Job description

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Title: Curator, Social Justice

Status: (full-time, exempt)

Salary: Commensurate with experience; range begins at $50,000

Rooted in the stories of the Underground Railroad, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (”Freedom Center”) illuminates the true meaning of inclusive freedom by presenting permanent and special exhibits that inspire, public programming that provokes dialogue and action, and educational resources that equip modern abolitionists.

The Freedom Center opened in August 2004 on the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then, 1.3+ million people have visited its exhibits and public programs, inspiring everyone to take courageous steps for freedom. Two million people have utilized educational resources online at freedomcenter.org, working to connect the lessons of the Underground Railroad to inform and inspire today’s global and local fight for freedom. Partnerships include Historians Against Slavery, Polaris Project, Free the Slaves, US Department of State and International Justice Mission. In 2014, THE FREEDOM CENTER launched a new online resource in the fight against modern slavery, endslaverynow.org.

Job Overview

The Curator of Social Justice plays a critical role in the transformation of exhibits and programs at the Freedom Center. The Freedom Center plans to renovate and refresh its permanent exhibitions and create the nation’s first permanent exhibition in a nationally accredited museum devoted to Social Justice, complementing a suite of related programming. This work takes inspiration from the Underground Railroad, the nation’s first major Social Justice movement upon which other movements are built. The Curator works with colleagues across the Freedom Center and with external exhibit design partners to advise on key content themes, connect topics to the Freedom Center’s object and image assets, and help build, deepen, and steward relationships with community and academic partners. This position plays a key role in the Freedom Center’s efforts to center its DEAI values (Diversity, Equity, Access, & Inclusion) in its work and considers how to prioritize and share marginalized narratives, identify clear and compelling learning goals for adult and family audiences, and broaden perspectives on regional and national history.

In addition, the Curator works with staff to oversee object research and acquisition for new exhibitions and initiatives, building the collections in accordance with the Freedom Center’s goals. The Curator leads work related to the Freedom Center’s End Slavery Now initiative, which advances Social Justice by empowering others to identify and stop modern slavery and human trafficking. The Curator also participates in professional organizations and publications. With support from colleagues, the Curator collaborates with the Philanthropy in in fundraising to support exhibitions- and collections-related activities through grant proposals and donor requests.

This outward-facing, collaborative position is part of a strong and passionate team, reports to the Vice President of Interpretation, Programs & Education, and supervises one staff person, interns, and volunteers. The Freedom Center seeks candidates from all communities, including but not limited to People of Color, Native Americans, recent immigrants, and others interested in telling the important stories of social justice movements, past, present, and future.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate to create exhibits – 70%Work with project teams to research content and advise on key themes and messages; act as knowledgeable voice to help make credible and highly visible choices around Social Justice-related content and programming.

Work with Exhibit Content Developer and exhibit design firms to select materials for exhibition and make best use of collections and images
When needed, work with staff to install materials for safe display
Advise and participate in project-based collecting and loan initiatives

• Collaborate to create, revise, and present museum programs – 10%
• Work with educators to research content and advise on program messages and collections connections for schools, families, community partners, adults, and public
• Participate in the Freedom Center’s planning efforts and implementation of America 250-Ohio programs; help determine how to recognize the experiences of ALL Americans in programming
• Collaborate with external partners on modern slavery/human trafficking programs and initiatives
• Represent THE FREEDOM CENTER to external audiences – 15%
• Be part of relationships with key community partners that help the Freedom Center champion inclusive freedom and tell the story of the Underground Railroad and its legacy
• Curate and present occasional public programs, including lectures and tours of the Freedom Center
• Create blog posts and contribute to social media opportunities; participate in media interviews and filming opportunities as neededCreate, steward, and deepen relationships with regional universities to create opportunities for research, publication, and partnership

Work with colleagues in Philanthropy to cultivate and steward related donors
Assist researchers with questions relating to the collection, both in person and by phone or email; handle reference inquiries

