Public Art Specialist

Make a positive impact on the community by joining the Johnson County Park and Recreation District team and help us enhance the lives of thousands through excellence in parks, recreation, culture, education, and public service. As a JCPRD employee, you'll be part of a locally, regionally, and nationally acclaimed organization that annually hosts nearly 7 million park visitors and engages nearly 3 million participants in 4,000+ programs. With excellent benefits, retirement plans, employee incentives, and a great organizational culture, JCPRD is building a thriving park and recreation system that inspires play, culture, and education, supporting healthy and fulfilling lives for all. Come work where you play!

• Manages processes for design, fabrication and installation of public art projects including, but not limited to, defining project needs; community input; artist selection; contracting; design approvals; design/materials review; and artist fabrication and installation of the artwork, and artist communication; all in accordance with program ordinance and guidelines.
• Assists with program implementation, project management, and public outreach; acts as liaison between artists, planning staff, parks staff, and community groups, to select and commission artists and execute public art projects.
• Manages the selection process for artists and artwork by recruiting qualified art selection committee members, providing orientation to new participants, scheduling meetings, preparing materials for review, presenting and/or facilitating meeting content, and facilitating successful selection.
• Manages and monitors the successful execution of contract and agreement documentation to ensure compliance with contractual obligations.
• Manage payment schedule for each project including finance processing of invoices and payments.
• Oversee the utilization of the program budget; guarantees the proper allocation of budgetary resources.
• Manage surveys and feedback for the public art program including participating artists, art selection committee members, and park patrons experiencing the art.
• Assist with fundraising activities including relationship building, report preparation, and research for efforts including sponsorships, grant, and donors, working in collaboration with JCPRD Foundation staff.
• Actively monitor and research public art trends, best practices, and seek continuous learning opportunities in the field of public art to ensure JCPRD is operating to the best standards.
• Provide staff support to the Public Art Committee, working with the Superintendent of Culture and Senior Administrative Assistant to manage the work, communication and engagement of this committee.
• Manage the collection maintenance plan associated with art that is part of JCPRD's collection, developing a review schedule, identifying maintenance or repair issues, cost estimates, and solutions.
• Develop new public art programming opportunities and other enterprise opportunities to engage the community with the JCPRD public art collection, their relationship to parks, trails, and facilities, and notable public art spaces across Johnson County.
• Explore new ways to expand enterprise fund opportunities as it relates to the JCPRD Poster Project.
• Develop a strategic promotions and marketing plan in cooperation with JCPRD's Marketing & Communications team to promote public art projects, programs, exhibitions, and overall storytelling to engage the community. Manage promotional strategies which may include social media, e-newsletters, blog posts, website page management content creation, and press releases.  
• Support the Culture Division and JCPRD overall as it relates to larger events and initiatives.
• This position will end on Monday, June 16th, 2025.
• A cover letter and professional references are required when you apply.

Duties and responsibilities, as required by business necessity may be added, deleted or changed at any time at the discretion of management, formally or informally, either verbally or in writing.  Scheduling and shift assignments and work location may be changed at any time, as required by business necessity.

Minimum Job Requirements:

• High School (or equivalent) diploma,
• 3 years’ experience in Public Art administration, art administration, or project management that included art installation.
• Computer skills including understanding of Microsoft word suite.
• Intermediate budget experience. Budget related skills and basic accounting.
• Ability to work well in group creative problem-solving situations. 
• Ability to work under pressure on multiple projects and work with people of varying experience levels and a wide range of disciplines.  

Preferred Job Requirements:

• Group facilitation skills, fundraising experience, customer service, and marketing skills 
• Undergraduate degree in business, park and recreation, art administration or similar field.

Education/Experience Substitutions:

  Yes           Experience may be substituted for degree.

  No           Education may be substituted for experience.

Physical, Environmental, and Special Working Conditions:

Excessive standing, and walking (seasonally), evening and late night work, exposure to extreme temperatures, exposure to fumes and chemicals, exposure to heights, exposure to loud noises, lifting up to 25 lbs., on call/stand-by work, must be available 24/7 for communications and site work, safety-sensitive job, assist other departments in a declared emergency situation, travel (local) required – nationally on occasion. 

JCPRD requires reference/background screening for all positions.  Specified criteria may vary by Department.