City of Boston

Cultural Planner - Policy

Req ID
2025-28974
Dept
Office of Arts & Culture
Position
Regular Full-Time
Location
Boston City Hall
Salary Min
68,123.78
Salary Max
93,857.82
Union
MYO
Openings
1
Posting End Date
7/24/2025
Contact Email
samuel.fidler@boston.gov

Overview:

The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture (MOAC) is seeking passionate, entrepreneurial, and qualified applicants for the position of Cultural Planner - Policy. Promoting equitable access space for arts, culture, and creativity and equitable representation of diverse communities, histories, and artistic expression are core tenets of the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture. This position will support the Cultural Planning team in developing strategic policy work that promotes cultural affairs across different policy, planning, and investment areas within the City of Boston. The role will support MOAC and the Cultural Planning team to make the strategic case for culture and develop projects, programs, and research to support investment in arts and culture in Boston.


About the Cultural Planning team:


The mission of Boston’s Cultural Planning team is to activate, safeguard, and expand cultural spaces to foster a thriving, creative community across the city. Driven by values of creativity, equitable access to culture, and space for community connection, the team aims to protect existing cultural infrastructure from dislocation while advocating for new spaces that encourage cultural innovation and production. We will leverage Boston’s unique assets—such as its diverse population, educational institutions, and vibrant cultural scene— and we aspire to position the City as a leader in the global creative economy. Through strategic partnerships, zoning policies, and campaigns, we work to ensure all residents can experience and participate in cultural expression, thereby enhancing Boston’s quality of life and cultural identity.


About the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture:


Dedicated to enhancing the quality of life, economic vitality, and design of the City through the arts, the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture is a City Agency that is committed to providing access to art and culture for all Bostonians. We believe that the role of arts in all aspects and neighborhoods of Boston is intertwined with civic life and reinforced through equitable access to arts and culture in every community, its public institutions, and public places. Key areas of work include support to the cultural sector through grants and programs, support of cultural facilities and artist workspace, as well as the commissioning, review, and care of art in public places, and support of artists at all skill levels who live and work in the city.

Responsibilities:

Reporting directly to the Director of Cultural Planning, duties include but are not limited to:


Policy and Research Development:

  • Developing research that focuses primarily on advocating for arts and culture as support wider policy agendas in the City of Boston, including public health, economic development, skills, and pathways into the creative economy.
  • Produce research citing best practices for arts and culture and disseminate them among stakeholders. 
  • Work with or teams within the Mayor’s Office for Arts & Culture on shared policy agendas. For example, creative workforce development and public art. 


Technical Support:

  • Support the creation of technical planning materials that support the needs of different community stakeholders.
  • Support the development of a new Cultural Infrastructure Plan for the City of Boston.
  • Help to deliver MOAC’s cultural planning programs, including supporting the Director of Cultural Planning with the management of external consultants and commissions.
  • Assist in reviewing applications for technical assistance, grants, and other capital funds dispersed by MOAC and its partners.


Stakeholder Management: 

  • Maintain strong relationships with Boston’s arts and culture community, including constituents, community groups, and other institutions. 
  • Increasing the network and relationship MOAC holds in the wider creative economy in Boston.  


Strategic Communication: 

  • Liaising with the Director of Cultural Planning and Director of Communications on Cultural Planning presence.  
  • Support storytelling projects to showcase the successes of the creative community in Boston. 


Space Register and Cultural Assets:

  • Maintain the space register for the City of Boston to understand the space for cultural needs in Boston, including managing a cultural asset map. 
  • Develop and maintain a network of new and existing allies and community partners for specific planning projects.

Minimum Entrance Qualifications:

  • At least three (3) years of full-time or equivalent part-time professional experience in a non-profit, government agency, arts organization, community organizing, or similar enterprise.
  • A bachelor's degree in urban planning, urban design, public policy, public administration, geography, political science, social sciences, social service, or related fields is strongly preferred and may be substituted for two (2) years of experience.
  • Familiarity with current issues related to cultural planning and/or urban development is required.
  • Knowledge of developing strategic plans and developing business cases for investment. 
  • Knowledge of City of Boston neighborhoods preferred.
  • Ability to effectively communicate with customers, employees, and suppliers and to provide internal and external customers with a courteous and professional experience. 
  • Experience managing projects with an equitable and collaborative decision-making approach.
  • Experience facilitating and designing community engagement and stakeholder input. 
  • Team player who is flexible, adaptable, and who can get along with a diverse team.
  • Technology skills: strong proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, ability to use social media to advance and promote programs, facilities with ArcMap and GIS with Photoshop and InDesign preferred but not required.
  • Ability to build and cultivate relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
  • Considerable problem-solving, strategic planning, and written and oral communication skills.

 

BOSTON RESIDENCY REQUIRED

 

Terms:

Union/Salary Plan/Grade: Non-Union/MO-8

Hours per week: 35

 

Timeline: The position will be open until filled.

To Apply: Please upload one single document, containing your resume, a cover letter outlining your qualifications listed in this posting, and two (2) references.

Commitment to Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging 

Statistics show that women, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and other structurally marginalized groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. If this position excites you, you are encouraged to apply. No one ever meets 100% of the qualifications. The City of Boston is an equal opportunity employer and is strongly committed to building and maintaining a diverse community. We look forward to your application.

Options:

Sorry the Share function is not working properly at this moment. Please refresh the page and try again later.
Share on your newsfeed