Job Listing
🔗Director of Museums
Website Historic Charleston Foundation
Historic Charleston Foundation's mission is to advocate for a future for Charleston that honors and protects its people, places, culture, and community.
Position Summary
As the steward of our two uniquely significant museum houses—the Nathaniel Russell House and the Aiken-Rhett House – the Director of Museums will inspire their team to elevate every aspect of the Foundation’s preservation and educational mission through community engagement, interactive tours, interpretive programming, inclusive storytelling and special events.
This position also plays a key role in collections stewardship, ensuring our archives and museum collections are preserved with excellence, accessible in meaningful ways and properly documented. We are seeking a leader who can energize stakeholders and provide innovative interpretation through partnerships, technology, and thoughtful leadership.
Essential Job Functions
• Ability to lead and manage people, utilizing fresh energy to influence and engage subordinates and peers
• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently while maintaining high standards for accuracy and quality
• Proficiency at conducting historic research
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to understand and connect with people of varying backgrounds
• Utilization of Past Perfect, CatalogIt, or other software for recordkeeping
• Ability to read, interpret and adjust temperature and humidity gauges
Position Duties
1. Oversee, direct and organize the day-to-day activities of the two house museums including budgeting, planning, staff selection and development, and analyzing attendance data
2. Act as the primary steward and interpreter of the house museums and collections of Historic Charleston Foundation in collaboration with the House Museum Managers
3. Supervise the Managers of both House Museums
4. Creatively develop and implement plans for the exhibition, care, and interpretation of the Foundation’s collections and historic interiors with Museums staff.
5. Collaborate with staff and consultants to develop concepts for community engagement and education based upon collection, house museum, and exhibition programs, including the use of new technologies
6. Partner with educational institutions for undergraduate and graduate study in the fields of preservation, history, decorative arts, architecture, and the building arts, cementing HCF house museums as “learning labs”
7. Represent the Museums Department through professional leadership activities, committees, and affiliations
8. Innovate community engagement at museum properties through exhibits, performances, and other intellectual and artistic programming when opportunities align with preservation and management goals
9. Work with Philanthropy staff and Foundation leadership to identify and pursue funding opportunities, including grants related to house museum preservation and collections-based projects
10. Engage Marketing Staff to help promote the museums and the collections through media, community and other outlets
11. With Museums staff, ensure that collections practices comply with museum policies and accepted practices related to the care, accessibility, preservation and conservation of intellectual and physical property
12. Educate staff, board members, and the public on museum stewardship best practices.
13. Propose potential acquisitions and de-accessions to Historic Charleston Foundation trustees and staff relative to its collecting goals and priorities. Collaborate with Foundation committees regarding future development of the collections
14. Conduct original research to write internal and/or external publications (including articles, newsletter text, and museum didactics) and scholarly lectures for presentations locally and nationally
15. Ensure that the House Museum Managers oversee the ongoing training and education of Museum Interpreters
16. Supervise staff in monitoring environmental conditions and climate control systems and review climate data for safe and optimal conditions
17. In coordination with the Museum Staff, schedule and oversee appointments with colleagues, researchers, and visitors to view museum collections, files, images, and resource materials
18. Utilizing dynamic educational, interpretive initiatives and technology at the house museums and online, provide accessibility to HCF’s exciting collections
19. Manage the archives as part of the museum collections and ensure that the Archivist responds promptly to research inquiries from colleagues and the general public
20. Support and assist cooperative Foundation programs such as the Charleston Festival, Charleston by Design, and other special events as needed
21. Work with the volunteer members of the Museums Committee in conjunction with House Museum Managers
22. Oversee the historic landscapes at the Nathaniel Russell and Aiken-Rhett House Museums; conduct long-range planning for their maintenance and interpretation
Benefits
All NCPE interns received an hourly stipend, the rate is listed at each position description. Additionally, interns receive paid time off (PTO), paid Federal holidays if working full-time, and access to NCPE's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for career and personal counseling, coaching, and referrals. Project sites may also offer a housing allowance and/or commuting stipend; this information is also listed in the description or offered during the interview.
