Job Description: Program Manager
Job Title: Program Manager Full-/Part-Time: Full time Regular/Temporary: Temporary; 18 months with possibility of full- time regular employment thereafter Salary: $38-40,000 annual salary + competitive benefits package Immediate Supervisor: Director of Programs Start Date: On or after Monday, October 16, 2017 Application Deadline: Friday, September 22, 2017
Indiana Humanities is a dynamic statewide non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the public humanities. We are a grant-maker, convener, facilitator, program partner and much more. We seek an energetic, creative, collaborative and detail-oriented person to join our small but mighty team as a junior programs staff member and help us realize our ambitious goals for One State / One Story: Frankenstein, part of our two-year thematic initiative Quantum Leap.
As part of the programs team, the program manager will help with planning and implementation of Frankenstein events, including the spring 2018 weekend retreat focused on the novel and the fall 2018 Indiana Sci-Fi & Horror Writers Festival, presented in partnership with Indiana State Library and Indiana Center for the Book. Additionally, the program manager will see to day-to-day administration of application- based Frankenstein programs sponsored by Indiana Humanities, including book sets + program funds awarded up to 100 organizations statewide, a Frankenstein speakers bureau and Frankenstein readathon grants. Keys to success in the role are not only excellent task management, organization and research skills, but also a general can-do attitude and enthusiasm about our work and the people we serve.
This position is funded in part by a National Endowment for the Humanities “position in public humanities” grant, the goal of which is to invigorate the interpretation of the humanities in cultural organizations by placing recent graduates of humanities PhD and/or public history/museum studies MA students in entry level positions with leading public humanities organizations. See below for special qualifications related to this position.
Learn more about Indiana Humanities and One State / One Story: Frankenstein by visiting our website: www.IndianaHumanities.org
Responsibilities include: • Day-to-day administration of rolling Frankenstein programs such as book sets + program funds, readathon grants and a special short-term Frankenstein speakers bureau.
Program Manager—One State / One Story: Frankenstein Indiana Humanities • Coordinating event details for complex one-off Frankenstein programs including the kick-off readathon at Indiana Medical History Museum, the winter weekend retreat and next fall’s first-ever Indiana Sci-Fi & Horror Writers Festival for teens. • Communicating with 12-13 university partners to collect and share information about campus and public events and other activities related to Frankenstein. • Humanities research, such as finding texts for discussion programs, researching historical information for IH projects, and other background information for IH’s Frankenstein and Quantum Leap programs. • Assist communications team by communicating upcoming program details and drafting content for special “This Month in Frankenstein” newsletter, blog posts, etc. • Maintaining accurate and up-to-date contact records and program data in our internal database. • Collecting evaluation data according to our evaluation plan and assisting with program analysis and adjustments based on feedback. • Occasional evening or weekend hours for staffing Indiana Humanities events. • Occasional travel around the state to IH-sponsored events. • Other duties as assigned.
The ideal candidate: • Is passionate about Indiana and its future—and sees how the humanities can make a difference in our state. • Is a problem-solver and takes ownership of projects, working tirelessly to drive them and the organization forward. In other words, operates with a “Get Stuff Done” mentality. • Can point to concrete examples of project management experience, showing how her or his leadership contributed to a successful outcome. • Is goal-oriented, motivated to set and accomplish ambitious objectives, and responsive to feedback. • Has outstanding written and oral communication skills, including the ability to adapt tone and style depending on the audience and setting. • Has excellent organization and task-management skills, including the ability to prioritize in a busy, fast-paced work environment. • Is motivated to learn new skills and expand the scope of her or his responsibilities. • Is familiar with and excited about the eclectic and emerging field of public humanities; aware of key questions, trends, methods and best practices. • Enjoys working as part of a team but also able to be self-directed. • Is committed and reliable.
Education and/or equivalent experience: • Masters in public humanities, public history, museum studies or similar; or PhD in relevant humanities field. Priority given to recent graduates of such programs (2014 or later). • Prior experience in public programming for a cultural organization or project management preferred.
Program Manager—One State / One Story: Frankenstein Indiana Humanities Expected Outcomes
Chief among our goals are to find someone who can capably handle the day-to-day work of running a large statewide humanities program with many complex facets and competing and parallel timetables. This person is expected to take ownership of the role, not only finishing the work in a timely manner and to the highest standard, but also finding ways to make our processes clearer, more efficient and more impactful. By covering day-to-day administration and event management, this person will enable senior staff members to prioritize their time and energy on the most complex parts of the Frankenstein program, as well as focus on non-Frankenstein initiatives at Indiana Humanities. It’s non-negotiable that the program manager work well as part of a team and represent Indiana Humanities in a professional, warm and inviting manner in a variety of community settings.
The program manager will gain invaluable experience with the practical skills of public humanities, in particular creating and administering text-based discussion programs, building and managing relationships with a wide variety of external partners, event planning, and evaluation. She or he will learn the ins and outs of successful non-profit, especially public humanities, work, including the ability to prioritize in a fast- paced environment, to innovate and to deliver high-quality programming on a limited budget. She or he will see up close how the public humanities can enrich, and even transform lives and communities and the ways in which scholarly expertise translates into vibrant, dynamic public programming for everyday people.
Indiana Humanities is committed to—and has a reputation for—supporting the development of employees’ personal and professional development. We hire for talent and build a job around them; we are open to expanding employees’ scopes of work based on their interests and successful track record. If the above outcomes are met, we plan to encourage the program manager to propose additional ideas, as funding allows, for One State / One Story: Frankenstein and Quantum Leap.
To Apply
Send a cover letter and resume to Leah Nahmias, director of programs and community engagement ([email protected]). Your cover letter should detail how your experiences and skills fit the position as described. Be sure to include why you’re passionate about the public humanities and how the role fits your interests and career goals. Please also indicate your available start date.
Applications are due Friday, September 22. Selected candidates will be invited for an interview (via Skype or in-person as the candidate’s location allows) with the director of programs and other team members. Candidates will be asked for references upon invitation to interview. We are eager to have this person in place by mid-November, though s/he may start earlier as their availability allows.
Staff Contact: Leah Nahmias, director of programs and community engagement, Indiana Humanities 317-616-9804 / [email protected]
Program Manager—One State / One Story: Frankenstein Indiana Humanities