MUSEUM SUPERVISOR/EXPERT

State of Arkansas; Little Rock (AR); On-site; USD 52,137 - 77,163; Full time

Job summary

The State of Arkansas seeks a Museum Supervisor/Expert to oversee daily operations, staff, and programming for a state-operated museum. You will ensure the museum fulfills its mission to preserve and interpret historical, cultural, and educational exhibits for the public.

The role includes supervising staff, managing collections, developing educational programs, coordinating exhibits and events, and ensuring compliance with state and federal museum standards to promote public engagement.

Qualifications

• At least three years in historic preservation, museum administration, cultural programming, education, or related field, with leadership experience.
• Promotion decisions depend on demonstrated skills, performance, workload and organizational needs.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day museum operations, including staffing, scheduling, and facility management.
• Ensure exhibits and collections are properly maintained, documented, and preserved per standards.
• Coordinate exhibit installations, educational programs, and special events to engage the public.
• Supervise staff, volunteers, and interns, and serve as a primary point of contact for the public.

Skills

Staff supervision

Public speaking

Budget planning

Event coordination

Grant writing

Job description

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This role is responsible for supervising and scheduling staff, managing the museum store and serving as the primary point of contact for events. The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism has three major divisions: Arkansas State Parks, Arkansas Heritage and Arkansas Tourism. Arkansas State Parks manages 52 state parks and promotes Arkansas as a tourist destination for people around the country. Arkansas Heritage preserves and promotes Arkansas’s natural and cultural history and heritage through four historic museums and four cultural preservation agencies. Arkansas Tourism improves the state’s economy by generating travel and enhancing the image of the state.

Position Information

Job Series: Museums and Archives – Career Path

Class Code: RMA12P

Pay Grade: SGS06

Salary Range: $52,137- $77,163

Job Summary

The Museum Supervisor/Expert oversees daily operations, staff management, and programming for a state-operated museum in Arkansas. This position ensures the museum fulfills its mission of preserving and interpreting historical, cultural, and educational exhibits for the public. The Museum Supervisor is responsible for supervising staff, managing collections, developing educational programs, and ensuring visitor engagement while maintaining compliance with state and federal museum standards.

Primary Responsibilities

• The assignment of supervisory duties is determined by the hiring agency's operational needs. Non-supervisory roles will serve as senior technical experts.
• Oversee day-to-day museum operations, including staffing, scheduling, and facility management.
• Ensure exhibits and collections are properly maintained, documented, and preserved according to state and federal museum guidelines.
• Monitor and evaluate museum attendance, visitor experience, and program effectiveness.
• Coordinate exhibit installations, educational programs, and special events to enhance public engagement.
• Collaborate with historians, educators, and cultural experts to develop historically accurate and interactive displays.
• Oversee the research and curation of museum collections, ensuring proper documentation and preservation.
• Work with marketing teams to promote museum events, programs, and exhibits.
• Supervise and provide leadership to museum staff, volunteers, and interns.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for the public, schools, and community organizations.
• Develop and implement educational programs, guided tours, and workshops tailored for diverse audiences.
• Represent the museum in public meetings, conferences, and heritage initiatives.
• Oversee financial reports and ensure compliance with state fiscal policies and grant requirements.
• Ensure museum operations align with state and federal laws regarding historic preservation, collections management, and accessibility.
• Maintain compliance with occupational health and safety standards, including security protocols for artifact protection.
• Keep records of museum acquisitions, donations, and loans in accordance with archival standards.

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to supervise and mentor museum staff, ensuring a positive and professional work environment.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills to address museum challenges effectively.
• Knowledge of Arkansas history, culture, and heritage to develop relevant programming.
• Understanding of museum ethics, collections management standards, and conservation best practices.
• Excellent public speaking and storytelling abilities for tours, presentations, and educational programs.
• Strong written communication skills for reports, grants, and interpretive materials.
• Ability to engage diverse audiences, including students, researchers, and general visitors.
• Proficiency in budget planning, grant writing, and fundraising strategies.
• Experience in event coordination and public program planning.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
• Ability to manage museum inventory, archival records, and digital collections.

Minimum Qualifications

At least three years of experience in historic preservation, museum administration, cultural programming, education, or a related field, including one year in a leadership role.

Satisfaction of the minimum qualifications, including years of experience and service, does not entitle employees to automatic progression within the job series. Promotion to the next classification level is at the discretion of the department and the Office of Personnel Management, taking into consideration the employee’s demonstrated skills, competencies, performance, workload responsibilities, and organizational needs.

Licensure/Certifications

N/A

OTHER JOB RELATED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE MAY BE SUBSTITUTED FOR ALL OR PART OF THESE BASIC REQUIREMENTS, EXCEPT FOR CERTIFICATION OR LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS, UPON APPROVAL OF THE QUALIFICATIONS REVIEW COMMITTEE.

The State of Arkansas is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.