Our Staff and Board of Directors

Employment Opportunities

Director of Adult Education 

Apply by February 15, 2021

The McLean County Museum of History, located in historic Downtown Bloomington, IL, is one of America’s premier county historical museums. In 2020, the Museum was recognized with the Award of Excellence by the American Association of State and Local History (AASLH)—one of the highest recognitions of excellence in our field. The Museum’s mission is rooted in education, and it has built a reputation for delivering high quality, thought provoking, and inclusive exhibits and programs to our growing, diverse community. As a result of a very successful capital campaign, the Museum was able to expand its Education Department by a third full-time educator in 2014.

The Museum is currently seeking to hire a full-time Director of Adult Education to work directly with the Director of Community Education and Director of Youth and Family Education to reimagine and support adult and older adult programs and outreach, furthering the educational mission of the Museum as a whole.

The successful candidate would ideally begin working no later than April 1, 2021. Salary range is $37,000-$45,000 depending on experience. Competitive benefits package included.

The Museum’s Education Department consists of three full-time staff members (Director of Community Education, Director of Adult Education, and Director of Youth and Family Education). Each position is responsible for serving the needs of its primary audiences through the development and implementation of educational programming, but is expected to work collaboratively to develop department goals, grow and foster new relationships with community groups and schools, and share in the day-to-day operations of managing the department and its budget.

The Director of Adult Education is responsible for researching, developing, presenting, and overseeing educational programs for adult and older adult learners. This individual will work collaboratively with the Director of Community Education and Director of Youth and Family Education to develop mission-driven, public programming inspired by the Museum’s exhibits, collections, and other operations, as well as daily departmental duties. Accountable to fellow Directors of Education, this individual will report to the Executive Director.

Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

Primary Responsibilities

• Director of Senior Reminiscence Program
• Develops, presents, and facilitates museum-inspired programs for adults, including older adults who reside in senior care facilities (including Senior Reminiscence Program, lecture and community dialogue series, book clubs, etc.)
• Manages and maintains the Education Artifact Collection
• Collaborates with Director of Community Education to schedule and implement on- and offsite special events (including exhibit openings, cultural and holiday events, film showings, open houses, etc.)
• Coordinates with Development Department to plan and facilitate member/donor events
• Coordinates with Development Department to identify funding sources for program offerings
• Assists with facilitation of school programs (both on and offsite) as needed
• Contributes to weekly Museum Pantagraph column, Pieces From Our Past
• Manages and supervises interns and volunteers in cooperation with Director of Volunteers and Interns
• Collaborates with Director of Marketing and Community Relations to promote program offerings and resources
• Generates social media content, and represents the Museum in the media (including radio and television interviews) when relevant

Secondary Responsibilities

• Collaboratively manages attendance numbers for Education programs
• Collaboratively creates department budget and bimonthly (every two months) board report. Primary contact for each on a yearly rotating basis
• Participates in Museum staff and board committees
• Participates in professional organizations in the Museum Education field
• Creates and presents workshops to other museum professionals
• Performs other tasks as needed by the department
• Carries out other tasks as directed by the Executive Director

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field (museum studies, history, education, etc.); comparable education degrees and professional career experience may substitute
• Experience working with a variety of ages, in particular older adults
• Collaboratively-minded, independent worker and self-starter
• Ability to coordinate concurrent projects and engage in proper time management
• Familiarity with best practices in historical research
• Interest in and commitment to preserving and sharing McLean County history
• Evening and weekend availability
• Valid driver’s license
• Ability to lift 30 lbs
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Work experience in a museum, cultural institution, or related informal education setting a plus
• Spanish language proficiency a plus
• Graphic design skills a plus
• Knowledge of artifact care and maintenance a plus

Send résumé, cover letter, and three professional references to Executive Director at jemig@mchistory.org by February 15, 2021.