Public Programs Assistant at The New-York Historical Society

Job Title: Public Programs Assistant

Job Status: Full-time

New-York Historical Society, a preeminent educational and research institution, is home to both New York City’s oldest museum and to one of the nation’s most distinguished independent research libraries. New-York Historical is dedicated to presenting exhibitions and public programs, and fostering research that reveal the dynamism of history and its influence on the world of today. Founded in 1804, its holdings cover four centuries of American history, and include one of the world’s greatest collections of books, manuscripts, graphic materials, historical artifacts, and American art documenting the history of the United States as seen through the prism of New York.

Job Summary

The New-York Historical Society’s Department of Public Programs is seeking a Public Programs Assistant responsible for assisting the Vice President for Public Programs and the program management team in the planning, promotion, marketing, and production of evening and daytime public programs throughout the calendar year, including virtual and onstage lectures, conversations, film screenings, and performances; onsite and offsite tours; virtual and onsite seminars; and other institutional program support, as needed. The Public Programs Assistant will also assist with the successful execution of livestreaming operations and will serve as an integral member of the production team for the museum’s podcasting and television series, History with David Rubenstein.

This is a full-time position, which will require evening work 2-4 times per week as well as on select weekend dates.

Essential Job Duties

Assist in Planning and Implementing Programs

  • Assist in management of evening events, walking tours, and weekend programs. This includes but is not limited to: providing audience and speaker assistance; front-of-house management; registration, auditorium, and book signing set-up; overseeing volunteers; audience Q&A facilitation; and other related duties;
  • Help manage records and files and prepare reports on program sales and attendance;
  • Attend logistics, attendance, and other interdepartmental meetings;
  • Oversee financial operations of department, including payment of speakers and vendors, expense reimbursements, and office supply orders;
  • Communicate with the Development Department and President’s office to manage list of VIP guests for public programs;
  • Draft on-stage program introductions;

Managing Ticketing Software for Department

  • Serve as department contact person for public programming and handle processing problems. Monitor the status of sales for each program, including review of daily sales wrap reports;
  • Receive and submit checks received to the Finance Department;
  • Package invoices for select funded series and report expenditures to Development Department
  • Maintain records of tickets donated back to museum and submit to Development Department;
  • Generate sales report and guest lists.

Program Development and Marketing

  • Assist with researching books, authors, films, and speakers;
  • Assist with the drafting of program descriptions for printed and virtual marketing materials. Assist in gathering information from collaborators, publishers, and speakers, including headshots, speaker biographies, and books and related materials;
  • Review and edit all text and copy for publications, enews mailings, and other marketing material;
  • Lead program marketing and outreach for select programs, including organizing and coordinating outreach and publicity efforts with NY Historical’s Communications team and conducting independent campaigns.

Department—Office Administration

  • Assist with the department’s online audio and video presence, including coordinating with video crews for filmed programs, managing the public programs podcast, and being in touch with the web team;
  • Assist in the management of program events and prepare periodic status reports on projects for Vice President of Public Programs;
  • Respond to public inquiries via telephone and the internet. Field inquiries from publishers, authors, and others interested in presenting programs;
  • Act as contact person and maintain database for docents and other complementary ticket holders;
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree with a major in any of the following: Business, Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Arts Administration, History, or related field.
  • Demonstrated ability to successfully handle a variety of administrative duties and work creatively under pressure;
  • One to three years of event operations and/or marketing experience; experience with a cultural organization or non-profit preferred;
  • Strong writing and editing skills required;
  • Experience in marketing and promotion strongly preferred;
  • Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Google Suite, teleconferencing software;
  • Successfully demonstrated attention to detail and excellent organization skills;
  • Knowledge of public programs at other cultural institutions preferred;
  • Ability to complete projects, both on a team and individually, in a fast-paced environment;
  • Excellent interpersonal and oral communications skills to respond to internal and external inquiries;
  • Ability to handle situations with grace and diplomacy;
  • Ability to anticipate problems and present solutions quickly;
  • Confidence to work with program talent and to assign and manage volunteer assignments and support staff.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary range: $40-45k/annually

New-York Historical Society provides a generous benefits package for eligible employees to support their health and wellbeing, which includes:

  • Paid time off, including vacation, sick and personal days, and holidays observed by the Museum;
  • Medical, dental, vision and life insurance;
  • Short and long-term disability coverage options;
  • 403(b) retirement plan with eligibility for employer contributions following one year of full-time service;
  • Flexible spending accounts for health-related expenses, dependent care, and parking and transit expenses;
  • Employee Assistance Program for all employees and their families;
  • 20% discount at the NYHistory Store, Parliament Café and Storico restaurant, located within the Museum;
  • Free admission to various museums and cultural institutions across the city.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee with or without accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

This position will require the employee to lift (up to 25 lbs.), bend, stoop, walk, speak and stand for up to 5 hours in a day. Sedentary computer work is also required.

Covid-19 Vaccination Policy

To ensure the overall health and safety of the New-York Historical Society community and in accordance with New York City requirements, all newly hired employees of the New-York Historical Society are required to be fully-vaccinated (inclusive of booster shots) against COVID-19 as a condition of employment, absent qualifying exemptions for medical, religious, or other reasons in accordance with all applicable laws.

The New-York Historical Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To Apply:

Apply Via LinkedIn