WaterMarks: An Atlas of Water for the City of Milwaukee is a citywide initiative to develop an inclusive and urban-scaled vision for the city of Milwaukee, to help people better understand their relationships to the water systems and infrastructure that supports their lives. WaterMarks was founded in 2014 and our project is comprised of a robust toolkit of public programs, large-scale art installations, public art commissions, and unique community engagement practices focused on how water impacts our everyday lives. It brings together artists, scientists, and diverse communities through public art and events that reflect Milwaukee's water stories. By building a bridge to a better relationship with water, we hope to help create a more equitable, healthy, and resilient future for everyone.
The Project Manager for Programming and Engagement will join a dynamic project team and will be based at the Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) working in close partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) and City as Living Laboratory (CALL). This individual will work to advance the mission of WaterMarks with their top-level organizational skills and commitment to meaningful engagement in diverse communities through the arts –– working with partners, community members, and volunteers throughout Milwaukee.
Our team fully understands the unique organizational nature of this role – and the breakdown of our expectations for this role are as follows.
PROGRAMS & EVENTS (45%) Coordinating walks / public programs with neighborhood and project team partners (8-12 annually) Facilitating community workshops and stakeholder meetings (8-12 annually) Working with artists and community members to implement public art projects (2-3 annually) Creating brochures, flyers, and other visual communications tools for programs and events Tabling materials, flyers, maps, reports, and other visual communications tools ENGAGEMENT & EDUCATION (45%) Serving as public point of contact for WaterMarks and coordinator for Neighborhood Project Teams Representing WaterMarks at various community / partner events throughout Milwaukee Working with MPM staff and resources to support the development of WaterMarks exhibitory. Working with MPM staff to identify engagement opportunities in WaterMarks communities. COMMUNICATIONS & ADMINISTRATION (10%) Communicating with direct supervisors and project team members for organization-wide coordination Keeping up to date on Milwaukee-specific water issues, both for professional development and to connect community members with the programmatic resources and information. Nurturing community relationships with neighbors and their community liaisons, stewarding post-meeting follow ups, one-to-one check ins, site visits, and participation in external community events. General administration of project: Google Drive and Microsoft 365 management, collecting and updating contact list, collaborating effectively with artists, scientists, walk leaders and other value holders to progress on project deliverables (e.g., artist projects, walks, workshops, etc.) REQUIREMENTS Previous experience in executing events or facilitating programs. Previous experience in community organizing or community work via employment or volunteering. Knowledge and interest of contemporary art, environmental sustainability, and urban planning. Ability to work collaboratively with multiple entities. Confidence in public speaking and engaging with new people. Demonstrated knowledge of community organizing methods and practices Ability to multi-task, work independently, and handle close attention to detail on projects and events. Reliability, excellent organizational skills and commitment to project responsibilities High degree of self-motivation; comfortable working independently Intermediate skill levels in graphic communication including familiarity with relevant software (e.g. Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and/or Illustrator) — are desired but not required. Candidates must have working knowledge of the city of Milwaukee and the ability to attend in person meetings and events within the City of Milwaukee / willingness to travel. Bilingual English/Spanish speaker is highly desired. LOGISTICS This position is for 40 hours / week ($5,000 / month) – working exclusively for WaterMarks. This position is funded through August 31, 2025 and we aim to create a long-term position at the end of this contract City as Living Laboratory is the administrator of this contract. University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee is local project lead for WaterMarks. Milwaukee Public Museum is home base for this position. WaterMarks seeks to celebrate a diversity of voices coming together to make Milwaukee stronger for the future. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, genders, orientations, origins, ethnicities, family statuses, ages, and belief systems, and look forward to what your unique perspective will bring.
BENEFITS This position will be hired as an independent contractor – with bi-weekly invoiced payments. In addition to paid compensation, we will also be offering the following benefits through August 31, 2025.
Paid time off (PTO) will include the following — for the duration of this contract 15 days (120 hours) for vacation pay 12 days (96 hours) for sick pay 3 days (24 hours) for personal time off Health Insurance stipend of $750 will be provided monthly and support for insurance selection and procurement and will be coordinated through Covering Wisconsin. To Apply: Please send a PDF resume and cover letter highlighting your relevant experience, why you are interested in this project, and what you love about Milwaukee to . Deadline for receiving applications is May 17, 2024.
