Managing Director of Public History

One of the leading historical societies in the country, the Missouri Historical Society seeks a Managing Director of Public History, who will continue expanding upon how we connect visitors to their shared past and to one another. We believe public history has the power to build stronger communities, and this position is an essential part of that work.

We are looking for a creative, passionate, and inspiring leader who will oversee our exhibit, programming, education, publication, evaluation, communication, and public history teams. This person will oversee about ¼ of MHS’s staff and annual budget. They will be responsible for leading the teams who create our biggest projects and who serve our largest audiences.

The Missouri Historical Society, which operates the Missouri History Museum, Soldier’s Memorial Military Museum, and the Library and Research Center, was founded in 1866 and is poised to build on its proud history in the decades ahead. As part of the historical society’s senior leadership team, the Managing Director of Public History will ne an instrumental part of that growth. In the years ahead, we will be expanding our efforts to share more history with more people than we ever have before. Those efforts include three new core galleries, expanded programs and education efforts, new communications strategies, and new spaces designed to invite visitors to plan the future alongside us.

MHS has a $22 million annual budget and a staff size of 200. We are generously supported by the Zoo Museum Tax District, which provides roughly half of our yearly funding.

Essential Functions:

• Oversee a team that includes 10 direct reports, about 50 people total, and a budget of $5+ million Responsible for helping set long term calendars for exhibits and programming, setting, and overseeing overall budget Serve as one of MHS’s primary spokespeople Serve as member of the Leadership Team of the institution, reporting directly to the President Assist with implementing initiatives related to the long-term vision, participate in institutional strategic planning efforts and annual goal prioritization, cultivate key donor relations and stewardship including direct interactions with board members

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in History, Museum Studies, American Studies, or similar field of study Minimum 7 years museum experience, preferably in a wide range of areas Management experience, serving as a spokesperson for museum or non-profit

Skills:

• Ability to lead large and diverse teams, helping to build and maintain a positive and supportive work environment Ability to motivate both internal and external audiences Outstanding problem-solving abilities including ability to prioritize, identify resources, and delegate. Ability to facilitate communication and collaboration between departmental teams Willingness to act as a liaison between departmental teams and the leadership team. Excellent overall communication skills including writing, public speaking, and media Organizational skills and the ability to manage a multi-million-dollar yearly budget as well as manage major institutional initiatives within their scheduled timelines Experience with board stewardship and donor cultivation required Flexibility, professionalism, creativity, and a passion for sharing local history with our visitors and community are all required

Deadline to Apply: Open until filled.

Please upload cover letter and resume when applying.