Job Description

A little bit about us…

The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia (BHMVA) is located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia and serves patrons of all ages. Founded by Carroll Anderson in 1981, BHMVA celebrates the rich culture and moving histories of African American people in Virginia and their contributions to our magnificent country. The museum's mission is to provide, develop, and partner in the creation of educational resources, services, and opportunities to promote and advance understanding of the history and culture of Black people and African Americans in the Commonwealth of Virginia. For the last 40 years, BHMVA has achieved its mission by telling untold, and often forgotten, inspirational stories in the full context of American history so that there is a greater understanding of our history, leading to a more diverse and inclusive society.

A little bit about the role… 

The Education Assistant will support the design, coordination, and delivery of the museum's education programs, ensuring that all offerings align with the museum's mission and Virginia's Standards of Learning (SOLs). This role will manage the docent program, create and maintain education materials, and support school, public, and community programming. The Education Assistant will also represent the museum at external events and presentations, serving as a public-facing educator and ambassador. This position requires strong knowledge of Virginia history, a museum education background, and enthusiasm for working with children, teachers, and the public.

The Education Assistant will be responsible for… 

• Managing and monitoring the docent program, including training, scheduling, and oversight of tour guides.
• Ensuring that tour content and educational programming are accurate, engaging, and aligned with Virginia SOLs for K–12.
• Developing, coordinating, and updating educational materials for in-museum and school programs.
• Organizing and delivering school presentations, including in-classroom sessions.
• Planning and supporting public programming, including children's programming up to 8th grade.
• Creating and managing a schedule for outdoor tabling opportunities.
• Serving as the education partner for special programs and community partnerships.
• Representing the museum at public presentations, ensuring accuracy in Virginia history content.
• Coordinating and supporting education department operations, including materials and scheduling.
• Providing occasional coverage for the front desk and assisting with general museum operations when needed.

Along with a demonstrable passion for BHMVA's mission, the strongest candidates will bring many of the professional experiences, knowledge and skills outlined below: 

• Bachelor's degree in museum education, history, education, or related field required.
• Prior museum education experience required .
• Strong knowledge of Virginia state history and ability to present content to diverse audiences.
• Experience working with K–12 audiences; comfort engaging with children is a must.
• Excellent organizational skills; detail-oriented and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong communication and presentation skills; cheery and approachable public-facing presence.
• Team-oriented mindset; flexible and willing to support museum operations beyond core responsibilities.
• Comfort with systems and program coordination.
• Commitment to and alignment with BHMVA's mission and values, including celebrating and honoring Black history and culture.

You will receive bonus points for having… 

• Experience working in a museum, cultural center or historical site setting.
• Cultural knowledge of regional and African American history.
• Demonstrated professional experience raising the voices of traditionally underrepresented cultures and communities.

BHMVA North Star Principles:

Balance

• Inclusive Representation & Partnerships: Foster opportunities for diverse voices to be heard and included, ensuring every story is represented and every community has a seat at the table.

Presence

• In-House Programming & Community Engagement: Establish a robust presence through

dynamic in-house programming, active participation in steering committees, and serving as connectors within the community.

Premiere & Exclusivity

• Strategic Collaborations & Partnerships: Cultivate premier collaborations, exclusive

partnerships, and influential committees that elevate our mission and broaden our impact.

Storytelling, Truth, and Narration

• Innovative Storytelling: Utilize creative and innovative methods to uncover and share undertold stories. Amplify our collections through social media campaigns and curate continuous, themed local exhibitions to educate and inspire.

Programming

• Community-Driven Programs: Develop and implement programs that resonate with and are driven by the Virginia community, ensuring relevance and engagement.

Call to Action

• Active Community Involvement: Encourage and sustain continuous community involvement, inviting everyone to contribute to and benefit from our initiatives.

Direct Impact

• Engagement & Support: Focus on retaining members, increasing subscriptions, and optimizing rental opportunities to ensure our sustainability and direct impact on the community.

In addition to a competitive salary, dynamic team and supportive work environment, you will also receive: 

• PTO policy, with additional time off for educational pursuits
• Healthcare stipends for medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Relocation package

Sandbox and BHMVA are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, physical and mental disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/assignment, citizenship, pregnancy or maternity, protected veteran status, or any other status prohibited by applicable national, federal, state or local law.

Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every. single. qualification. We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and just workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with 100% of the qualifications listed, we encourage you to still apply. Our hiring philosophy looks to weed people INTO our process, not weed them out! Who knows, you may be just the right candidate for a future role with us. Just go for it... submit your resume!

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