Public Programs Manager, Film Programming and Budget Management

About the role

The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world’s preeminent scientific and cultural institutions, and has as its mission to discover, interpret, and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education, and exhibition. The Public Programs department is seeking a full-time Public Programs Manager, Film Programming and Budget Management to serve as a senior producer and operational leader. Reporting to the Director of Public Programs, this role carries lead producer responsibility for a portfolio of public-facing programs spanning science, culture, conversation, and community, while also serving as the department’s operational anchor for event systems and cross-program logistics.

Responsibilities

• Serve as lead producer for an assigned portfolio of public programs, managing all aspects of programming from concept to execution. This Manager’s portfolio will include the Margaret Mead Film Festival.
• Organize film submissions, programmer coordination and support personnel and guest logistics in collaboration with the festival team and other relevant Museum departments for the Margaret Mead Film Festival, including festival-specific agreements, vendor contracts, and reporting.
• Work with Finance to support the department’s creation and maintenance of the Festival budget.
• Source, cultivate, and book scientists, artists, scholars, and thought leaders in alignment with Museum priorities and audience interests.
• Manage event logistics, production timelines, vendor relationships, and day-of execution across the full assigned slate.
• Handle all agreements, internal meeting coordination, and partner communications for assigned programs.
• Track attendance, collect feedback, and prepare program reports.
• Create and manage program budgets, creatively maximizing impact while ensuring accurate accounting.
• Contribute as a collaborative and onsite support across the broader Public Programs slate. Support colleagues on large-scale or high-complexity events as needed.
• Manage strategy, planning, and impact meetings across the Museum.
• Own and manage team meetings, including organizing agendas and leading scheduling and next steps.
• Manage departmental needs including departmental orders and software license management. Ensure administrative workflows are efficient, documented, and consistently followed.
• Help manage and maintain project management tools.
• Support the department in creating and maintaining the annual budget, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timely submission across all program areas.
• Manage interns, fellows, and other departmental staff from hiring, scheduling, and portfolio to post-program support.
• Actively scout local and national organizations, artists, scientists, and cultural figures to build a robust pipeline of potential collaborators and program ideas.
• Cultivate and maintain ongoing relationships with external partners, community organizations, and industry peers. Stay current with trends in public programming, museum practice, and relevant fields through performances, conversations, screenings, convenings, and professional networks.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Two years experience in public programming, live event production, or cultural institution management.
• Experience in the film industry and/or cultural programming.
• Demonstrated ability to lead high-volume programs across multiple concurrent projects and varied program types.
• Strong organizational and proactive problem-solving skills, with experience owning event logistics systems and administrative processes.
• Experience with event management and/or project management tools.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or associate degree in a relevant field.
• Demonstrated interest in all aspects of public programming (e.g., adult lectures, family workshops, festivals, cultural events).
• Familiarity with ticketing systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, online video platforms (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) and databases.