Public Historian (Administrative Officer 2)

As a public historian, you will provide administrative leadership and high-level coordination in support of major agency initiatives, especially the planning, design, and installation of new standing galleries reflecting the natural and cultural history of Pennsylvania. As the lead museum professional, you will be responsible for the planning and implementation of projects that require collaboration with internal staff, external consultants, and partner agencies. As a public historian, you will adhere to internal processes, facilitate communication across functional areas, and ensure alignment of project work with organizational goals. Leads the planning, coordination, and oversight of large-scale gallery renovation projects at The State Museum of Pennsylvania, ensuring alignment with the museum’s interpretive plan and institutional goals. Develops and manages project scopes of work for exhibits focused on the history of Pennsylvania in collaboration with professional exhibition consultants, curators, and internal stakeholders to ensure design and implementation meet historical, educational, and spatial goals. Regularly reviews proposed exhibit design for coordination with interpretative plan, coordinating reviews with museum staff as appropriate. Coordinates and manages the bid and procurement process for exhibition design, fabrication, and installation contractors, including preparation of solicitations, scope documents, and related approvals. Tracks contracts, vendor invoices, project schedules, and budget status for each gallery project, ensuring compliance with Department of General Services (DGS) capital project requirements and timelines. Establishes and documents internal exhibit development policies and procedures to guide consistent practices across projects and teams. Develops and maintains reporting systems for gallery projects, preparing regular updates, budget projections, and milestone reviews for internal leadership and stakeholders. Prepares and runs regular reports to monitor project timelines, budgets, and deliverables; tracks key data points to support oversight, inform leadership, and guide project decision-making. Acts as the primary liaison for large-scale exhibit projects, coordinating cross-functional collaboration among bureaus and State Museum staff in curatorial, collections, facilities, and education to fulfill project objectives. Ensures that core messages about Pennsylvania history and the interpretive plan’s content are effectively incorporated into exhibit development. Reviews and monitors construction and exhibit installation activities to ensure alignment with approved plans, timelines, and accessibility requirements, escalating risks or deviations to leadership as needed. Oversees the integration of staff contributions, such as input from curators and education specialists, into consultant-driven designs and construction documents for gallery spaces. Facilitates cooperative working relationships between SMOP staff and on-site external contractors. Coordinates internal policy development related to gallery development operations, including contractor workflows, collections access protocols, and exhibit consistency standards. Collaborates with procurement and fiscal staff to ensure timely contract execution, invoice processing, and expenditure tracking, in accordance with state and agency regulations. Conducts regular project meetings and prepares documentation summarizing progress, identifying challenges, and recommending administrative or procedural adjustments to SMOP and agency management. Provides guidance and direction to internal support staff assigned to assist with exhibit project logistics, documentation, or stakeholder engagement on a temporary or task-based basis. Engages with the public, responds to inquiries, and represents the agency at meetings, events, and exhibit-related engagements as needed. Performs other work as required. Travels as required. Apply tot his job Apply To this Job