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Director of Public Programs


The Massachusetts Historical Society seeks a motivated and creative individual to develop and implement a stimulating, engaging, and audience-building roster of public programs, as well as supervise its educational programs aimed at teachers and school-age audiences. Reporting to the President, this position will help to advance the Society’s mission by providing long-range vision for its public programs, educational offerings, and exhibitions. Their growth and enhancement are key to the Society’s future.  The Director of Public Programs will conceptualize and implement a broad range of public programs to affirm the Society’s role as a region-wide resource for history. Public programs include exhibitions, lectures, and performances geared toward a general audience. S/he will manage exhibitions and educational activities working with our excellent professional staff, well-versed in the content. The Society’s education programs focus on workshops for teachers, suggestions for curricula and lesson plans, and National History Day.

The ideal candidate will have enthusiasm for American history and its presentation to a wide and diverse public. Excellent oral and written communication skills, as well as a high level of creativity and marketing, and entrepreneurial zeal are essential. Experience in program planning and implementation and supervision of a professional staff are preferred.  Increasingly, the MHS is looking to technology to connect with a wider audience.  A willingness to embrace new technologies—especially video production and social media—to extend the reach of public programs is required.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Create broad-based, widely appealing, intellectually strong public programming;
  • Make connections between historical themes and current events;
  • Establishes and maintains working relationships with other cultural and educational organizations as well as publishers, opinion makers, and popular speakers
  • Identifies opportunities for and cultivates new partnerships throughout the community;
  • Works with Director of Communications to identify audiences and create and implement marketing plans for programs;
  • Works with a team to conceive of and implement exhibitions and integrate them with possible programming;
  • Develops and implements evaluation tools to measure, interpret, and analyze the outcomes of education and public programs relative to strategic goals;
  • Helps to promote a broader understanding of the importance of history;
  • Responsible for working with the Development Department to secure funding 

Required Qualifications:

  • Strong project and people management skills
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and multi-task
  • Ability to be detail-oriented and accurate 
  • Ability to work collaboratively inside an organization 
  • High level of initiative and creativity 
  • Interest in American history and/or libraries and an understanding of the Society’s mission is essential 

Contact:  Mary Kearns
mkearns@masshist.org

1154 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02215

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