Description

Old World Wisconsin seeks a creative and dynamic leader to join our team as Asistant Director, Guest Experience. Reporting to the Director, this position leads a team of approximately 75 full- and part-time staff to develop and manage the interactive story-based programming that forms the core Old World Wisconsin guest experience. The Assistant Director oversees the use of 69 relocated historic structures, collections, reconstructed landscapes, heritage breed animals and heirloom plants to create immersive environments and guest-centered living history activities that are facilitated by trained costumed employees and volunteers. This is a senior level management position. The person in this position serves as a member of the Old World Wisconsin leadership team and meets regularly with the Director to make key strategic decisions.

Old World Wisconsin, one of twelve museums and historic sites owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, is located near Eagle, Wisconsin approximately 35 miles from Milwaukee. Founded in 1976, Old World Wisconsin is in the process of implementing a new master plan that emphasizes guest engagement and open-ended exploration of 19th- and early 20th century immigrant stories. We are in the process of implementing an updated master plan (2012) and curently partnering with PGAV Destinations to transform the guest entry, admissions and orientation experience. For additional information please see the Old World Wisconsin website at http://www.oldworldwisconsin.org

Requirements

A Well Qualified Candidate Will Have:

  • Professional work experience in an outdoor history museum or similar cultural attraction.
  • A degree in museum studies, public history or similar degree.
  • A passionate interest in history.
  • Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
  • High energy and a positive, “can-do” attitude.
  • Experience leading a team of professionals in the design and implementation of interpretative or educational programs for a historic site, museum or similar cultural attraction.

Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  1. Embraces a guest-centric philosophy and an ability to design and adjust programming based on feedback and evaluation.
  2. Works well as part of a team and possesses significant experience in the supervision of others to meet established goals and objectives while working within a team environment.
  3. Expert knowledge in designing and implementing living history programming, interactive and role-play experiences and theatrical performance.
  4. Knowledgeable of best practices in experience design and operations among all types of attractions where informal learning takes place.
  5. Expert knowledge of historic site operations.
  6. Excellent research skills.
  7. Knowledge of Midwest rural history and the craft, domestic and farm skills associated with regional and ethnic life in the past.
  8. Ability to lead, supervise and coordinate the work of a large team of FTE, LTE and volunteers required to staff a complex special event.
  9. Effective skills in oral, written, and interpersonal communications.
  10. Thorough knowledge of accepted curriculum development and learning theory and the ability to apply these concepts to programming for school-aged children.
  11. Thorough knowledge of material culture and its connections to cultural history, and the ability to build these elements into an interpretive program.
  12. Understanding of collections management practices in a living history museum setting and ability to supervise staff to care for artifacts according to professional standards and WHS policies.
  13. Effective computer skills, including word processing and spread-sheet programs, to facilitate personal productivity and the preparation of professional-looking documents.
  14. Ability to teach and train FTE and LTE staff in the duties and responsibilities associated with experience facilitation and historical resource management.
  15. Knowledge of personnel principles as they relate to overseeing the work of seasonal interpretive staff.
  16. Ability to effectively manage a departmental budget.
  17. Ability to travel independently throughout OWW, the State and the Midwest.
  18. Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle on the grounds of Old World Wisconsin.
  19. Able to legally operate a motor vehicle from the Wisconsin Department of Administration State Fleet.

How to Apply:

In addition to submitting a resume, you’ll be preparing detailed written responses to two online exam questions. You may preview the two questions on the WiscJobs website: https://wisc.jobs/public/index.asp.  The total length of your responses should be limited to a total of three pages for the entire Exam.  These questions and your responses are considered to be an Examination for this position and will be used to determine your eligibility for this vacancy.  Find and view job announcement 15-04126   

Completed materials must be received by 11:59 pm on February 1, 2016.

Job Information
  • Eagle, Wisconsin, 53119, United States
  • 26474271
  • January 8, 2016
  • Assistant Director, Guest Experience
  • Old World Wisconsin
  • Assistant/Deputy/Associate Director
  • No
  • Full-Time
  • Indefinite
  • BA/BS/Undergraduate
  • 3-5 Years
  • 0-10%
  • $46,737.00 – $58,240.00 (Yearly Salary)