students.
Plan and maintain the Center's long-range exhibition plans (3 to 5 years ahead) and collaborate with, and provide guidance to, in-house and guest curators on exhibition development.
Ensure alignment of exhibitions and program offerings with the Center's mission, strategic directions, and priorities.
Monitor program outcomes and support data-informed improvements to engagement strategies.
Represent the Exhibitions and Education Department on the Center's senior leadership team and collaborate with leadership on institutional directions and priorities.
External Partnerships & Representation
Cultivate relationships with faculty, researchers, cultural institutions, and community partners.
Represent the institution in collaborations related to exhibitions, teaching initiatives, fellowships, or public programs.
Required Qualifications
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Preferred Qualifications
Salary Range
$110,000, non-negotiable
Working Conditions
Required Materials
Resume/CV
3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
Letter of interest
Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.
Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.
Employment Eligibility:
Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.
Retirement Plan Eligibility:
The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.
Background Checks:
A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
Pay Transparency:
The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.
Employment Eligibility Verification:
If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.
E-Verify:
The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university's company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:
Compliance:
Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.
The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.