Exhibitions Development Coordinator

Job Description

Job Description

Our Mission : Since the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, our organization has aimed to connect people to the natural environment and human history.

The Field Museum is excited to announce an opening for a full-time Exhibitions Development Coordinator for Community Projects.

This pivotal three-year term position, starting in October 2024, will report directly to the Exhibitions Development Director.

If you are passionate about fostering meaningful collaborations and advancing cultural exhibitions, this role offers an exceptional opportunity to make a significant impact.

Key Responsibilities

As the Exhibitions Development Coordinator, you will play a crucial role in two main areas :

• Comprehensive Documentation of Community Collaborations In response to recent changes in NAGPRA law, which have significantly increased our record-keeping obligations, you will be responsible for meticulously documenting all interactions with Native American community members. This involves :
• Communication Tracking : Document all forms of communication, including emails, text messages, letters, phone calls, voicemails, group chats, and social media posts.
• Meeting Documentation : Recording details of all onsite and offsite meetings, as well as teleconferences.
• Event Logging : Tracking attendance and participation in all relevant onsite and offsite events.

Your records will need to include :

Comprehensive lists of all internal and external participants

• Tribal affiliations
• Accurate contact information
• Detailed content summaries
• Relevant images
• Dates of interactions
• Detailed notes and summaries
• Associated attachments

Beyond documenting permissions and information related to Native American objects in our collection, you'll also be required to capture any pertinent details that might relate to our collections, whether directly or indirectly.

As we continue to address our colonial history, we expect record-keeping needs to expand, particularly affecting projects like the Africa exhibition.

Anticipate that data entry into the EMu consultations module will constitute approximately 50% of your workload.

2. Effective Coordination with Community Partners

Working with community members to co-create cultural exhibitions involves a distinct set of responsibilities :

Relationship Building : Establishing and nurturing strong, respectful relationships with community partners.

• Communication Management : Coordinating communication between community members, internal departments, external development, design, and production vendors, as well as community development and visitor research partners.
• Meeting and Event Planning : Scheduling meetings with collaborators, setting agendas, and managing follow-ups and reminders to ensure timely completion of deliverables and deadlines.
• Travel and Logistics : Arranging travel itineraries, organizing gifts, and providing condolences for community members as needed.
• Representation : Acting as a museum representative at community functions, off-site presentations, and workshops.
• Resource Management : Updating the Exhibitions Resources Community Wiki and other development resources.
• Field Trips : Organizing visits to local institutions to enhance collaborative efforts.

Qualifications

To excel in this role, you should possess the following qualifications :

• A bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, fine arts, or sciences from an accredited institution.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Relevant experience in a professional, commercial, academic, or institutional setting.
• Coursework or a minor in African or African-American history, arts, or culture.

A demonstrated interest in and familiarity with contemporary African, African diaspora, or Chicago-area African-American cultures.

The Field Museum is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination, embracing diversity, and fostering mutual respect.

We value the unique perspectives each team member brings, which empowers our ability to innovate and overcome challenges.

At the Field Museum, we are dedicated to making our career website and recruitment process accessible to everyone. If you encounter any difficulty when using or accessing our online application, or if you need a reasonable accommodation for completing your application, participating in interviews, or any other part of the selection process, please reach out to us at [email protected].