Cultural Heritage Specialist

Description

 

  • Are you interested in innovative public programming?
  • Do you love history and connecting with communities to tell their stories?
The Montgomery County Department of Parks is currently seeking a Cultural Heritage Specialist for our Cultural Resources Stewardship Section within the Park Planning & Stewardship Division. This is an opportunity to be a part of a new and innovative program that celebrates the rich history of Montgomery County. Reporting directly to the Cultural Resources Stewardship Supervisor, the Cultural Heritage Specialist will lead Parks in ensuring Montgomery County’s diverse communities and history are highlighted across all parks through the newly created Untold Stories Program. The Untold Stories Program will expand the existing Cultural Resources interpretive program that includes several subject matter experts conducting research informing five museums and over 80 outdoor interpretive signs. This Program focuses on Park land where there are no facilities or public programming, yet there are rich and powerful histories of African American, Hispanic and Latino communities, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, recent immigrants, and other underrepresented populations. This position will work with staff and communities to implement creative innovative strategies based on best practices and national trends for providing a visitor experience that results in representation in Parks and active advocates for historic and cultural resource preservation and appreciation.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is a six-time National Recreational and Parks Association Gold Medal Award Winner.  Behind the vast and diverse Montgomery County Department of Parks system is a career staff complement of nearly 800 employees, 421 parks and over 37,000 acres of park land that serves a diverse population of more than one million residents in the Washington, DC area. Go to our website to learn more:  https://www.montgomeryparks.org/  
Company
The Montgomery County Department of Parks
Wheaton, MD
Salary
$63,374.00 - $112,457.00
Responsibilities
Examples of Important Duties

The Cultural Heritage Specialist performs the following major duties in addition to the responsibilities listed above:
 

  • Administer the vibrant Untold Stories Program that focuses on the interpretation of Montgomery County heritage and collections related to those groups who have been historically underrepresented.
  • Lead targeted outreach and engagement across Parks where Untold Stories are identified.
  • Work closely with the subject matter experts and colleagues across Parks’ divisions to ensure a high standard of interpretation is delivered to diverse communities.
  • Create innovative products to engage Park visitors about history using a variety of platforms – including but not limited to interpretive signage, digital tours, story maps, educational programming, and community events.
  • Responsible for community engagement with a focus on creating equitable programming rooted in research and analysis.
  • Collaborate with a range of external colleagues and partners to promote the Untold Stories Program and seek suitable funding to deliver and sustain them.
  • Develop and ensure delivery of the physical and digital strategy, programming, and operational planning for Untold Stories Program in liaison with others, empowering the community to engage with culture and heritage. 
  • Collect data relevant to the specialty area. Maintain listing of local historical resource contacts.  Act as a liaison between historical researchers and historical organizations, as well as Parks staff.
  • Work with Cultural Resources Stewardship Supervisor to establish an advisory council that represent the communities that we serve to increase the division’s capacity to think strategically around programs, exhibitions and other new initiatives. Meets with citizens, historical groups, community groups, schools, Planning Board, County Council, staff and other government agencies to identify needs, plan programs and answer questions about history programs and historic facilities and sites, as well as general county history.
  • Conduct research as needed to complement material developed by subject matter experts.  Reviews technical literature, conducts surveys, exchanges information with other government agencies, and attends professional conferences to identify new programs, methods, and equipment which may be useful to the program.
Qualifications

 Preferred skills and experience:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in History, Anthropology, Public History, Museums, Planning, African American History, Cultural Studies, or any related field. 
  • Four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in related fields. 
  • An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted, which together total eight (8) years. 
  • Excellent public interpretation and engagement experience and background (programming, events, social media)
  • Strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to maintain collaborative relationships with other Parks staff and key stakeholders
  • Proven ability to approach and interact with people of all backgrounds and the ability to think collaboratively with staff and public alike
  • Strong project management skillset with the ability to deliver clear outcomes through competing deadlines 
  • Be comfortable discussing identities such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, ability, and gender in plain terms as they relate to cultural heritage, equity and social justice
  • Ability to handle complex and often controversial situations through strong interpersonal skills
  • Proficient in office software (MS Office), enterprise software and specialized software for planning, scheduling, communicating, word processing, collecting and reporting data, preparing presentations, and researching.
  • Experience with GIS and a general comfort with technology as applied to public programming.
  • Valid driver’s license (depending on area of assignment) in accordance with both State and Commission rules and regulations. Driver’s license must be unencumbered by restrictions, revocations, suspensions, or points that could limit the employee’s ability to drive Commission vehicles or perform driving duties required by the position of assignment.

Preferred experience:

  • Significant knowledge of, and skill in the following areas: principles, concepts and current best practices in historic and cultural interpretation; research techniques and analysis; GIS applications and uses; and cultural and historical program grant programs
  • Graphic and Web Design experience including accessibility requirements for online and printed materials
  • Master’s Degree in History, Anthropology, Public History, Museums, Planning, African American history, Cultural Studies, or any related field

 

Work Conditions 

Works in office and the field with occasional night and weekend hours. Must be able to lift 40lbs. Work location is Needwood Mansion, Derwood, MD.
Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree in history, American studies, museum studies, archaeology, education, historic preservation, or a related field; and

2. Five years of progressively responsible experience, including two years as a program coordinator or supervisor; or

3. Master's degree in one of the above fields; and three years of related experience; or

4. An equivalent combination of education and experience.

Instructions
Agency
The Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission
Address

7833 Walker Drive
Suite 425
Greenbelt, Maryland, 20770

Phone
301-454-1411
Website
https://www.mncppc.org/jobs
Links
Read More
Program / Center Affiliation
Urban Studies and Planning
Historic Preservation
Job Type
Full-Time