• Other Duties as Assigned – 5%

Qualifications

• Education or Equivalent Work Experience
• Degree or equivalent work experience in history, Black/African American Studies, Gender Studies, American Studies, library science, archival studies, or related field
• At least 3 years of experience working in a museum, library or archives, including familiarity with working with partners and/or public
• Additional years of related work experience or degree programs or trainings will be accepted in lieu of the degree or experience requirements
• Specialized Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• The Freedom Center’s exhibits and activities focus on the history of the Underground Railroad as an original protest movement that has sparked Social Justice movements to this day; candidates should have strong knowledge of historical and present Social Justice movements (including the Underground Railroad), as well as a familiarity with the tenets of activism
• Working knowledge of modern-day enslavement and/or human trafficking not required, but a plus
• Keen curiosity and aptitude for learning and sharing new information; solid grounding in museum or library methods and professional standards, and experience with both analog and digital research and historical methods; broad knowledge of current trends in curatorship, interpretation, and diversity, equity, access, and inclusion.
• Strong knowledge of, commitment to, and experience with DEAI work, particularly researching and working with others to give voice to marginalized perspectives in history.
• Ability to forge strong and respectful relationships with colleagues, donors, and community partners. Experience working with exhibits and education teams is a plus. Comfort in presenting in public settings, including in person and online.
• Experience using Windows-based PCs and software, MS Office products, Photoshop, cameras, scanning equipment, and collections management systems. Must be able and willing to learn and adapt to new technologies.
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively work with the public and coworkers in a positive, professional manner.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a member of a team.

Working Conditions

• Typical office setting at the Freedom Center, with some time spent at offsite meetings. Some driving – locally and regionally – to build partnerships and/or assess possible new collections. Some travel to other Social Justice sites.
• Regular and frequent computer and phone use.
• Occasional work near heavy equipment, such as trucks and forklifts.
• 40-hour work week with occasional evenings and weekends.
• Supervise interns and volunteers.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to sit, stand, bend, kneel, reach, and retrieve items, which sometimes requires standing or sitting on concrete floors and climbing tall ladders or mobile stairs
• Must be able to lift 30 lbs and carry for a distance of up to 10 feet and push or pull a cart weighing up to 100 lbs

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

We’re committed to growing and empowering a more inclusive community within our organization, community, and employees. That’s why we hire and cultivate diverse teams of people from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that true innovation happens when everyone has room at the table and the tools, resources, and opportunity to excel.

At NURFC, we want leaders who lead so that people choose to follow; We are looking for a leader who embodies the following leadership guiding principles:

• Captivate the Audience – Tell compelling stories, find the link that the audience can relate to. NURFC leaders are authentic and connect with people through the power of relationship building. They think globally with relentless focus. They maintain a sharp vision for success to lead strategically and begin with the end in mind.
• Inspire Optimism – Motivate, develop, and collaborate. NURFC leaders consistently reinforce why and how success is possible. They build effective teams with strong relationships, maintain humility, invest in top talent, and show appreciation. They demonstrate confidence, act decisively, expect excellence and drive results to realize shared success.
• Innovate with Courage – Invent our future, respect our past. NURFC leaders set a tone of accountability while taking informed risks and using failures to learn. They are curious and inspire creativity. They identify disruptors, drive necessary change, and seek to do the impossible while respecting NURFC’s rich history.
• Act with Integrity and Inclusion – Do the right thing. NURFC leaders are truthful, trustworthy, and reliable. They make a point to publicly appreciate differences and go out of their way to help others belong. always Maintaining a respectful candor, they proactively involve multiple perspectives when making critical decisions, act with sound judgment and treat everyone fairly.

NURFC is an EOE employer and does not discriminate against any person or group based on age, color, disability, gender, pregnancy, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or genetic information. NURFC is building a culturally diverse staff committed to working in a multicultural environment and encourages applications from minorities and women.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $50,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Weekend availability

Work Location: In person

offroadmanagementgroup.com is the go-to platform for job seekers looking for the best job postings from around the web. With a focus on quality, the platform guarantees that all job postings are from reliable sources and are up-to-date. It also offers a variety of tools to help users find the perfect job for them, such as searching by location and filtering by industry. Furthermore, offroadmanagementgroup.com provides helpful resources like resume tips and career advice to give job seekers an edge in their search. With its commitment to quality and user-friendliness, offroadmanagementgroup.com is the ideal place to find your next job.