Director of Education [The Durham Museum, Omaha, NE]

Description

Position:  Director of Education

Division: Education

Reports to: Executive Director

MISSION: Provide relevant educational and entertaining opportunities within the region that exceed customer expectations, while preserving our community’s vibrant cultural history.

VISION: The Durham Museum will serve as a recognized, premier resource for education, entertainment, and historical preservation in our region. We will be the venue of choice in our market by providing a unique, engaging, and memorable experience professionally presented to every customer.

POSITION PURPOSE:

The Director of Education is responsible for the vision and execution of the museum’s educational strategy and programming.  The director supports the museum’s mission and core values by assuring that the museum consistently delivers quality educational initiatives.

ENVIRONMENT:

Housed in Omaha’s historic Union Station, The Durham Museum serves as one of the region’s premier education centers and family destinations. The museum’s exhibitions and education programs explore a wide range of subjects, regional and national, in the fields of history, culture, science, and industry. Key to the museum’s strong emphasis on education is the distance learning program, which links museum visitors, schools, and other venues throughout the region with curriculum developed by our team and our partners nationwide.

The organization was founded in 1974 as the Western Heritage Museum. In 1995, Union Station was renovated as part of a $25 million capital campaign, and in 1997 the museum was renamed in honor of Charles and Margre Durham. In 2002, the museum became an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and has since built relationships with the Library of Congress, National Archives, Chicago’s Field Museum, and other renowned educational resources. In 2007, the museum completed a $1.5 million rejuvenation of its permanent exhibitions and opened the 266-seat Stanley and Dorothy Truhlsen Lecture Hall in the former 1899 boiler plant. Additional restorative work was completed in 2009 to preserve Union Station’s art deco architecture as well as to guarantee the long-term viability and preservation of the facility and the collections housed within its walls.

NATURE AND SCOPE:

The Director of Education oversees the education department and is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with universities, schools, teachers and education service organizations within the region. The Director works collaboratively with other members of the senior team to provide programming content and support for exhibitions and events.  The Director is also responsible for the oversight of the education team, establishing departmental goals and serving as a mentor and coach to staff. The Director interacts regularly with vendors, donors and guests, as well as regional and national museum partners; develops and executes protocols and guidelines for areas of responsibility; and works collaboratively as part of the senior leadership team in all aspects of long-range planning, annual program planning, and the execution of operational initiatives.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Develop and maintain internal and external educational programs, classes and resources that meet the needs of area and regional school districts and community groups while establishing strong relationships with schools, teachers, and education service organizations.
2. Direct the museum’s education strategy to continuously provide programming that is appealing to schools, parents and youth, as well as adults and life-long learners.
3. Oversee special projects and grant-funded programs to ensure objectives are met and reporting is completed on a timely basis.
4. Oversee the development of curriculum-based programming and related classes, tours, camps and education outreach initiatives.
5. Develop effective strategies to generate consistent revenue streams for all programming, evaluating the operational and financial outcomes of each activity.
6. Oversee the museum’s internship program.
7. Establish annual departmental goals, and is responsible for the execution of those goals.
8. Support the museum’s overall strategies and operational activities within the Education division.
9. Participate in all mandatory training and safety programs required and provided by the museum.
10. Responsible for department and program budgets as approved by the Board of Directors of the museum for all areas of responsibility.

DISCLOSURE:

The Principal Responsibilities reflect the essential functions of the position, and are not to be considered a detailed description of all aspects and requirements of the position.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience

Five years of experience, or a combination of education and training that would produce the required knowledge and abilities.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in education with current certifications required.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

This position requires the ability to effectively multi-task in a fast-paced environment. Collaboration, communication and creativity are critical to the success of this role, both with members of the museum team and with external customers. Highly developed and demonstrated organizational and communication skills are essential.

Working Conditions

Normal office environment. Routine periods of sitting, standing, and walking are required. Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.

To be considered, please submit all of the following to acarolus@DurhamMuseum.org or mail them to The Durham Museum, 801 South 10^th Street, Omaha, NE, 68108, Attention: Human Resources.

• Resume
• Salary Requirements
• References