Director, Research & Interpretation

Position Overview

Join a world class institution!! The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) is hiring a Research and Interpretation Director to help share Lincoln's legacy and the vast history of the State of Illinois. The ideal candidate is highly organized, personable, can work independently as well as with a team, and has a passion for exploring the untold stories of history. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is a world class institution that welcomes more than 250,000 visitors every year and that houses one of the world's best collections of Lincoln­related documents, artifacts and audiovisual materials. We invite qualified applicants to apply for the position of Research and Interpretation Director and help ALPLM continue to chronicle the life of one of our nation's greatest Presidents. 

Essential Functions

• Serves as the agency's in-house expert and spokesperson on issues regarding historical accuracy and interpretive content.
• Plans, develops, organizes, directs, and implements the policies and procedures and acts authoritatively on any policy making issues affecting the division. 
• Directs a team of scholars and historians in the collaborative process of reviewing agency materials.
• Travels and appears before groups as spokesperson to promote the agency and its mission and goals and to present on research topics related to Abraham Lincoln, Illinois History and Midwest history.
• In coordination with agency leadership, serves as the liaison between the ALPLM and other research institutions and centers.
• Serves as full-line supervisor.
• Develops and administers the division budget.
• In coordination with the Finance division, seeks and administers supplemental funding from various granting agencies.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the score of the duties enumerated above. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college.
• Requires four (4) years' experience in historical research, writing and editing, and/or in teaching American history/ public history (or related curriculum) on the collegiate level, OR requires five (5) years in historical or research library in an administrative capacity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers a Master's degree or Ph.D in history, museum interpretation, collective memory, or related field.
• Prefers a certificate in museum or cultural institution interpretation.
• Prefers four (4) years' experience in public speaking and/or development of presentations focused on historical subject matter.
• Prefers two (2) years of supervisory experience.
• Prefers three (3) years' experience managing a major program or project.
• Prefers two (2) years of work experience developing and managing a budget.
• Prefers two (2) years of experience working in a research library and/or museum.
• Prefers two (2) years of experience working in the public sector.
• Prefers two (2) years of r experience editing documents for publication.
• Prefers two (2) years of experience writing and/or administering grants.
• Prefers prior publication of scholarly research.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Requires use of an agency-supplied mobile phone.
  
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

The ALPLM is passionate in or mission to inspire civic engagement through the diverse lens of Illinois history and sharing with the world the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln.  As caretakers of a one-of-a-kind collection of artifacts, we consider our work to learn, teach and share history a great honor. The people of the ALPLM strive to employ innovate approaches to create a positive impact for the future, as it can be inspired by the past.  As preservationists of Illinois' diverse history, we strive to build, maintain, and make accessible a growing record of history for today's inquisitive explorers as well as those who shall, in the future, rely on our efforts.  Our learning-centered agency insists on the values of honesty and integrity, intentional leadership, equitable collaboration and transparent accountability.  The ALPLM boasts pristine facilities, a creative environment, and a professional staff with a variety of backgrounds and talents.

As a State of Illinois employee, you will receive a robust benefits package that includes the following:

* A Pension Program

* Competitive Group Insurance Benefits including Health, Life, Dental and Vision insurance

* 12 Paid Sick Days annually (Sick days carry over from year to year)

* 13 paid holidays annually - 14 on even numbered years

* 12 weeks paid maternity / paternity leave

* Deferred Compensation Program  - A Supplemental retirement plan

* Optional Pre-Tax Programs such as Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP) and more

For more information about our benefits please follow this link https//www2.illinois.gov/coms/benefits/pages/default.aspx