Director of Events and Dining

At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we actively seek to employ a diverse group of people who embody our organizational values. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, especially those from marginalized and underrepresented groups in the museum field, who are inspired by our shared purpose and enjoy working collaboratively with others.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status.

The Director of Events and Dining serves as a strategic leader overseeing the museum’s revenue-generating dining services, facility rentals, and hospitality experiences. This senior-level role is responsible for ensuring exceptional quality, operational excellence, and alignment with the museum’s mission. As the principal liaison with the museum’s third-party food and beverage provider, the Director ensures delivery of a best-in-class experience for museum visitors, clients, and event guests. The Director is expected to exercise sound judgment, lead with professionalism, and operate independently under the leadership of the CFO and Head of Operations

Specifically, you will:

• Lead the strategic vision, planning, and execution of all events and dining programs, with accountability for performance, revenue generation, and brand alignment.
• Serve as the museum’s senior authority on event management and hospitality, setting high standards for event service, operational execution, and financial stewardship.
• Act as the senior relationship manager with the museum’s food and beverage partner, driving collaboration, performance monitoring, and strategic alignment.
• Represent Events and Dining leadership on cross-functional strategic committees and senior planning initiatives.

• Direct the lifecycle of all private and internal events, from inquiry to execution, ensuring seamless coordination across museum departments.
• Oversee and enforce space utilization priorities in alignment with institutional programming and mission-driven activities.
• Define and enforce standard operating procedures and decision-making frameworks related to event bookings, exceptions, and internal service levels.
• Ensure robust risk mitigation, safety compliance, and preservation of museum assets in all event and hospitality operations.

• Develop and manage the annual operating budget and marketing plan in coordination with Finance and external partners.
• Monitor revenue performance, expense controls, and profitability of all events and dining programs; lead regular financial reviews with CFO and Head of Operations.
• Collaborate with Finance to assess vendor reporting, ensuring accuracy and transparency in commissions, guarantees, and shared earnings.
• Deliver monthly executive reporting packages, including analysis, corrective actions, and forecasts.

• Lead and mentor cross-departmental project teams; establish clear performance standards and accountability systems for internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Champion a culture of excellence, inclusiveness, and proactive communication among operational teams supporting visitor-facing services.
• Serve as an institutional ambassador to external clients, donors, and dignitaries during high-profile museum events.

• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, permitting, and food safety standards.
• Maintain clear and consistent documentation for contracts, agreements, and approvals related to events and dining operations.

Your background and experience include:

• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree in Business, Hospitality Management, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in hospitality, event management, or facility operations, preferably in a cultural or nonprofit setting.
• Demonstrated success in revenue generation, vendor management, and high-profile client engagement.
• Strong financial acumen, including budget development, contract negotiation, and performance analysis.
• Excellent judgment, professionalism, and ability to work across all levels of an organization.

Position and Compensation Details

• The salary for this position is $125,000.
• This position is Full-Time, Exempt, and 35 hours per week.
• This position reports to the Chief Financial Officer
• This position is required to be performed fully onsite at Philadelphia Museum of Art locations.
• Physical requirements:
  • Able to remain stationary for extended periods of time, to utilize computers and other office equipment required of this job, to perform physically administrative duties in a typical interior office environment, gallery, or exhibit space, and to access most public and staff areas of the museum campus
• Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

Institutional Requirements

• Upholds the professional standards of the field, always acts in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of the museum and protects and enhances its reputation and standing within the community of museums.
• Adheres to the museum’s code of ethics and Employee Handbook and avoids any real or perceived conflicts of interest.
• Shows respect for co-workers and visitors and an understanding of and appreciation for the diversity of the museum’s staff, volunteers, and audiences.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Adheres to all museum protocols, procedures, rules, and policies.

Application Timeline

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage candidates to apply early as the position will close once we have a robust applicant pool or a candidate has been selected.

What We Offer

Our employees are at the center of the museum. As an employee, you will have access to numerous museum perks including, but not limited to:

• Discounted guest tickets for admission
• Discounts on gift memberships
• Special staff tours and presentations from our curatorial and conservation teams
• Discounts at the museum restaurant, museum cafés, and museum retail and online stores

We offer a comprehensive benefits package for employees including:

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Fully paid short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, and life insurance
• Health savings or flexible spending account program
• Retirement savings program with museum match
• Paid vacation, personal days, sick days, and holidays

*Eligibility for certain benefits is based on a variety of factors including the employee’s regular schedule and tenure.