Eligible NCPE interns who successfully complete their internships may count their position towards earning a Public Land Corps (PLC) Non-Competitive Hiring Authority certificate. To be eligible to earn a PLC certificate, an intern must be 30 years old or younger (or 35 if a veteran). Once earned, the PLC hiring authority certificate may be used to apply for eligible Federal temporary, term, or permanent positions. Successful completion of a NCPE internship does not guarantee Federal employment. Contact manager@preservenet.org for more details.
Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must be
*at least 18 years old;
*no older than 30 years of age (or 35 years if a Veteran) when beginning the internship; applicants who are 31 or older (or 36 or older if a Veteran) are not eligible;
*currently enrolled in a degree-seeking academic program at the college level (or recently graduated within the past 12 months)
*be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident.
Interns are not allowed to work more than 1200 hours total in the program; previous interns must stay within this overall limit. The length of an internship can vary from 10 to 30 weeks if full-time (40 hours per week) or longer if on a part-time schedule. If selected, the exact starting date will be determined by you and the NPS supervisor. The stipend rate is $17.00 per hour unless otherwise listed.
The successful candidate is responsible for finding and paying for travel to and housing at the internship location; some exceptions apply. The supervising office may be able to assist in locating housing but it is ultimately up to the individual accepting the internship to find accommodation.
The National Council requires all interns working in-person at Federal facilities and/or with Federal employees receive the Covid-19 vaccination. Please be advised that you may also be required to wear a mask, depending on the protocols adopted by your work site. Also be aware that, due to Government-wide security requirements, a background check will be required if you are selected for a position. This will include providing information about recent housing and employment history. The position supervisor will have more information about these requirements and procedures at the time of hiring. You may direct any questions to NCPE's Internship Program Director, Julee Johnson, at manager@preservenet.org.
Please note that interns are not NCPE or NPS employees. Stipends are academic awards and taxes are not withheld, nor are social security contributions made on your behalf. These funds may be taxable, however, so consult a tax preparation professional if you have questions.
How to Apply
You may review NCPE's internship opportunities anytime without registering. Use the search function to find listings by location, keyword, or area of interest/category. Once you identify one or more positions of interest, there is a 3-step application process.
Step 1: Click on the Apply for Job button, then select Universal Application. Click on Register to create a User Account, which requires a username and email. A link will be sent to you from manager@preservenet.org to create a password. We suggest that you add this email to your safe senders list so you don't miss receiving this important link. You will be instructed to Log In to Preservenet using your username or email and password, which will take you back to the Universal Application.
Step 2: The Universal Application is required to apply for all NCPE internships. You fill out this form only once. In addition to contact information, educational status, work history, and experience, it requires two attachments: (1) the 2 most recent years of academic transcripts. These may be unofficial transcripts if official versions are unavailable. A PDF is preferred, labeled Your Your Last Name_Your First Name_Transcript. (2) a resume or CV (curriculum vitae). Please limit to a maximum of 4 pages; 2 pages are preferred. A PDF is preferred but jpg, png, doc, or docx file types are accepted. Label Your Last Name_Your First Name_Resume. This form may be saved as a draft and completed later. Use the link provided to return to the form.
Step 3: Once you submit the Universal Application, you may browse and apply for NCPE internships using the link provided. Complete the application process by clicking on the Apply for job button found at each internship listing and upload the required Essay. Use the essay to explain why you are applying for an internship, including how your interest areas will benefit the National Park Service (NPS) and how the internship will further your studies and career goals. Be as specific as possible; there is a 400-word maximum length. Submit the essay to finish the application for that position. You may apply for a maximum of 6 internships during an application round; there is no limit at other times of the year. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!
Logging in with a Registered User Account and completing the Universal Application is required to apply for NCPE Internships. Please visit the Universal Application page to register for an account and complete the form. After logging in and completing the form, refreshing this listing will display the Job Application to apply online.