ABOUT THE LUCAS MUSEUM OF NARRATIVE ART

Opening in September 2026, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is dedicated to illustrated storytelling. Founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, the museum’s collection features works by artists including Norman Rockwell, Kadir Nelson, Jessie Willcox Smith, N. C. Wyeth, Beatrix Potter, Judith F. Baca, Frida Kahlo, and Maxfield Parrish; as well as comic art legends such as Winsor McCay, Jack Kirby, Frank Frazetta, Alison Bechdel, Chris Ware, and R. Crumb; and photographers Gordon Parks, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Dorothea Lange. The Museum also houses the Lucas Archives, containing models, props, concept art, and costumes from Lucas’s filmmaking career.

Designed by Ma Yansong of MAD with a landscape by Mia Lehrer of Studio-MLA, the Museum is in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, on an 11-acre campus that includes new green space and a 300,000-square-foot building with galleries, two theaters, a library, restaurant, café, retail store, and community spaces.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Manager of Volunteer Programs is a thoughtful and impactful leader who will oversee all aspects of the development and implementation of the Lucas Museums inaugural volunteer program. This position requires a creative, resourceful and critical thinker with strong organizational and communication skills who can develop, manage and elevate all aspects of a dynamic volunteer program with DEIAB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging) at its core. The successful candidate will build, cultivate, and maintain a large (200+) core of Lucas Museum volunteers capable of supporting nearly all aspects of museum operations and engagement both inside and outside the museum, in compliance with regulations. They will also have demonstrated experience developing volunteer management systems and working in start-up work environments.

Reporting to the Director of Human Resources, the Manager will partner closely with the Director and the People and Culture team while collaborating with departments across the museum to develop volunteer roles, implement program initiatives, and ensure a cohesive and impactful volunteer program. This highly collaborative position works with museum colleagues to design meaningful volunteer assignments that enhance the visitor experience, support staff, and strengthen community partnerships.

The Manager of Volunteer Programs will lead all aspects of recruitment, training, scheduling, and systems development, and will create social, developmental, and recognition opportunities that enrich the volunteer experience.

Additionally, this role is responsible for regularly assessing program effectiveness and advancing excellence in volunteer engagement and retention.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Partner with colleagues and volunteer team to develop optimal roles for volunteers, achieve effective training, scheduling, communication, and oversight across all assignments, ensuring desired outcomes for both the museum and our guests
Develop and implement recruiting strategies to significantly build and maintain a large (500+) core of diverse volunteers
Supervise the Volunteer Coordinator and other staff or intern roles, providing direction, guidance and development
Build process to assess and place volunteers in alignment with their skills and interest and with the museums mission
Create, develop and manage a volunteer database system to readily identify volunteer skills, hours, recognition, and other information needed to effectively partner with each department
Develop and implement a plan and foster a culture within the volunteer program that recognizes and values the volunteers and helps them feel connected to the museum and its mission, creating a high-level of satisfaction with their role
Develop and lead a plan for ongoing communication between museum departments regarding the activities of the volunteer program to ensure collaboration and alignment
Design, conduct and interpret ongoing volunteer assessment and evaluation plans, noting trends and actionable steps for improvement; identify other opportunities for feedback and idea sharing, as appropriate
Present ideas for continuous improvement and lead implementation team as needed
Develop regular volunteer communications that keep volunteers informed of museum business enabling positive guest and volunteer experience
Cultivate and maintain key relationships with community partners and peers
Oversee development and management of departmental budget in partnership with leadership.
Attend trainings, workshops, etc., as appropriate, to maintain current knowledge base related to volunteer management, best practices, and trends
Represent the museum effectively to outside constituents when required
Listen for and proactively resolve problems, concerns or conflicts within the team

