The Greenwich Historical Society seeks an innovative and energetic education professional to lead the organization’s educational initiatives. As we enter an exciting new phase of our Strategic Plan and prepare to engage with a Capital Campaign, the Greenwich Historical Society prioritizes audience engagement and education, seeking a qualified and visionary leader to plan and execute our learner-focused programs and series. In pursuit of our strategic plan and goals to tell a fuller history to a broader audience, this role will lead the charge on reimagining and reenergizing programs that maximize inclusivity and accessibility for all.
This role reports to the Director of Curatorial Affairs and Programs and is part of the Education Department. The Director of Education and Community Outreach is an essential member of the cross-departmental Community Engagement team and is responsible for the supervision of the Manager of Education and Outreach.
The Greenwich Historical Society’s mission is to preserve and interpret Greenwich history to strengthen the community’s connection to our past, to each other and to our future. As a result of our work, our community will have a stronger sense of place, gain a fuller appreciation of our shared past and be better equipped to embrace opportunities to build a more informed and just society.
Job Summary:
The Director of Education and Outreach designs and presents, in collaboration with the Manager of Education and Outreach and Community Engagement Team, a broad range of school and public adult and family programs on Greenwich history, art, architecture and landscape relating to the Historical Society’s exhibitions, historic site, collections and diverse community heritage; manages existing and fosters new relationships with local and regional partners, stakeholder committees and volunteers to enhance school and public programs, to engage target audiences and to broaden stakeholders in the Historical Society’s mission. The Director of Education sets targets for yearlong learning and program outcomes across school and adult programming, and designs and implements programs through delegation of program execution to the Manager of Education and Outreach and the Greenwich Historical Society docent team. This role is responsible for the outreach, cultivation, and maintenance of meaningful and authentic relationships with Greenwich schools and community partners in pursuit of fostering long-term collaborations with mutual benefit.
Key Responsibilities:
Develops school, adult and family public programs, identifies resources needed to implement them and supervises their implementation
Reevaluates existing school programs and engages in innovative and creative development of new educational initiatives (i mobile learning unit, etc.)
Collects knowledge and best practices from partner institutions and leaders in the field for inclusive and engaging museum education programming.
Collaborates with curatorial team to design interactive and educational aspects of exhibitions for students and young families
Manages and strengthens existing programming, series, and signature events, including Shining A Light Lecture Series, Discover Greenwich/Rediscover Greenwich Community Series, Artful Arrangements: Constant Holley MacRae Floral Design Series, Title I School Partnership, Witness Stones Partnership, Life in Colonial New England, Ask a Historian, Monuments in Greenwich, Sarah and Her Town, Patriots vs. Loyalists: The American Revolution, Slavery in Connecticut.
Participates in the development of the annual plan and budget, cooperating with the Development Director in the submission of grants and program sponsorships
Utilizing overarching strategy and themes, recruits speakers, performers and other related professionals for public programs throughout the year
Creates engaging and interdisciplinary experiences that activate the Greenwich Historical Society’s collections to maximize relevance and accessibility
Serves as liaison between the Historical Society and Greenwich Public Schools and local independent schools, studies and implements current curriculum and standards for school programs as appropriate to topics and content.
Recruits and connects education professionals from the greater Greenwich community to serve on the Education Advisory Taskforce
Builds meaningful relationships with new audiences and partners that may be reached through exhibition-related or community collaborations
Manages the Education budget; Regularly monitors the expenses of school and adult/family programs; Performs a variety of administrative work such as coding expenditures, reviewing reports, reconciling outstanding expenditures, and drafting reports as requested or scheduled.
Traits and Background:
The ideal candidate will be a skilled communicator with strong relationship building skills and strengths in perspective sharing, empathy, and a human-centered responsive planning approach. Extensive experience with curriculum development and education in both formal and informal settings is required. The Director of Education and Outreach will possess knowledge of American history & historic preservation, along with a commitment to learn and present Greenwich history. A skillset in program development and management experience. This role calls for strategic thinking and planning around long-term and short-term goals while managing an organized approach to accomplishing both.The ideal candidate has a demonstrated commitment to the values of diversity, inclusion, and learner-centered interpretation strategies.
Qualifications:
Education: BA in Public History, Museum Studies, Education or related field; MA preferred
Experience: 3 years minimum, significant experience in a school or classroom setting preferred.
Compensation:
Commensurate with experience and qualifications
This role is full-time, with benefits. Employee benefits: health insurance, retirement plan, vacation and holiday pay
To Apply:
Send letter and resume to Debra Mecky in care of Lkelly@greenwichhistory.org
