Montpelier House Museum History Specialist II/Museum Operations Manager (13192, Grade 24)

Description

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is a leader in historic preservation and manages several museums, historic sites, and programs that impart, commemorate, and celebrate Prince George's County's rich history.

The Department of Parks and Recreation seeks an energetic and organized Museum Operations Manager to join our team at Montpelier House Museum, a National Historic Landmark. Under the leadership of the Natural and Historical Resources Division (NHRD), museum staff continue research about the complex and difficult narrative of slavery at this 1783 plantation to inform its interpretation, including the lives of 169 enslaved individuals, and indentured servants. Currently, staff is engaging descendants of the enslaved, and the surrounding African American communities to build a dialogic approach to build trust and understanding.

The future team member will be able to play a role in Montpelier upholding the NHRD’s four strategic pillars:

1: Enhance the Visitor Experience: Quality & Quantity

2: Leave a Legacy: Transforming Education into Activism

3: Strengthen Inclusivity, Diversity and Belonging

4: Act with Honesty, Integrity, Respect and Trust

The successful candidate, reporting to the Senior Museum Manager, will serve as the lead history specialist, manage daily museum operations, and coordinate preservation and maintenance of the historic facilities to enhance accessibility and overall visitor experience. The ideal candidate will have at least five years of scholarly study and program implementation of American and African American History.

This position will report Tuesday - Saturday, with occasional change in hours to provide early access to the facility for contractors as needed, and/or occasional evening hours for programming.

Budgeted salary range $63,891.00 - $88,521.00 annually

Examples of Important Duties

Operations/Administration

• Manages and assists in daily museum operations, in support of Senior Museum Manager
• Collaborates with Senior Museum Manager to develop and manage work plans and implement strategic plan goals and action steps for the yearly plans.
• Assists with facility management including building utility systems, inspections, reports, and schedules routine and special service of buildings and related systems including fire and security alarms, HVAC, plumbing repairs, and other maintenance needs.
• Annually reviews and implements emergency action plan to prevent workplace accidents and promotes health and safety awareness, including the completion of incident reports when necessary, adhering to all museum and M-NCPPC policies.
• Models' excellent customer service for the team and adheres to the Commission's customer service policies.
• Participates in the recruitment and selection of staff. Assists the Senior Museum Manager in preparing annual reviews of designated staff and supervises interns.
• Supervises and develops work plans and goals for at least two part-time staff.
• Instructs staff in procedures and technical aspects of work.
• Supervises and schedules part-time staff to provide adequate coverage for both day-to-day operations and special events and programs.
• Assists and supports with collections maintenance tasks, such as moving, cleaning, and storage of collections items.
• Understands financial concepts and reports, including purchasing and petty cash.
• Creates and implements process of visitor and program surveys and other data collection.
• Keeps up to date on Commission programs, museum management, and leads/shares training of and with team members.
• Participates in Commission/Division committees as assigned, meetings, conferences, and training sessions.

Public Programming, Education, Research, Interpretation, Outreach

• Develops and coordinates history-related public programs and special public events and supports team members to implement them.
• Conducts research on the complex history of the site that includes history of Native Americans, slavery, and local community history.
• Assists in the training of staff with interpretation for tours, exhibitions, programs.
• Leads team in planning and delivering educational programs, including grades K-12, groups of students and adults with special needs, area teachers, college, and university classes.
• Assists with school field trip programs in the Spring and Fall.
• Recruits, trains, and supervises interns and volunteers.
• Works with other groups/agencies to coordinate programming. When appropriate, facilitates use of the site by community groups.
• Represents the museum at Commission and community events.
• Responds to visitor, telephone, and staff inquiries concerning history and related subjects. Makes program reservations, collects fees, and answers rental inquiries.
• Assists with research, organization, installation, and de-installation of temporary exhibits in gallery space and period rooms.
• Assists with and coordinates marketing/advertising outreach, including social media, Constant Contact, and the website. Also supervises preparation of marketing materials such as yearly calendar of events, press releases, flyers, mailers, and on-line calendars.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Museum Studies, Museum Education, Museum Management/ administration, or related field.
• Demonstrated coursework and application of American History with a strong emphasis in African American Studies and including interpretation of enslaved communities.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience, including three years as a program coordinator or supervisor; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Three years of experience in community engagement, preferably with African American communities.
• Demonstrated experience in guest/customer services, museum interpretation, management, and/or sales.

Specialized Skills:

• Demonstrated proficiency in using software applications: Microsoft Suite, Avaya, Xerox Workstation, Kronos, Samaritan, OneDrive, Dropbox, Adobe Cloud Design (graphic design, Illustrator, Photoshop), Canva, NeoGov, PastPerfect.
• Goal-oriented and dedicated to innovative ideas and achieving success through diversity.
• Positive, pleasant, and professional communication manners, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to be flexible, adaptable, and tactful dealing with staff, constituents and visitors.
• Ability to interact positively with museum volunteers and to offer advice and constructive instructions for the improvement of tour programs and special projects.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in History, Public History, American Studies, Museum Studies, Archaeology, Paleontology, Anthropology, Historic Preservation, Interpretive Research, Library Sciences or any related field.
• Two (2) years of professional or related experience in history work.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted, which together total six (6) years.
• Valid driver's license in accordance with both State and Commission rules and regulations. Driver's licenses must be unencumbered by restrictions, revocations, suspensions, or points that could limit the employee's ability to drive Commission vehicles or perform driving duties required of the position.

Supplemental Information

Classification Specification History Specialist II/Museum Manager

May be subject to drug and alcohol testing.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor.