Senior Manager (Public Programmes)

Role Overview

The Senior Manager (Public Programmes) leads SAM's public programmes as a key platform for widening access to contemporary art practice. The role develops accessible, engaging and critically grounded programmes for broad publics, with a particular focus on youth, families and community groups. These programmes should connect audiences meaningfully to SAM's exhibitions, collections, commissions and institutional priorities, while expanding how contemporary art can be experienced, discussed and participated in.

Working closely with the wider institution, the role is responsible for advancing public access to contemporary art practice at SAM, with a particular focus on youth, families and first-time museum publics. This means developing programmes that create meaningful entry points into complex artistic ideas without simplifying them, and that position SAM as a museum where contemporary art can be encountered through curiosity, participation, dialogue and shared experience. Through this, the role significantly contributes to SAM's commitment to experimentation, facilitation, and meaningful interpretation of contemporary art.

The successful candidate should also be committed to ensuring equity and inclusion, such that programmes and partnerships are developed with care, relevance, and respect for a wide range of perspectives.

Key Responsibilities

Public Programme Development

• Develop sustained programme approaches for youth and families, moving beyond one-off activities towards repeat engagement, deeper participation, and long-term relationships with SAM.
• Create programme formats that create accessible entry points into contemporary art without simplifying its ideas.
• Work closely with artists and curators to translate contemporary artistic practices into public-facing formats, including talks, workshops, performances, participatory projects, social gatherings, festivals and experimental encounters.
• Present programmes linked to exhibitions, collections, commissions, festivals, and museum-wide initiatives.
• Lead the development of participatory, informal, and experimental formats that encourage curiosity, dialogue, and repeat engagement.
• Work with the Programmes team to ensure programmes are relevant, timely, and aligned with SAM's curatorial direction.

Programme Delivery & Operations

• Lead programme planning, scheduling, logistics, budgeting, procurement, and reporting.
• Liaise with artists, facilitators, vendors, partners, and internal teams to ensure smooth programme delivery.
• Work closely with Production, Visitor Experience, Marketing and Communications, Learning, and other departments to ensure programmes are well-planned and effectively delivered.
• Oversee clear timelines, responsibilities, and documentation for all public programmes.
• Manage risk assessment, compliance, and operational readiness for public-facing activities.
• Be prepared to work evenings, weekends, and public holidays where programme delivery requires it.

Audience Engagement, Partnerships & Strategic Development

• Develop audience-centred approaches that foster meaningful participation, dialogue, and long-term engagement with contemporary art.
• Analyse programme outcomes using audience insights, attendance data, feedback mechanisms, and evaluation frameworks to inform future programme strategies.
• Identify and drive opportunities for new partnerships, audience growth, and programme innovation.
• Maintain programme documentation, archives, and institutional records to support knowledge-sharing and future planning.
• Build and maintain networks of artists, facilitators, speakers, cultural practitioners, and community partners.

Docent Management

• Lead the strategic development and management of SAM's docent programme, ensuring docent-led tours and engagements contribute meaningfully to visitor experience, learning, and audience development.
• Maintain systems, policies, and processes for docent engagement, including communications, records management, service recognition, and programme evaluation.
• Build a vibrant and engaged docent community that supports SAM's commitment to accessibility, dialogue, lifelong learning, and public engagement.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead junior team members and interns, supporting their professional growth and programme delivery capabilities.
• Contribute to a collaborative and inclusive team culture that encourages experimentation, critical thinking, and innovation.
• Support departmental and institutional initiatives, including cross-team projects and strategic priorities as required.

Institutional Contribution

• Help drive a culture of collaboration, experimentation, and shared responsibility across departments.
• Demonstrate professionalism, initiative, and care in working with colleagues, artists, partners, and publics.
• Contribute to broader departmental planning in alignment with SAM's public engagement priorities.
• Demonstrate humility, professionalism, and openness to feedback in working with colleagues.
• Undertake additional responsibilities and contribute to institutional priorities, as required.

Requirements

• Degree in Art History, Curatorial Studies, Arts Management, Museum Studies, Cultural Studies, Humanities, or a related field.
• Strong knowledge of contemporary art and or visual culture with awareness of developments across Singapore, Southeast Asia, and the international arts landscape.
• Demonstrated understanding of audience engagement practices and the evolving role of museums as spaces for dialogue, participation, and cultural exchange.
• 7-9 years of relevant experience in museums, independent arts spaces, arts organisations/collectives, festivals, biennales, cultural institutions, or related sectors.
• Proven track record in developing and delivering public programmes, audience engagement initiatives, or curatorial projects.
• Experience working with artists, cultural practitioners, and community stakeholders to realise complex and collaborative projects.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while balancing conceptual, operational, and strategic considerations.
• Experience managing budgets, contracts, procurement processes, and external vendors is preferred.
• Excellent research, writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong cultural and access sensitivity, and committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Strong conceptual thinking with the ability to translate ideas into impactful public experiences.
• Highly organised, adaptable, and capable of working in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders with professionalism and sensitivity.
• Collaborative mindset with the confidence to lead projects independently.
• Strong proficiency in spoken and written English. Additional language capabilities are an advantage.
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and public holidays as required by programme schedules.