CORE COMPETENCIES

Analytical Rigor: Simplifies complex problems by using critical thinking to evaluate problems, gathering information, incorporating multiple perspectives, understanding causes, and identifying best-possible solutions. Invests time in planning, discovery, and reflection to drive better decisions and more efficient implementations. Adopts an audience-centric approach, understanding the needs of the audience and incorporating them, as appropriate, into the decision.
Courageous Communication: Intentionally works well with others both on the team and cross-functionally to achieve individual, team, department, or organizational goals. Values diverse input and working with others as a way to achieve the best output possible.
Collaborative Excellence: Displays courage when handling difficult conversations and genuinely and intentionally communicates. Relays key messages effectively, targeted to specific audiences. Identifies others' communication styles and perspectives, adjusting language and approach accordingly. Employs active listening to understand, rather than reply. Asks for, integrates, and values feedback from team, peers, and leaders.
Adaptive Resilience: Thrives and grows in a rapidly changing and complex environment. Displays flexibility, activates networks, and adopts a continuous growth mindset to learn from mistakes and bounce back from adversity.
Inclusive Interaction: Actively contributes to an environment in which all employees feel a sense of belonging, valued for their differences and empowered to participate and contribute freely.
Building Trust & Relationship Management
Accountable Ownership and clearly shares information and the "why" behind decisions.
Asks for and values the opinions of others. Displays empathy when listening.
Acknowledges when trust has been broken and focuses on rebuilding.
Relates comfortably with people across levels, functions, cultures, and geographies. Identifies interpersonal and group dynamics and reacts effectively.
Accountable Ownership
Takes ownership of outcomes, positive or negative, without blaming others within the team or cross-functionally.
Recognizes when they are not approaching a situation with accountability but instead with a blame mindset.
Takes accountability for assigned tasks and executes on deliverables in a timely manner.
Strategic Alignment & Execution
Contributes to the organization by understanding and aligning actions with the organization's goals, core functions, needs, and values.
Seeks out and incorporates multiple perspectives, experiences, and industry trends to develop a holistic perspective. Operationalizes ideas within the business model.
Displays critical thinking when faced with a challenge by asking probing questions and looking for connections.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience
Advanced degree or extensive equivalent experience in museum studies, nonprofit leadership, social work, or related fields
Experience working for an art or non-profit organization is preferred
At least four (4) years of prior experience working with and coordinating volunteers is required
Extensive experience in project management and program development
Previous experience working in partnership with HR on volunteer deployment practices adhering to all state and federal regulations
Skills
Deeply motivated, enthusiastic, eager to take initiative and able to think critically
Experienced working in a fast-paced environment with the ability to quickly assess and respond to change
Highly organized with solid strategic planning skills
A collaborative team player with highly developed interpersonal skills, who can relate to diverse internal and external audiences
Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills, including negotiation and conflict resolution
Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills
Advanced computers skills, particularly with Microsoft Office
Knowledge
Thorough knowledge of volunteer deployment practices working in conjunction with HR
Expertise in developing, implementing, managing, and reporting from volunteer management database systems
Demonstrated commitment to DEIAB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging) in application to program development and participant engagement
Abilities
Ability to offer constructive feedback, discuss sensitive topics, and maintain privacy of individual volunteers
Multi-lingual fluency not required but highly preferred
Ability to work a schedule that regularly includes evenings and weekends
A positive attitude that promotes teamwork and drives results
Ability to collaborate with other teams, staff and volunteers in a professional manner in a variety of tasks
Ability to work under high-stress conditions and work effectively with competing priorities and tight deadlines
Ability to work independently as well as part of a team

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND OUR COMMITMENT TO DEAIB

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents and supports a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. The Lucas Museum fosters a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment, whether based on race, national origin, gender, gender expression, religion, ethnic background, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other criterion prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diversity and inclusion among our team is critical to our success, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the best qualified people from a diverse candidate pool. Applications from traditionally underrepresented communities are encouraged.

The statements in this description represent typical elements, criteria, and general work performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the job.

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The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is dedicated to the art of illustrated stories. Our mission is to inspire and connect people through the exploration of visual stories and their influences in society.

VALUES

Our internal and external practices are shaped by the following beliefs and behaviors.

People First: We meet people wherever they are (physically, intellectually, emotionally). Our inclusive practice connects who people are and what they find emotional in works of art.

Inspired: We believe that art can move you to feel, think, reflect, and act.

Collaborative: We believe that nimble thinking and working together yield exponential results.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

Narrative Art:

Amplify the social impact of storytelling and illustration.

Community:

Connect to a broad and diverse public.

Operational Excellence:

Create a healthy and durable institution.

All staff at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art lead through a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, both within the Museum and with the communities that we serve.

Salary and titles will be assigned commensurate to the successful candidates’ education and experience. An attractive compensation package will be offered to the successful candidate(s).

Pursuant to the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art’s COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy, the museum requires all new hires to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment absent an approved medical and/or religious exemption. Upon hire, all new hires will receive detailed instructions on complying with this policy. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Manager, Volunteer Programs

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