Wyoming History Day Coordinator, American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY

Posted November 3, 2020

Description:

American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming is hiring a Wyoming History Day Coordinator!

The purpose of this position is to administer all aspects of regional and state contests, coordinate with National History Day (NHD), and set the vision for the future of the Wyoming History Day program at the American Heritage Center (AHC). The Wyoming History Day Coordinator (WHDC) works with student groups and educators to provide a high quality educational experience that promotes historical inquiry, knowledge, and understanding among students in grades six through twelve inspired by annual themes. The position is responsible for planning 7+ regional contests which includes, but is not limited to: recruiting and collaborating with district coordinators, managing participant registrations, organizing site or virtual event logistics, working with vendors, recruiting and scheduling judges, and any other duties necessary to present a successful annual Wyoming History Day event. The WHDC also participates in and promotes Constitution Day programming across the state and works with the Wyoming We The People program to promote K-12 civic education and engagement. See nhd.org for more information on this year’s theme and guidelines and wy.nhd.org for details specific to the Wyoming state competition.

This position will be supervised by the Public History Educator within the Reference Services Department of the AHC and works with them to integrate Wyoming History Day into the AHC’s larger goals of increasing history and civics education, outreach, and engagement with the public. Candidates will be strategic thinkers who are able to develop and implement a vision for the program which will work toward increasing participation, improving program quality, and promoting the value of the program to schools and the public.

Due to COVID restrictions, the annual competition will be hosted virtually in 2021. In future, the position may require overnight travel both in-state and out of state to attend/assist with regional and national competitions and to arrange and/or attend professional development trainings.
For the selected exceptional candidate, remote work for this position is possible. When/if the annual competition returns to an in-person event, the candidate will be expected to be in Laramie for any needed period of time to successfully host the event regardless of where they reside. During such time, payment or reimbursement of expenses will be discussed and provided.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

In coordination with the Public History Educator, the Head of Reference Services, and the Director of the AHC, sets the vision for the program and develops an effective approach for reaching the goals set forth in that vision.
Directs contest planning and preparation throughout the year.
Serves as primary liaison between NHD and the AHC related to facilitating all National Contest logistics for Wyoming participants.
Write and edit various contest-related materials including instructions, guidelines, and other similar items for multiple forms of distribution.
Develop and deliver contest-related training and teacher professional development both online and in-person.
Develop fluency with and provide information about contest rules, procedures, and best practices.
Troubleshoot and develop solutions for challenges that arise at all contest levels.
Collect and analyze evaluation feedback from various stakeholders, including creating action items from debrief meetings and ensuring completion. Assist with the management of the contest work performed by other team members and interns.
Builds and maintains relationships with school districts to increase participation in the program.
Coordinates the appointment or selection and training of District Coordinators across the state.
Coaches District Coordinators on program administration and operation of district contests, rules and regulations that govern the program, instructions on how to conduct teacher and student workshops, etc.
Coordinates outreach events and efforts, including classroom visits, teacher professional development programs, and the Wyoming History Day State Competition.
Works with vendors for rentals, contest merchandise, photography, awards, etc.
Develops and distributes informational and promotional materials.
Collaborates with AHC and university personnel in the preparation of and implementation of grants.
Works with the AHC Accountant and Director to ensure budgetary compliance.
Coordinates administrative and communications functions, including database management, mailings, and online postings.
Assists others at the AHC as needed and available.

Supplemental Functions:

May perform additional duties as needed/assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in history, education, public history, public administration, or related field.

Experience: Minimum 2 years’ work-related experience in areas such as formal and/or informal history education, professional training, event management, and evidence of successful program development and implementation (unpaid experience can apply).

Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Working knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Google Suite, and Zoom.
Event and project management skills and experience.
Excellent spoken and written communication skills.
Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy.
Ability to work on and prioritize numerous competing tasks at once.
Experience working both independently and as part of a team.
Evidence of teamwork and rapport building with internal and external stakeholders.
Desire and ability to learn and grow professionally.
Ability to ask questions and seek assistance, as needed.
Ability to stay calm under pressure in fast-paced environment.

Desired Qualifications:

Experience with grant writing and administration.
Experience with state and national program development and training.
Knowledge of primary source research and information literacy education.

Compensation:

$20,000 annually, paid monthly. No benefits are currently included with this position. Though we do hope to make this position full time in the future, funding is not currently available. This position may be renewed after one year based on performance and available funding. Due to the nature of the program, hours for the position will fluctuate depending on need and be annually cumulative. For example, the candidate will need to work more hours in the weeks leading up to and during the annual competition in the spring but fewer hours during the summer and fall. The monthly pay is calculated based on monthly averages (20 hours per week) for total annual hours rather than on a per hour basis.

How to Apply:

The original job posting with full description can found here. Apply using the job portal found there.

You can also learn about Laramie, the university, and the application
process on this page. Please contact UW Human Resources for questions about your application. You application status can be viewed on the UWHR site any time after it is submitted. For questions about the position and duties, you may contact Brigida Blasi, Public History Educator and direct supervisor of the WHD Coordinator, at [email protected].

Review of applications will begin immediately and the posting will be removed from the UWHR website when the position is filled. Applicants are asked to provide the names of work related references, but those references are not contacted or asked to submit any written reference until the candidate has successfully completed the first interview and advanced to the next stage. Initial review of applications is done by UWHR. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will then be contacted by the AHC for an interview. The interview will be conducted via telephone or Zoom with the search committee, which currently consists of the Public History Educator and one other, but may include up to two other people from Reference Services. The interview format is roundtable, with interviewers taking turns asking pre-prepared questions. A second Zoom interview may be scheduled as needed.

NOTE: This position may work with and help supervise student assistants.