About the Museum

We Love Picture Book Art!

At a time when the world can feel divided and uncertain, picture book art offers us a reminder of what truly matters: the values of peace, love, and our shared humanity. Art—particularly picture book art—has a pivotal role in shaping young minds and fostering a world of hope.

Cofounded by Eric and Barbara Carle in 2002 to celebrate the art of the picture book, we collect, preserve, and exhibit original picture book art and encourage guests of all ages to appreciate and foster the love of picture book art.

Situated on 7.5 acres in Amherst, Massachusetts, The Carle houses a rich and deep collection of art, and illuminates its collection through exhibitions, education, programming, and art making—making it a critical resource for picture book artists and authors, and art-loving communities locally, nationally, and abroad. Since opening its doors more than 21 years ago, The Carle has welcomed more than one million visitors—plus more than four million additional museumgoers who have enjoyed its touring exhibitions around the world. (Read our Annual Reports to learn more)

How you will contribute

As the Director of Education, you will be an entrepreneurial, dynamic, visionary, and strategic leader. You are an experienced and creative leader with a passion for art education and picture books. You have a proven track record of innovation and successful collaboration/partnerships developing interpretive experiences for a diverse range of audiences. You are attentive to, and derive satisfaction in leading, supervising, motivating, and coaching a talented team of educators. You will oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of all educational initiatives, including K-12 school programs, teacher professional development, scholarly programs, public programming, digital learning, and community outreach.

As a member of the Education team, reporting to the Executive Director, you will be responsible for advancing The Carle’s mission of elevating picture book art through innovative and engaging educational programming that deepens understanding of picture books and picture book art, fosters intercultural dialogue, and supports lifelong learning for diverse audiences. You will also serve on The Carle’s senior leadership team where you will play a role in institutional decision-making, policy, budget, and strategy.

Specifically, you will

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Develop and implement a cohesive, multi-audience education strategy aligned with the Museum’s mission, exhibitions, and long-term goals.
• Serve as an institutional thought partner on interpretive approaches and audience engagement.

Program Development & Oversight

• Lead the creation and delivery of educational content and experiences, both onsite (in galleries and in the art studio) and online, for K-12 students, educators, families, adult learners, and community groups.
• Oversee the development of teacher resources and curricula.
• Lead the creation of programming, fellowships, artist residencies, and symposia for scholars in line with The Carle’s 2025-30 strategic plan.
• Lead the creation of a gallery tour program.
• Supervise the Education team, interns, and volunteers, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability.

Partnerships & Outreach

• Cultivate and sustain partnerships with schools, colleges, art schools, cultural organizations, and community groups.
• Represent the Museum in local, national, and international education networks.

Evaluation & Impact

• Establish metrics and evaluation tools to assess program effectiveness and inform continuous improvement.
• Prepare reports, proposals, and presentations for stakeholders, including funders, trustees, and partners.

Resource Development

• Collaborate with the Development team to secure funding through grants, sponsorships, and donor engagement.
• Oversee the production of high-quality educational materials, curricula, website content and digital resources.
• Foster strong relationships with the local children’s literature and picture book art community, as well as with publishers.

Additional Responsibilities

• Manage department budget.
• Teach field trip groups and professional development workshops as needed.
• Advise on family labels and interactive elements of exhibitions.

Your background and experience include

The Carle acknowledges that competitive candidates may not meet all the experience requirements 100%. We encourage you to apply if many of these job requirements describe you. The position does not require a background in children’s literature.

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Art History, or a related field required, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Master’s Degree a plus.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in museum or cultural education, including at least 3 years in a leadership role. Experience in a nonprofit or arts environment is preferred.
• Deep knowledge of picture books and art.
• Proven experience designing and evaluating education programs for diverse age groups and learning needs.
• Strong communication and public speaking skills; ability to inspire and engage audiences.
• Familiarity with digital learning tools, inclusive pedagogies, and current trends in museum education.
• Proven track record of obtaining funding for educational projects.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize projects.
• Cultural competency to collaborate and coordinate with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Successful candidate will be expected to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of The Carle to foster meaningful connections with the local community, including regional artists, authors, educators, and partner organizations.
• Advanced MS Office skills. Experience with webinar platforms.
• Ability to lift up to 10 pounds, see the normal range of color vision, and/or stand, and/or walk extended periods of time.

Position and compensation details

• This position is full-time, exempt with benefits.
• The yearly salary range for this position is $100k-$115k, based on experience.
• Benefits include: accrued paid time off (sick, vacation, personal and holiday pay), medical and dental insurance, long term disability, flexible spending account, contributions to a retirement account after two years of employment, discount to Museum shop and programs, plus free admission to many cultural institutions throughout New England.
• This position may qualify for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the Museum for up to one day a week.

Application timeline and process

Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. To apply, complete our Employment Application. If you need an access accommodation, have a question regarding available accommodations, or if you need this application in an alternative format to successfully submit your candidacy, please contact hr@carlemuseum.org.

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.