Program Manager, Arts Research & Academic Engagement

The University of Notre Dame is more than a workplace! We are a vibrant, mission-driven community where every employee is valued and supported. Rooted in a tradition of excellence and inspired by our Catholic character, Notre Dame is committed to fostering an environment of care that nurtures the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. Here, you will find a deep sense of belonging, a culture that prioritizes well-being, and the opportunity to grow your career while being a force for good in the world. Whether contributing to world-class research, shaping the student experience, or supporting the University’s mission in other ways, you will be part of a dedicated team working to make a meaningful impact on campus and beyond. At Notre Dame, your work matters, and so do you!

The Arts Initiative, one of the key priorities of Notre Dame’s Strategic Framework, brings together the people and programs of the University’s extended arts community to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and define the arts as vital to campus and community life. By transcending conventional boundaries — between art forms and across disciplines — the initiative mobilizes the transformative power of the arts to advance knowledge, invigorate learning, and foster human solidarity.

Arts research and creative practice, student engagement, and high-impact public programming are at the heart of the initiative’s efforts to establish Notre Dame as a premier destination to study, practice, and experience the arts. By supporting and enhancing university and partner arts programming – from exhibitions to performances to symposia – the initiative sustains welcoming and intellectually rich environments for artistic collaboration and exchange both on and off-campus.

The Arts Initiative is actively building a collaborative and cross-functional team where each staff member mobilizes specialized expertise to lead projects but also works broadly with diverse academic departments, administrative units, and external collaborators. The Program Manager of Arts Research & Academic Engagement is a critical member of the initiative’s small, highly motivated team and will manage complex, cross-functional projects and programs across all three priority areas of the initiative: research and creative practice; student engagement; and community partnerships.

Reporting to the Managing Director, the Program Manager of Arts Research & Academic Engagement will bring specialized expertise in interdisciplinary arts research, teaching, and academic engagement, preferably with both faculty and students at the university level. This position will also play a pivotal role in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the Notre Dame Arts Biennial, a six-month collaborative festival grounded in the visual, performing, spatial, and literary arts. The inaugural biennial will run from January-June 2027.

This position is ideal for someone with an advanced degree in an arts discipline who is looking for opportunities to contribute to university and community-wide impact by applying expertise in arts research and practice to the administration of academic arts programming. The successful candidate will be prepared to navigate a startup environment within an established institution and will be motivated by ambitious endeavors that require both compassionate collaboration and energetic innovation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

Academic Arts Program Management 

• Facilitate the planning, implementation, and evaluation of concurrent undergraduate and graduate student engagement opportunities across the initiative’s priority areas. Key student programs include but are not limited to: Art Attack; visiting artist engagements; arts immersions; interdisciplinary arts courses; and the Notre Dame Arts Biennial.
• Facilitate the planning, implementation, and evaluation of concurrent arts research programs such as the Postdoctoral and Post-MFA Fellowship and faculty and graduate student granting programs.
• Collaborate with initiative staff to execute the lifecycle of internal and external communications necessary for successful recruitment, onboarding, implementation, and evaluation across programs.
• Manage select Notre Dame Arts Biennial partner projects and support faculty, staff, students, and external partners to contribute high-quality public arts programming to the festival. Serve as a main point of contact for colleagues interested in the biennial.
• Deliver operational excellence in the cross-functional area of finance as it relates to program implementation. Track and manage project budgets and ensure work stays within allocated financial limits. Prepare expense reports and process contracts, purchase orders, invoices, and other payments. Ensure accurate documentation and reconciliation of all financial records.
• Mentor student fellows and other students interested in arts research.
• Participate as an active member of the campus arts and academic ecosystems in order to help identify and lead collaborations that advance arts integration in the academic life of the university. Key campus partners include but are not limited to: College of Arts and Letters; College of Science; College of Engineering; DeBartolo Performing Arts Center; Raclin Murphy Museum of Art; School of Architecture; and interdisciplinary centers, institutes, and strategic initiatives.

Strategic Storytelling and Reporting 

• In collaboration with initiative directors and cross-functional partners, translate the initiative's research, education, and other academic engagement priorities into powerful visual and narrative experiences that resonate with diverse audiences. 
• Collaborate with storytelling colleagues across campus to strategically communicate about the arts and cultivate new and sustained audience engagement.
• In collaboration with initiative directors, cultivate and maintain relationships with Notre Dame Research, the Office of the Provost, the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru), and other national and global arts research networks to deepen the initiative’s visibility and impact within the context of the university’s research and teaching missions.
• Assist with drafting narratives, preparing budget documents, and creating other materials required to pursue individual and institutional support for the initiative’s work.
• Support data collection processes and help to track, measure, and report on the initiative’s impact.

Cross-Functional Leadership and Administrative Support 

• Actively align project goals and mediate competing priorities while building systems that support partnerships across and beyond campus.
• Serve as an administrative point of contact between the initiative and its campus constituents.
• Positively influence a culture of collaboration by modeling cross-functional leadership, building and sharing best practices through participation in peer networks across the university, and supporting other project-based work, as needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree (4 years), preferably in an arts, humanities, or other related discipline
• A deep commitment to the mission of both the Arts Initiative and the University
• A desire to support the flourishing of South Bend and the region through the arts
• At least 3 years of professional experience in cross-functional project and program management, preferably in either an arts administrative role or within higher education
• Exceptional project and relationship management skills with the ability to juggle competing priorities and meet deadlines while maintaining accuracy, consistency, and collaboration
• Strong written and oral communication skills across a range of platforms and for diverse audiences
• Self-directed, team player with the ability to take initiative and work autonomously as part of a small team while effectively navigating a large university environment
• Comfortable navigating the ambiguity that comes with a startup project and a willingness to take on additional responsibilities as the initiative expands
• Ability to handle sensitive or confidential information with discretion
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite and Google Workspace
• Ability to learn Notre Dame’s software systems, policies, and procedures (GLez, BuyND, etc.), as well as Asana, an online project management system
• Willingness to work occasional nights and weekends based on event and production schedules

Preferred Qualifications:

• An advanced degree in an arts, humanities, or other related discipline
• Research and/or teaching experience in higher education
• Experience managing projects in a festival or multi-site setting
• Previous professional experience with event planning as well as public relations, marketing, and/or other relevant communications experience
• Experience evaluating and reporting on programmatic impact 

Deadline to Apply: Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled.

Required Documents: Resume & Cover Letter for full consideration.

Hiring Pay Range: $55,000-65,000, commensurate with experience.

Please note: Thiis is a limited-term position through June 30, 2029, with the possibility of extension.

The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in employment. Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and complies with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). We strongly encourage applications from candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity.