Museum Interpreter - Sankofa Mobile Museum

The Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission; Upper Marlboro (MD); On-site; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

The Sankofa Mobile Museum is a dynamic, interactive historical experience within the Natural and Historical Resources Division (NHRD) of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George's County.

The museum travels throughout the county in a 27-ft trailer that brings untold stories of local history to life through augmented reality, virtual reality, and facilitated dialogue.

Qualifications

• A high school diploma or equivalent.
• Willingness to travel/drive throughout Prince George's County.
• Ability to speak and write in English conversationally.
• Ability to lift 35 pounds.
• Ability to walk, bend, and stand for extended periods.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• At least 2 years of public-facing work experience.
• Comfortable speaking in front of crowds.
• Enthusiasm for connecting the past with the present to help bring about a more just future.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite products like Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Responsibilities

• Support museum operations to create welcoming, safe, engaging environments for visitors.
• Lead visitors through the Sankofa experience balancing dialogue and lecture, learning and exploration.
• Facilitate interpretive, educational, youth-centered programs sharing historical resources.
• Engage youth with age-appropriate, honest discussions about local history and oppression.
• Share the history and lived experiences of Prince Georgians with diverse audiences.
• Conduct research using primary and secondary sources to support educational resources.
• Collaborate with staff on programs featuring tech-based modules and discussions.
• Attend trainings and integrate best practices into museum work.
• Maintain cleanliness and upkeep of the historic site and vehicle fleet.
• Communicate with school liaisons and community partners to strengthen relationships.
• Assist the Museum Director and fulfill other duties as assigned.

Skills

English language fluency

Public speaking

Microsoft Office

Teamwork

Interpersonal communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

The Sankofa Mobile Museum is a dynamic, interactive historical experience within the Natural and Historical Resources Division (NHRD) of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George's County. The museum travels throughout the county in a 27-ft trailer that brings untold stories of local history to life through augmented reality, virtual reality, and facilitated dialogue.

Sankofa is looking for an enthusiastic and creative individual with experience or a strong interest in museum interpretation, classroom education, dynamic storytelling, and social justice. This position will directly support the operations of the museum by helping students and communities foster connections to the past, encouraging them to critically think about it, inspiring them to preserve the stories of historically marginalized groups for future generations, and exciting them to leave their mark on history by being agents of positive change.

Chief Objective of the Position:

During school field trips and at community special events, the selected candidate will help guide visitors through the museum in ways that align with the core pillars of NHRD. Specifically, they will enhance the visitor experience, in both quality and quantity; leave a legacy by transforming education into advocacy; strengthen inclusivity, diversity, and belonging; and act with integrity, respect, and trust.

• Supporting museum operations in ways that create welcoming, safe, and engaging environments for visitors of all types, during field trips and special events
• Leading visitors through the Sankofa experience in ways that appropriately balance dialogue and lecture, entertainment and learning, and engagement and self-exploration, while always articulating a full history of the local area
• Facilitating a variety of interpretive, educational, and youth-centered programs that share historical resources with general audiences and specialty groups
• Engaging young people in age-appropriate yet honest ways that teach them about historic figures from Prince George's County who experienced oppression and marginalization but who also demonstrated resilience and resistance.
• Sharing the history of this region and the lived experiences of Prince Georgians with visitors who may be resistant to learning about enslavement, racism, and other forms of discrimination.
• Conducting research grounded in primary and secondary sources to support the development of educational resources aligned with the K12 social studies frameworks for Maryland; the mission, vision, values, and inclusive interpretation initiatives of the Sankofa Mobile Museum; and the NHRD Impact Planning Framework.
• Contributing as an active member of the Sankofa team through collaborations with other staff on programs designed to engage visitors in tech-based modules, facilitated discussions, and hands-on activities
• Attending trainings and workshops to continue learning and integrating best practices into the museum work done at Sankofa
• Helping keep the historic site and vehicle fleet cleanly, in accordance with historic preservation and automotive maintenance best practices
• Communicating with school liaisons and other community partners in ways that forge, maintain, and strengthen our relationships with them
• Assisting the Museum Director as needed and fulfilling other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• A high school diploma or equivalent
• A willingness to travel/drive throughout Prince George's County
• Ability to conversationally speak and write in English
• Ability to lift 35 pounds
• Ability to walk, bend, and stand for extended periods of time
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• At least 2 years of public-facing work experience
• Comfortability speaking in front of crowds
• Enthusiasm for connecting the past with the present to help bring about a more just future
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite products like Word, Excel, and Outlook

Candidate Should Specify If They Possess:

• Conversational proficiency in languages other than English
• Experience as a classroom educator
• Skills involving social media
• Familiarity with the Maryland Social Studies Frameworks
• A Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

May be subject to drug and alcohol testing.

Supplemental Information:

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a resume and cover letter with their application. Upon accepting a job offer, the selected candidate will be subject to a complete criminal background check.

Office Location:

Watkins Park in Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Work Schedule:

• Must be willing to work at least 16 hours a week in the office, over the course of two days
• Additional hours may become available based on performance, with a maximum of 24 hours per week
• Must be available some weekends and holidays (primarily Juneteenth and July Fourth)
• Flexible scheduling available for college students

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor.

Applicants with Disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

If you require accommodations or special arrangements due to a qualifying disability, please notify the Recruitment & Selections Services Unit at the time of applications at or 301-454-1411 (Maryland Relay 7-1-1)

M-NCPPC will make all efforts to reasonably accommodate you.