Partner Relations Officer, Academic and Interdisciplinary Arts

About Art Bridges

Art Bridges Foundation is the vision of philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton. Since 2017, Art Bridges has created and supported projects that bring outstanding works of American art out of storage and into communities. Art Bridges partners with a growing network of over 200 museums of all sizes and locations on nearly 900 projects—impacting more than 5.3 million people across 49 states and Puerto Rico—to provide financial and strategic support for exhibition development, loans from the Art Bridges Collection and Partner Loan Network, and programs designed to educate, inspire, and deepen engagement with local audiences. The Art Bridges Collection represents an expanding vision of American art from the 19th century to present day and encompasses multiple media and voices. For more information, visit artbridgesfoundation.org.  

Required Documents to Apply:

Reporting to the Partner Relations Senior Officer, the Partner Relations Officer, Interdisciplinary Arts plays a key role in cultivating, sustaining, and strengthening relationships with a dynamic portfolio of partners across the country. This portfolio includes organizations with diverse missions and structures—such as academic museums and galleries, interdisciplinary museums, and hybrid cultural venues—each offering unique opportunities for activating American art in local contexts.

The Officer manages a portfolio of museum partners, building deep institutional knowledge, maintaining regular communication, identifying new opportunities for collaboration, and supporting partners in achieving shared goals. The Officer serves as a thought partner and strategic liaison, guiding museums through every phase of the Art Bridges partnership lifecycle—from early engagement and onboarding to project development, implementation, and evaluation.

This role contributes directly to Art Bridges’ national impact by ensuring that these complex museums receive the tailored, mission-aligned support they need to leverage available resources and sustain meaningful community engagement through American art.

This role requires excellent communication skills, a collaborative spirit, and a proactive approach to relationship management and strategic alignment. The Officer collaborates closely with colleagues across departments to ensure high-quality partner experiences and mission-driven impact.

Job Description:

Job Title: Partner Relations Officer, Academic & Interdisciplinary
Reports To: Partner Relations Senior Officer
Location: Bentonville, Arkansas (On-site)

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Date Reviewed: 07/09/2025

Salary Range: $75,000 – $85,000 

About Art Bridges Foundation

Art Bridges Foundation is the vision of philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton. Since 2017, Art Bridges has created and supported projects that bring outstanding works of American art out of storage and into communities. Art Bridges partners with a growing network of over 250 museums of all sizes and locations—impacting more than 20 million people across 50 states and Puerto Rico—to provide financial and strategic support for exhibition development, collection loans, and programs designed to educate, inspire, and deepen engagement with local audiences. The Art Bridges Collection represents an expanding vision of American art from the 19th century to present day and encompasses multiple media and voices. For more information, visit artbridgesfoundation.org.

About The Position

Reporting to the Partner Relations Senior Officer, the Partner Relations Officer, Academic and Interdisciplinary Arts plays a key role in cultivating, sustaining, and strengthening relationships with a dynamic portfolio of partners across the country. This portfolio includes organizations with diverse missions and structures—such as academic museums and galleries, interdisciplinary museums, and hybrid cultural venues—each offering unique opportunities for activating American art in local contexts.

The Officer manages a portfolio of museum partners, building deep institutional knowledge, maintaining regular communication, identifying new opportunities for collaboration, and supporting partners in achieving shared goals. The Officer serves as a thought partner and strategic liaison, guiding museums through every phase of the Art Bridges partnership lifecycle—from early engagement and onboarding to project development, implementation, and evaluation.

This role contributes directly to Art Bridges’ national impact by ensuring that these complex museums receive the tailored, mission-aligned support they need to leverage available resources and sustain meaningful community engagement through American art.

This role requires excellent communication skills, a collaborative spirit, and a proactive approach to relationship management and strategic alignment. The Officer collaborates closely with colleagues across departments to ensure high-quality partner experiences and mission-driven impact.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of active and emerging museum partners with interdisciplinary or hybrid missions, fostering strong, trust-based relationships focused on long-term engagement and collaborative success. 
• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned institutions, maintaining consistent, proactive communication and offering personalized strategic support. 
• Contribute to the development and implementation of partner engagement strategies that focus on retention, satisfaction, and impact. 
• Collaborate with internal departments to deliver timely, relevant, and mission-aligned support to partners. 
• Track and maintain detailed documentation on partner engagement, activities, and institutional context using Art Bridges’ CRM and portfolio tools. 
• Guide partners through onboarding processes, ensuring clarity and alignment at each step. 
• Help re-engage inactive or paused partners through personalized outreach and strategic re-entry conversations. 
• Participate in the planning and execution of partner convenings, events, and gatherings. 
• Represent Art Bridges at regional and national field gatherings, conferences, and partner visits. 
• Support internal evaluation efforts by contributing field-based insights, engagement data, and partner feedback. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Art History, Cultural Studies, Arts Administration, Nonprofit Management, or Museum Studies. 
• 5+ years of experience working in or with art museums or cultural institutions in curatorial, programmatic, education, development, or partnership roles. 
• Strong understanding of academic or hybrid museum environments and the unique opportunities/challenges they present for exhibition and engagement work. 
• Proven ability to build and sustain collaborative relationships across institutions and departments. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a strength in thoughtful, adaptive relationship management. 
• Experience with CRM systems (Salesforce preferred) and project tracking tools. 
• Highly organized with the ability to balance multiple projects and relationships simultaneously. 
• Willingness and ability to travel nationally as required. 
• A curious, collaborative, and mission-driven mindset with high degree of discretion and professionalism.
• Proactive, clear, and empathetic communicator.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those required by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

Physical Demands: In the work environment described, position requires utilizing a computer and a telephone for prolonged periods of time and good eye/hand coordination, bending and stretching, and physical stamina to lift and transport a minimum of 10 pounds. Visual acuity to review written materials is required for this job.

Work Environment: Work is performed full-time (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) in a professional, climate-controlled office environment with standard office equipment, including computers, printers, and telephones. This role requires working in an open setting near colleagues. The noise level is typically low to moderate. The role also requires regular interaction with both the public and internal team members in a professional and courteous manner. Some travel will be required, including overnight trips on occasion. A flexible schedule may be necessary to accommodate business needs, including occasional evening and weekend work hours.

Art Bridges and DEAI

At Art Bridges, diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are central to all work and decisions made within our organization. We support our colleagues and partners in learning and growing together to make this important work part of our daily lives.

Art Bridges is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage all qualified applicants including women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States.