Chief Engagement and Content Officer - Full-Time

$83,219.00 - $153,973.00 Annually

Applicants must apply online. Link below:

https://scmuseum.org/who-we-are/human-resources/job-openings#full-time-positions

Are you looking to be part of an innovative team of professionals dedicated to telling South Carolina's diverse stories? As the storytellers of South Carolina, the South Carolina State Museum (SCSM) staff share the rich natural and cultural diversity of the state through the museum’s permanent collections, educational programs, exhibitions and digital resources.

This is an exciting moment for the State Museum as it embarks on a $75 million dollar Capital Campaign to revolutionize the museum experience for our visitors and expand our educational impact state-wide. This collaborative project will allow the museum to share more of its extensive collection of over 1.1 million objects and specimens and renew over 150,000 square feet of with updated permanent exhibitions and immersive multimedia experiences highlighting the important stories of people and communities throughout South Carolina’s history. Through these new spaces and engaging explorations of objects, the museum will offer our guests the opportunity to connect with each other and the many communities that call our state home. 

The museum is seeking a dynamic Chief Engagement and Content Officer to lead our efforts in creating engaging and accessible experiences for diverse audiences. This role, reporting to the Executive Director, will oversee all aspects of public engagement, educational programs, curatorial content creation, collections stewardship and related strategic partnerships to enhance the museum’s mission. Come be a part of our team “reimagining” what the South Carolina State Museum can be for our next generation of visitors, students, and scholars.

Job Responsibilities 

• Oversees the design/build upgrades of the museum’s multi-million-dollar permanent exhibition projects and expansion of state-wide educational activities.   Acts as primary project manager with outside contractors and/or oversees project managers.  
• Works closely with the Executive Director and Leadership Team, SCSM Foundation staff, Commission and Foundation Board to raise funds and build partnerships for exhibitions, educational programs and digital projects. 
• Leads the development and implementation of a comprehensive interpretive strategy for the museum including exhibitions, public programs, educational initiatives and related digital media. 
  • Creates and supports a focused, visitor-centered approach. 
  • Ensures that front-end, formative and summative evaluation is rooted in exhibition and programmatic work.
• Builds a collegial, focused department that works collaboratively and cross-departmentally to achieve the museum’s goals.  Manages the teams responsible for:
  • Curatorial Affairs, Research and Acquisitions, Exhibitions and Traveling Exhibition Program
  • Collections Management, Registration & Object Digitization 
  • K-12+ Field Trips, Educational State-Wide Outreach, Accessibility Programs and Teacher Professional Development
  • The Museum’s Astronomy Hub, including our Planetarium, Observatory and astronomy education resources
  • Public Programming and community engagement 
  • Volunteer Program and daily interpretation
• Fosters partnerships with community organizations to co-curate experiences and promote inclusivity and accessibility.
• Serves as a member of the Museum’s Executive Leadership team. 
• Acts as Acting Executive Director as needed. 

Minimum and Additional Requirements

• Advanced degree in business, non-profit/arts administration, history, science, education, art history, museum studies or related field. 
• Minimum 10 years in a successful leadership role within a museum or similar cultural institution. 
• Proven track record in creating and leading large, complex exhibition and educational initiatives that are impactful for their target audiences. 
• Experience in fostering strategic external partnerships and garnering external funding.
• Strong leadership and communication skills with successful experience managing diverse teams.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, public presentation and teaching skills and ability to deliver content to diverse audiences.
• Proven experience and knowledge of best practices in curatorial research, collections care museum education and participatory interpretation practices.
• Current, updated knowledge of American Alliance of Museum’s best practices for Accredited Museums.
• Some travel, evening and weekend work is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Successful leadership of million dollar + exhibition and/or educational projects that served diverse audiences and had national reach
• Demonstrated integrity, strong diplomatic skills, poise, and extraordinary emotional intelligence in building relationships with diverse constituencies and partners. 
• Strong project management skills
• Proven success leading in a complex and fast-paced environment
• A professional and resourceful style; the ability to work both independently and as a team player; to take initiative; have a high level of integrity and sound judgement

Additional Comments

• An appreciation of and respect for the Museum’s history, mission, values, programs, and brand
• Curiosity and a commitment to lifelong learning