Director of Academic Programs
Director of Academic Programs
Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, Massachusetts, seeks a dynamic, collaborative scholar/teacher to serve as its next Director of Academic Programs. The Director of Academic Programs functions as Historic Deerfield’s public historian and is responsible for the development and implementation of a robust series of annual programs for the general public and academic audiences, field-based education at the college and graduate levels, and shared curation of the museum’s research plan. The Director of Academic Programs utilizes HD’s museum and library collections, architecture, and landscape to develop programs in American history and material culture with a focus on Deerfield and the Connecticut River Valley. The Director of Academic Programs actively participates in the life of the museum, pursues research, and develops collegial relationships with college faculty, including fostering HD’s affiliation with Five Colleges, Inc., and museum staff at other institutions. Teaching duties include an annual undergraduate seminar in New England material culture through Smith College (with an appointment as Lecturer in American Studies) and directing HD’s Summer Fellowship Program in American History and Material Culture for college juniors and seniors. In all this work, Deerfield’s unparalleled primary documentary collections in agricultural, craft, economic, family, and educational histories will be a crucial resource.
Historic Deerfield is committed to diversifying the stories it tells about the Connecticut River Valley and has established a number of new programs, including an Anti-Slavery Ceramics project, the Witness Stones project honoring the humanity of enslaved persons in Deerfield, and the Encountering Pocumtuck Walking Tour App making indigenous history visible. Working with the museum’s Department of Education and Interpretation, the Director of Academic Programs will expand upon this work, creating additional layers of programming and conceiving of new projects to highlight all communities who once resided in Deerfield region in its pre- and post-colonial periods. A demonstrated commitment to building diversity in all aspects of museum practice (and in HD’s own programs) is crucial for this position.
A Ph.D. in a relevant humanistic field (e.g. History, Art or Architectural History, American Studies, African American Studies, Native American Studies, Archaeology, Landscape Studies, Anthropology) and 3-5 years of experience working in a museum or academic institution are required. This is a full-time position, and benefits include health, dental, vision, and retirement plans, as well as generous paid holiday, vacation, and sick time. This position has an estimated starting salary range of $55,000-$65,000.
The position reports to the Senior Vice President. A detailed job description can be found here: https://www.historic-deerfield.org/employment. To apply: please submit a cover letter, CV, and the names of three references to Betsy McKee, Assistant to the President, jobs@historic-deerfield.org. Review of applications will begin on July 5, 2023, and will continue until the position is filled.
Historic Deerfield is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunity Employment and nondiscrimination against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, marital status, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, age, disability, veteran status, or any other classification protected under state or federal law.