Public Programs and Museum Education Coordinator - Program Planner 2

Program Planner 2 - Public Programs and Museum Education Coordinator

Help Iowans of all ages connect with their state’s history. How can a museum visit, a conversation with a historian, or a student research project change the way someone sees Iowa’s history? The State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) is seeking a Public Programs and Museum Education Coordinator to create those opportunities at the State Historical Museum and in communities across Iowa.

About the Opportunity As part of the Education and Outreach team, you’ll lead educational programming at the State Historical Museum, coordinate group visits, and develop the museum’s docent program. You’ll also develop occasional public programs across Iowa and help deliver regional and state contests for National History Day in Iowa. You’ll work with colleagues in Museum Collections and Exhibitions, Historic Sites, Library and Archives, and Communications to create programs that connect students, families, and adults with Iowa’s history.

Your Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver museum programs. Research, plan, present, and evaluate recurring and special programs for students, families, and adults. In-person and virtual offerings include school programs, family activities, youth day camps, commemorative events, documentary screenings, expert panels, exhibit and collections tours, and webinars.
• Coordinate group visits and program logistics. Book and schedule visits for schools, community groups, and other visitors. Serve as the main point of contact for visiting groups, share information before their visits, and manage day-to-day logistics for live programs and presentations.
• Lead the museum’s docent program. Develop the program and recruit, train, and lead docents who help visitors engage with the museum’s exhibits and collections.
• Extend educational programming across Iowa. Develop, deliver, and evaluate programs for students, families, and adults in communities across the state. Build partnerships with schools and statewide organizations to promote educational opportunities and share best practices. Give presentations about the Society’s educational offerings at the museum and across Iowa.
• Support National History Day in Iowa. Work with the National History Day Coordinator to plan and carry out regional and state contests, including coordinating logistics for each contest.

Work Location and Schedule This position is based on-site at the State Historical Building in Des Moines. The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with occasional evening and weekend hours and travel required to support programming. Frequent in-state travel is required each March to support National History Day in Iowa, typically two to three days per week during the month.

Benefits Working for the State of Iowa comes with its perks. In addition to a competitive salary, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Health and dental insurance packages to keep you and your family healthy at a low cost with outstanding coverage!
• Paid Time Off: Take time to recharge with paid time off, including vacation (96 hours/year to begin, increasing with years of service), sick leave (144 hours/year), and paid holidays (9 days/year).
• Retirement Plans: Participate in retirement plans such as IPERS (employees contribute 6.29% and the State of Iowa contributes 9.44%) as well as our Retirement Investors Club (RIC), Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (the State of Iowa matches dollar for dollar up to $75/month).
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Take advantage of flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses.
• Insurance Coverage: Benefit from life insurance and free long-term disability insurance for added peace of mind.
• Employee Assistance Program: Access resources and support through our Employee Assistance Program for personal and professional challenges.
• Employee Discount Programs: Enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services through our employee discount programs.

For additional information on benefits click here.

E-Verify and Right to Work The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1. Six years of full-time work experience in the administration or operation/execution (i.e., providing consultation and/or technical assistance to stakeholders, research and analysis, or enforcement of program guidelines/policies/procedures) of a program (i.e., the provision of a service or an administrative oversight/enforcement responsibility).

2. All of the following (a and b): a. A total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and b. A total of two years of graduate-level education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience.

3. Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eighteen months of full-time work as a Program Planner 1.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.