Who we are looking for:

Our team is interested in filling this full-time two-year grant-funded position (secured funding through September 2025) with an experienced and organized professional who is skilled at developing relationships with diverse communities and organizations. You will join a friendly and dedicated staff working in several departments, cultural sustainability, exhibitions, collections and education. You will supervise 1-2 full-time project assistants, to be hired after this position is filled.

What is the Community History Project?

The Connecticut Museum of Culture and History is building on the success of our Community History Program, launched in 2021 with new funding for the US Department of Education. The Community History Program is an initiative that combines public history and community engagement with collaboration with the state’s colleges and universities. Through this collaborative work, the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History seeks to develop pathways to work with diverse communities across the state to identify, document, preserve, and share these community’s history and culture, especially marginalized communities and those that are underrepresented in history museum archives. The Community History Project uses oral history techniques and contemporary collecting practices to promote greater cultural understanding and collaborative efforts to strengthen community ties. A strong partnership with Central Connecticut State University is in place.

Our inaugural thematic focus was to document the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on Connecticut, especially how the pandemic impacted communities of color, nursing home residents, and those who experienced economic hardship due to the disease. This new phase of the Community History Project will shift the focus to working with more colleges and universities across the state to incorporate the project into college curriculum, coursework, and internships. A broad thematic approach, Uncovering Connecticut’s Game Changers, will be used to provide focus for the project.

This phase of the Community History Project has three objectives:

1. Engage student interns at targeted Connecticut colleges and universities to establish connections with community members that will lead to oral history interviews about Connecticut’s Gamechangers.
2. Document contemporary history through oral history interviews.
3. Engage faculty at targeted schools to increase the use of community-based history and oral history and the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History’s collection in college and university classrooms.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Your duties will include, but not be limited to:

• Work as part of a collaborative team with the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History’s Deputy Executive Director/Chief Strategy Officer to lead the work of the Community History Project and to achieve the three main objectives;
• Build new and strengthen existing relationships and partnerships with stakeholders, college faculty and students, and community members;
• Advise executive management on the Community History Program and related matters, including policies and procedures; priorities and resources; tools and related technology; and future directions for the Community History Program;
• Prepare internal and external reports and providing information related to the Community Historian Project;
• Supervise 1-2 project assistants including assisting HR with recruitment, hiring, developing a work plan, managing and evaluating performance;
• Plan, implement and evaluate public presentations that may take place in physical or digital spaces;
• Provide fiscal oversight of the program’s annual budget and maintain proper financial reports and documentation;
• Build financial sustainability working with management and the Advancement Department to identify and apply for grants and other funding opportunities;
• Other duties as requested or assigned.

Oral History Specific Responsibilities

• Conduct oral history interviews occasionally and train project assistant and interns in how to carry out the interview process from start to completion in accordance to current professional best practices and standards, including preparatory research, outreach, transcription audits, transcription editing, interview follow up, and preparation of final interview materials for public discovery and access;
• Maintain up-to-date comprehensive master lists of interviews in every stage of their completion;
• Utilize audio and/or video recording devices provided by the museum for interviews;
• Secure all release and/or legal agreements relating to rights and permissions for interviews;
• Monitor the transcription process carried out by third party vendors; review transcriptions for completeness, quality, and accuracy; and approve final edited transcriptions;
• Set standards and ensure quality control throughout the oral history program (e.g., documenting best practices, reviewing completed interviews, and advising on resolution of sensitive issues as they arise);
• Work with the Collections Department on following all cataloging and digitization standards;

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a Liberal Arts/Humanities discipline with preference for majors in History, American Studies, Material Culture, Museum Studies, Library/Information Science or a related field;
• 2-4 years of community engagement work and/or public history work experience;
• Knowledge of oral history professional practices, methods, theory, and ethics;
• Experience in developing and sustaining outstanding relations with diverse interviewees;
• Effective and consistent interpersonal and communication skills, especially in conducting interviews and engaging in conversations that may include sensitive topics;
• Ability to speak publicly and represent the Connecticut Museum in community and professional settings;
• Demonstrated experience working independently and as a team member;
• Demonstrated organizational abilities and project management skills;
• Attention to detail and accuracy in all work;
• Bilingual (Spanish) preferred;
• Capacity to think strategically about building and sustaining relationship with organizational partners and community members;
• Comfort and enjoyment working within and among people from diverse socioeconomic, racial and political backgrounds;
• Experience with teaching, mentoring, and developing leaders;
• Willingness to work irregular hours including nights and weekends as needed;
• Knowledge of programs including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and Social Media;
• Familiarity with and knowledge of library and museum collections, including how to properly handle historical and/or fragile documents and objects;
• Flexibility and excellent time management skills;
• Superior organizational and administrative skills;
• Ability to assess problems and develop possible solutions;
• Be able to work both independently and collaboratively;
• Affinity for excellent internal and external customer service;
• Be able to lift 30 lbs.
• Have access to reliable transportation for travel throughout state.

Remote Work:

Some work may be done from home or other remote locations. Candidate will be expected to be on-site at least 3 days a week.

For additional information

Please visit: https://www.connecticutmuseum.org/job-internships/

Compensation
Low $60,000s annually.

Benefits
Eligible for generous full time employee benefits including paid vacation and sick time, participation in employer-contributing 403b plan, and health, life and disability insurance.

Schedule
Full time, some nights and weekends.

Other
Review of applications will commence immediately and continue until position is filled. Final candidate subject to background and reference check.

How to apply
Please email cover letter and resume to Susan Presutti, Director of Human Resources, spresutti@connecticutmuseum.org, by August 20, 2023.

CHS is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer.