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Position: Director of Mount Prospect Historical Society

Status: Part-Time, 20 hours per week

Schedule:  Day hours. TWTH.  Ability to work additional hours if requested.  Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed. Schedule subject to change to meet needs of Society.

Reports to:  Board of Directors

Purpose: Director is passionate about museum work and demonstrates a strong appreciation of preservation and promotion of local history. This position serves as the liaison between public and Society Board; develops and manages the collections; develops and presents educational programs for the public and the schools; develops and creates exhibits for the public; recruits and manages interns; and works with the Society Board on developing policies, goals, fundraising strategies and special projects.

The job involves working closely with Board officers, directors and volunteers. 

Requires professional knowledge of museum management, preservation, teamwork, leadership, and ability to work effectively with community leaders, groups, organizations and residents.

The position requires excellent computer skills, flexibility, writing, public speaking, communication and interpersonal skills.

Must work well in fast paced and fluid environment. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Annual and monthly reports
• Attend and assist at Society events and fundraisers
• Attend community events representing the Society
• Attend monthly board meeting
• Promote community engagement opportunities
• Develop and create public exhibits
• Develop and present educational programs for the public, community groups and schools
• Develop and present program at Society annual meeting
• Directs and manages collections
• Writes and designs newsletter

Duties and responsibilities

Collection

• Catalogs and processes acquisitions with assistance of volunteers
• Develop and implement promotion opportunities 
• Develop and implement digital preservation of artifacts
• Ensures collection policies meet Society’s goals in relating to focus, content, and quality.
• Ensures proper storage of museum artifacts
• Recommends accessioning and de-accessioning of acquisitions
• Monitors and ensures proper environmental controls for the collection

Community and Programming

• Attends community events and meetings representing MPHS
• Develops and creates public exhibits
• Develops and presents educational programs for the public, community groups and schools
• Provides tours 
• Represents Society in the community
• Researches and responds to queries for information
• Work collaboratively with other Mount Prospect organizations
• Works closely with Living History committee

Society Administration

• Attend and assist at fund raising events
• Attends and reports at monthly Board meetings
• Attends committee meetings when requested
• Attends continuing education, seminars, workshops and conferences when funds allow
• Attends Village board meetings when appropriate
• Attends workshops, seminars and conferences when funding allows
• Collects statistics and prepares reports when requested
• Designs graphics and written materials as needed
• Implements grants including monitoring expenditure of funds and proper documentation
• Monitors content website
• Posts social media 
• Provides input into budget as prepared by executive board
• Researches information for the board when requested
• Researches and writes grant proposals
• Supervises and directs interns and volunteers
• Works with Board on fundraising plans for operations and special projects
• Write policies and procedures for Board approval as appropriate
• Writes and designs newsletter

ESSENTIAL ABILITIES, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Ability to organize, manage and prioritize work effectively
• Ability to take initiative
• Collaborative
• Diplomatic
• Enthusiastic and passionate about history
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent knowledge of professional practices, procedures, and techniques of museum management
• Excellent public speaking skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Flexible and adaptable
• Professional demeanor
• Proficient MS Office
• Teamplayer
• Thorough knowledge of Mount Prospect history

Additional Abilities, Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to access, input and retrieve data from the computer
• Ability to act with diplomacy
• Ability to innovate
• Ability to delegate
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Board, volunteers and residents
• Ability to establish standards for collection management
• Ability to exercise independent judgment
• Ability to listen effectively
• Ability to maintain confidences 
• Ability to multi-task
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to perform light to moderate work 
• Ability to problem solve
• Ability to reach and stoop
• Ability to train individuals
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to work with volunteers effectively
• Ability to utilize diverse skill sets within groups of volunteers
• Creative
• Excellent computer skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Knowledge of community needs and interests as they pertain to the Society
• Knowledge of current technology and application to museum operations
• Knowledge of grant resources for museums
• Knowledge of standard fundraising techniques and standards and the application to museums
• Knowledge of volunteer management
• Professional demeanor
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications including: WORD, EXCEL, PUBLISHER, OUTLOOK and POWERPOINT
• Public Service oriented
• Self-directed
• Skill and knowledge of PastPerfect
• Skill and knowledge with Adobe and WordPress

Education and Training

Bachelor Degree in history, museum studies or related field. Specialized certificates a plus. Minimum two – five years of experience in field.  

Status: Part-time, 20 hours per week. Hourly. May be required to work additional hours if needed for events or other needs.

Schedule: Day hours (MWTh). Flexibility to work evenings and weekends for meetings, events or other needs. Ability to work additional hours as needed. Schedule subject to change to meet needs of Society.

Reports to: Board of Directors

Purpose: The Office Manager is responsible for managing the Society’s office and related duties. Position includes organizing and coordinating efficient office administration and procedures, providing range of administrative and executive support, and coordinating facility maintenance of the campus to maintain smooth functioning of
the Society’s buildings, campus and events. It includes but is not limited to answering phone and door, filing, file maintenance, correspondence and performing tasks related to publicity, banking, membership data, donor data and ensuring routine facility maintenance is scheduled. Directs work of office and garden volunteers.

Will work closely with Executive Director, Board President and bookkeeper.

Must work well in fast-paced and fluid environment.

This position requires the ability to input and retrieve data from the computer; ability to meet deadlines; excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work well with a variety of work styles and personalities; ability to work with minimal direction and supervision; ability to exercise independent judgment; ability to work with discretion.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Attendance and assistance at events and fundraisers
• Attend monthly board meeting
• Coordination of facility maintenance and follow up on needed repairs
• Donor and membership database maintenance
• Office management
• Publicity and event assistance

Additional Duties:

• Coordinates schoolhouse and Ed Center rentals
• Correspondence
• Deposits checks and cash
• Manage distribution and sending of news releases, publicity fliers and related materials
• Post agenda and minutes to Society’s Google Drive
• Liaison with Village Public Works Department
• Maintain current media list
• Maintain paper and electronic office files
• Maintain Society’s calendar of events and activity deadlines
• Maintain and order supplies for kitchen, office and restrooms
• Monitor the contents of museum store and order more inventory as needed
• Perform a variety of tasks associated with events such as preparing cash boxes, name tags, etc.
• Posts information on website, social media sites as needed
• Prepares paperwork for the bookkeeper
• Provide tours as back up to Executive Director
• Work closely with volunteers and directs activities as needed eg. newsletter mailing, garden

Essential abilities, knowledge and skills

• Ability to be discreet and keep confidences
• Ability to exercise independent judgment
• Ability to multi-task and set priorities.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team
• Ability to work collaboratively with board and staff
• Ability to work independently with little supervision
• Accurate
• Adaptable
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Knowledge of standard office practices and procedures
• Proficient with Microsoft Office

Additional abilities, knowledge and skills

• Ability to perform detailed work
• Ability to perform light to moderate work
• Ability to stoop and reach
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Knowledge of accounting, data and administrative management practices and procedures
• Knowledge of clerical practices and procedures
• Knowledge of standard office procedures and practices
• Knowledge/skill with database management
• Strong computer skills
• Strong planning skills

Education and Training

High school diploma with some college. Demonstrated office and clerical experience required. Proficient with Microsoft Office. Experience in non-profit organization a plus.

CANCELED DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS

August 29, 2020 –
Mitch Ransdell,
Civil War Re-enactor

 Ever wonder what it’s like to step into the past? Mitch will tell you what it’s like to be a historic re-enactor and regale you with tales of interesting characters of the Civil War era. 

Please submit this form to request a Living History experience. You will be contacted by email to confirm details once your form has been received. The office is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Please call 847-392-9006 if you have any questions. 

We are very sad to report the death of Mary Hagan Wajer on April 22. She was an early Mount Prospect Historical Society president, working with Society pioneers like Dolores Haugh, Gertrude Francek, Edith Freund, Meta Bittner, Jack Weber and Doris Weber Norris to get the Society off the ground. She also co-wrote the “Mount Prospect: Where Town and Country Met” book with Jean Murphy in 1992.

Mary was born and raised in Des Plaines. She earned her undergraduate degree in history at Loyola University and her master’s degree at Western Illinois University. Her thesis was on the history of Elk Grove Township. She later worked at the Des Plaines Library and the Indian Trails Library.

Mary was the beloved wife of Ronald Wajer for 48 years and the mother of Mike and the late Cathy Wajer. Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 29, from 1 until 6 p.m. with a funeral service beginning at 4 p.m. at G.L. Hills Funeral Home, 745 Graceland Ave., Des Plaines. For more information, call 847-699-9003 or glhillsfuneralhome.com.