Program Officer

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Job Summary

The Getty Foundation seeks an experienced arts professional to serve as the full-time Program Officer leading grantmaking for PST ART, the signature Southern California-wide celebration of visual art that has become the largest art event in the United States.

The Foundation and PST ART

The Foundation fulfills Getty’s philanthropic mission by supporting individuals and institutions committed to advancing the greater understanding and preservation of the visual arts in Los Angeles and throughout the world. Through strategic grant initiatives, the Foundation strengthens art history as a global discipline, promotes the interdisciplinary practice of conservation, increases access to museum and archival collections, and develops the next generation of arts professionals.

Getty Foundation grants are a key component of Getty’s PST ART, empowering the region’s nonprofit arts organizations to research, design, and implement groundbreaking exhibitions and programming under a unifying theme. In 2011, the first edition of PST ART, Pacific Standard Time : Art in LA 1945–1980, rewrote the history of modern art from the perspective of the region. In 2017, the second edition, PST : LA / LA, put Latin American and Latinx art in dialogue with Los Angeles. The third, recently completed edition, PST ART : Art & Science Collide, explored the intersections of art and science—past, present, and in the imaginable future. This landmark regional series will now occur every five years beginning in 2030.

The Position

Working closely with the Creative Director of PST ART and the Foundation Associate Director, the Program Officer will be responsible for PST ART grantmaking across the five-year cycle, including funding rounds for exhibition research and implementation, and for programming. The Program Officer will help develop grantmaking strategies; design, implement, and promote calls for proposals; work closely with grantee organizations to offer support and ensure success over the life of the grant; and regularly evaluate and enhance the grantmaking approach over time. The Program Officer may also support other grantmaking activities to be determined based on their skills and experience and on the evolving needs of the Foundation’s grantmaking.

Getty offers paid vacation, every other Friday off, excellent benefits, and a commitment to balancing work and personal life. We work onsite, and the expectation is that the Program Officer will reside within a commutable distance of the Getty Center. However, Getty offers a partial telework policy, for which this position is eligible, based on satisfactory job performance.

Major Job Responsibilities

Develop, implement, manage, and evaluate grantmaking for PST ART

Act as a key contributor to the development of PST ART policies, long-range planning, and strategic direction

Work with potential grantees to prepare proposals, manage review and award processes, and monitor the progress and impact of awarded grants

Manage relationships with current and potential grantee organizations through site visits, written and oral communication, and problem-solving

Participate in developing PST ART-related convenings

Represent Getty, the Foundation, and PST ART at professional convenings, conferences, and presentations to a range of audiences

Manage relationships across departments and programs of Getty

Maintain and expand a professional network among local arts organizations and experts as well as relevant national and international connections

Continually build knowledge of scholarship and activities in the visual arts in Los Angeles and around the world to inform the work of PST ART

May supervise support staff, including monitoring work assignments, coaching, and evaluating staff performance

Qualifications

A graduate degree in art history, museum studies, or a related field; equivalent combination of education and professional experience will also be considered

Minimum 7-10 years’ work experience in the visual arts and / or philanthropy, with museum experience preferred

Strong knowledge of and passion for the visual arts, including deep understanding of what makes exhibitions and arts programming successful; familiarity with arts institutions throughout Southern California a plus

Grantmaking experience and / or knowledge of the philanthropic sector a plus

• Please note : a cover letter is required to be considered for this role - either with your resume as a PDF or as a text entry.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Broad expertise in the traditions and trends of the visual arts

Strong strategic thinker able to translate understanding of organizations and their needs into effective grant programs

Meaningful exposure to grantmaking as a recipient or, ideally, funder

Superior listening and observation skills and high-level capacity to distill complex information and ideas into succinct summaries

Proven ability to prioritize and meet deadlines, balancing big-picture thinking with detail-oriented execution effectively

Excellent interpersonal skills to communicate and work effectively with a wide range of applicants, grantees, outside advisors, and other experts

Comfort with and ability to navigate through ambiguity and disagreement while balancing the perspectives of multiple stakeholders

Flexibility, integrity, tact, and intellectual curiosity

Benefits and Perks

Here are just some examples that Getty offers / provides for full-time employees :

To learn more about our comprehensive benefits and long list of perks, go to Getty HR .