Director Curriculum & Outreach (Slavery North)

The University of Massachusetts Amherst; Union (NJ); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Massachusetts Amherst seeks a Director of Curriculum & Outreach for the Slavery North initiative, responsible for community engagement, event organization, and curriculum development. The ideal candidate will have expertise in Transatlantic Slavery Studies and experience in academic settings, with strong communication and organizational skills.

Qualifications

• Expertise in Transatlantic Slavery Studies and related fields.
• At least three years of experience in a professional or supervisory work setting.
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating academic conferences.

Responsibilities

• Manage strategies for community outreach and academic engagement related to Slavery North.
• Organize events and oversee logistics for conferences and workshops.
• Develop original research-based art historical curriculum.

Skills

Communication

Organizational Skills

Public Speaking

Education

MA level degree in Art History

Job description

Director Curriculum & Outreach (Slavery North)

Apply now Job no: 527272
Work type: Staff Full Time
Location: UMass Amherst
Department: Dean - Humanities & Fine Arts
Union: PSU
Categories: Admissions/Enrollment/Student Recruitment, Administrative & Office Support, College of Humanities & Fine Arts

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.

Slavery North Initiative
Slavery North is a one-of-a-kind academic and cultural destination where scholars, thinkers, artists, and cultural producers build community and produce research and cultural outcomes that transform our understanding of the neglected histories of Transatlantic Slavery in Canada and the US North. Slavery North seeks to advance social justice by recuperating and interrogating the complex histories of Transatlantic Slavery and European colonization of the Americas, thereby recovering and centering the cultures, experiences, lives, and resistance of enslaved peoples in Canada and the US North. At the heart of Slavery North is a fellowship program that will welcome national and international students, artists, and scholars, providing them with the space, funding, time, and community to produce transformative research outcomes.

Job Summary

The Director of Curriculum and Outreach manages Slavery North's developing strategies to interpret and share research findings with academic and professional organizations, the community, and the media. The Director collaborates with active researchers at UMASS and in the field, as well as reviews related academic publications to help publicize the history andart historicaldepiction of slavery in the northern part of North America. The Director plans and organizes panel discussions, exhibitions, screenings, conferences, workshops, and other in-person and virtual events. Additionally, thedirector is responsible for developing historical and art historical curricula for all educational levels and for academic and lay audiencesin this emerging field of study.

Essential Functions

• Promotes academic outreach by organizing conference panels and panel series, exhibitions, screenings, conferences, lectures, interviews, workshops, and other in-person and virtual events. Plans all logistics for Institute events, such as participant communication, venue selection and reservations, technical support, photographic and video documentation, participant releases, lodging accommodations, catering, travel, and venue set-up. Serves as program manager at events to ensure successful execution.
• Records, documents, archives, and disseminates all Institute events and programming. In collaboration with the Institute Administrative Assistant, documents all Institute outcomes for funding and grant applications and for updates to the Institute website and other social media, digital, and face-to-face dissemination.
• Supports Slavery North Fellows and provides guidance and assistance in creating suitable visual and art historical content to elevate and publicize their research projects across Slavery North’s social media platforms.
• Secures all necessary legal releases for image, recording, and copyright permission for Institute outcomes.
• In collaboration with the Director, Associate Director, and others, identifies and writes grant and funding applications for Institute events and outcomes.
• With the support of the Director, Associate Director, and others, creates, writes, packages, and delivers original, research-based, art historical curriculum on Institute mandate areas for workshops and events directed at various constituents.
• Coordinates with other campus departments and programs at UMass Amherst and the Five Colleges (as well as other external stakeholders and affiliates) to promote the mission and goals of Slavery North by hosting national and international conferences, events, and symposia.
• In concert with the Director of Research and Engagement, curates mandate-related art exhibitions and plays a significant role in formulating the overall direction of Slavery North’s artistic and cultural research outcomes. Works with the Director to develop, produce, and implement art historical exhibition-related programming, and educational materials.
• In collaboration with University Relations and the UMass News and Media Office, acts as Slavery North's media liaison. Schedules, organizes, and supervises media bookings (for Director, Associate Director, fellows, visiting scholars, etc.) and coordinates public outreach and promotion of the Institute’s goals and mission.
• Creates original marketing and promotional materials for the Institute to support, maintain, and expand its reputation and to promote knowledge of its work and outcomes within academia and the general public.
• Develops, oversees, and manages social media channels of the Institute. Develops a dynamic and professional Institute podcast and creative podcast programming and expands the Institute’s podcast and social media presence to enhance its reputation. Organizes guest bookings for podcast materials and oversees the technical and artistic aspects of the productions.
• Professionally represents the Institute at various scholarly and academic conferences and with community partners to develop a strong collaborative approach to expanding the Institute’s presence locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
• Supervises undergraduate and graduate student employees.
• Maintains both professional and confidential relationships.
• Maintains up-to-date information regarding current events and public opinion in helping the Institute to address and respond to current events and attitudes.
• Supervises a staff member.

Other Functions

Performs related duties as assigned or required to meet the Institute’s, College’s, and University’s goals and mission.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• MA level degree in Art History.
• Expertise in Transatlantic Slavery Studies, the Visual Culture of Slavery, Black Diaspora Studies, African American Studies and/or
• At least three years of experience in a professional or supervisory work setting; with at least one year of teaching or research experience in an academic concentration related to the mandates of Slavery North.
• Expertise in Transatlantic Slavery Studies, the Visual Culture of Slavery, Black Diaspora Studies, African American Studies and/or African Canadian Studies or related field(s); specific knowledge of Transatlantic Slavery in Canada and/or the US North.
• Evidence of training in and knowledge of primary research in the Humanities and/or Fine Arts as related to the study of Transatlantic Slavery and the Black Diaspora.
• History of publication or original creative outcomes in topics of concern to Slavery North. This should include at least four publications and four lectures and/or presentations at academic conferences or symposia.
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating academic conferences or symposia and experience moderating and presenting at such conferences.
• Demonstrated experience in curriculum development and delivery. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively both collaboratively in a diverse group and independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to represent the Institute professionally amongst a wide array of people from different backgrounds including community leaders, visiting scholars, academics, general public, media, and University administrators.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other University media offices to carry out the goals and missions of the Institute.
• Ability to commute to various locations beyond the main campus reliably.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Experience and demonstrated ability as effective public speaker and educator.
• Demonstrated knowledge of social media and media relations.
• Personable, organized, creative, and enthusiastic about education for academic and lay audiences.
• Demonstrated interest in the issues and histories with which the Institute engages.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office environment but will manage set up at various venues for public presentations.
• Ability to travel independently and work in various locations on- and off-campus to set up and oversee the successful outcome of Institute events and meet with Institute partners, stakeholders, media outlets, and others.

This position is funded by a grant and the initial appointment is through November 6, 2026.

Work Schedule

37.5 hours per week. Flexible schedule. Some night and weekend work will be required.

Upload your cover letter and resume, along with your completed application. Our team will check references at the final stage of the interview process. Please be prepared to provide contact information for at least three (3) professional references.This position will remain open until filled or the advertised closing date, whichever occurs first.Early submissions are recommended.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Advertised: May 22 2025 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: Aug 24 2025 Eastern Daylight Time

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