Description

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.  

 Are you passionate about local and regional history and genealogy? The Sarasota County History Center is looking for YOU! The History Center is a branch of the Sarasota County library system with an extensive archive, a reference library, an impressive collection of local artifacts, and a variety of impactful historic preservation programs. 

We are looking for a Program and Outreach Specialist to help us plan and execute all sorts of programs, events, and workshops to promote these outstanding resources and make them more easily accessible for library users of all ages. You’ll work directly with our collection, looking for ways to incorporate our materials into public workshops, classroom activities, exhibits, research tutorials, and other engaging programs, both at the History Center and around Sarasota County.

Now is a particularly exciting time to join the History Center team, since we are currently building a brand-new 30,000-square-foot facility with a wide range of new spaces for public services and programming. Our Program and Outreach Specialist will play an exciting role in ensuring the new History Center is alive with engaging programs and activities when it opens.

About the Position
In this role, you will be tasked with...

Programs and Outreach

Developing, planning, and executing public programs highlighting local and regional history, genealogy, and historic preservation for diverse audiences at the History Center, other library branches, and partner institutions and venues around Sarasota County.
Promoting the understanding and use of the Sarasota County History Center and its resources and services.
Cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with community partners, local non-profits, and other County departments.
Recruiting outside presenters to provide public programming as part of the History Center’s overall menu of offerings.
Continually evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of History Center programs and seeking new opportunities for improvement.
Coordinating History Center participation in systemwide programs and initiatives by representing the History Center on systemwide teams.
Compiling accurate statistics on History Center programs and services.
Liaising with the Department’s outreach team to ensure availability and promotion of History Center collections and services around Sarasota County.
In collaboration with other staff, creating communications to promote the History Center’s collections, services, and programs, including social media content, blog posts, newsletter articles, flyers, brochures, and other deliverables.
 

Customer Service

Representing Sarasota County to customers, volunteers, staff, and donors. 
Implementing standards of service that ensure the prompt and efficient resolution of inquiries and requests from internal and external customers, delivered with the utmost courtesy and respect.
Assisting with routine public-facing operations at the History Center, including reference services and retrieving materials for customers.
Contributing to public tours, presentations, and workshops relating to the collection and best practices for preserving historical resources.
 

About the Schedule
Work Hours:

Full-Time, 40 hours per week.
Must be available to work: Sunday - Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Work schedules may vary due to split shifts, rotations, on-call, emergencies, etc.
As a reminder, all county employees are considered essential and must be prepared to protect and support the community and its citizens. Each employee, without exception, will have a duty assignment and be required to work during a disaster or declared emergency.

Requirements

About You
Minimum Qualifications:

To be considered for the position, you must have the following:

Associate's degree in history, Public History, Communications, or Education, or a related discipline, -AND-  two (2) years of related experience.
Related community events/activities planning may substitute for the required education.
 

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in history, Public History, Communications, Education, or a related discipline.
-OR- two (2) years of experience working in either archives, libraries, museums, or similar institutions with program and outreach-related responsibilities.
 

Subject to Passing Substance Screening:  This position is subject to passing a pre-employment substance screening.  An applicant who fails to pass a required drug screening test shall be disqualified from employment in any class for a period of five (5) years.

Fingerprint Screening:  This position is subject to a mandatory fingerprint-based background check per applicable federal, state, and/or local laws. The screening will be used to verify criminal history and other relevant information as permitted by law.  An applicant who fails to pass a required screening may be disqualified from employment.

 About Everything Else

Starting Pay: $53,456.00 annually