Department:
Libraries & Historical Resources
Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.
Are you passionate about local and regional history and genealogy? The Sarasota County History Center is looking for YOU! The History Center is a branch of the Sarasota County library system with an extensive archive, a reference library, an impressive collection of local artifacts, and a variety of impactful historic preservation programs.
We are looking for a Program and Outreach Specialist to help us plan and execute all sorts of programs, events, and workshops to promote these outstanding resources and make them more easily accessible for library users of all ages. You’ll work directly with our collection, looking for ways to incorporate our materials into public workshops, classroom activities, exhibits, research tutorials, and other engaging programs, both at the History Center and around Sarasota County.
Now is a particularly exciting time to join the History Center team, since we are currently building a brand-new 30,000-square-foot facility with a wide range of new spaces for public services and programming. Our Program and Outreach Specialist will play an exciting role in ensuring the new History Center is alive with engaging programs and activities when it opens.
About the Position
In this role, you will be tasked with...
Programs and Outreach
- Developing, planning, and executing public programs highlighting local and regional history, genealogy, and historic preservation for diverse audiences at the History Center, other library branches, and partner institutions and venues around Sarasota County.
- Promoting the understanding and use of the Sarasota County History Center and its resources and services.
- Cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with community partners, local non-profits, and other County departments.
- Recruiting outside presenters to provide public programming as part of the History Center’s overall menu of offerings.
- Continually evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of History Center programs and seeking new opportunities for improvement.
- Coordinating History Center participation in systemwide programs and initiatives by representing the History Center on systemwide teams.
- Compiling accurate statistics on History Center programs and services.
- Liaising with the Department’s outreach team to ensure availability and promotion of History Center collections and services around Sarasota County.
- In collaboration with other staff, creating communications to promote the History Center’s collections, services, and programs, including social media content, blog posts, newsletter articles, flyers, brochures, and other deliverables.
Customer Service
- Representing Sarasota County to customers, volunteers, staff, and donors.
- Implementing standards of service that ensure the prompt and efficient resolution of inquiries and requests from internal and external customers, delivered with the utmost courtesy and respect.
- Assisting with routine public-facing operations at the History Center, including reference services and retrieving materials for customers.
- Contributing to public tours, presentations, and workshops relating to the collection and best practices for preserving historical resources.
About the Schedule
Work Hours:
- Full-Time, 40 hours per week.
- Must be available to work: Sunday - Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Work schedules may vary due to split shifts, rotations, on-call, emergencies, etc.
- As a reminder, all county employees are considered essential and must be prepared to protect and support the community and its citizens. Each employee, without exception, will have a duty assignment and be required to work during a disaster or declared emergency.
About You
Minimum Qualifications:
To be considered for the position, you must have the following:
- Associate's degree in History, Public History, Communications, or Education, or a related discipline, -AND- two (2) years of related experience.
- Related community events/activities planning may substitute for the required education.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in History, Public History, Communications, Education, or a related discipline.
- -OR- two (2) years of experience working in either archives, libraries, museums, or similar institutions with program and outreach-related responsibilities.
Subject to Passing Substance Screening: This position is subject to passing a pre-employment substance screening. An applicant who fails to pass a required drug screening test shall be disqualified from employment in any class for a period of five (5) years.
Fingerprint Screening: This position is subject to a mandatory fingerprint-based background check per applicable federal, state, and/or local laws. The screening will be used to verify criminal history and other relevant information as permitted by law. An applicant who fails to pass a required screening may be disqualified from employment.
About Everything Else
Starting Pay: $53,456.00 annually
Our interview process could include phone interview(s), Microsoft Teams video interview(s), and/or in-person interview(s).
If you are selected to join our team, please click on this link to review the Required First Day Documents. You will need to present the following items on your first day:
1. I-9 Acceptable Documents to show your identity and authorization to work. Use this link to learn more and review the different document options: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
- If your position requires a Florida Driver’s License, this must be one of your documents. (Your Florida Driver’s License can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List B Documents.)
2. U.S. Social Security Card (signed, physical card). This is a requirement of our Payroll Department and failure to provide this document could jeopardize timely compensation. (Your U.S. Social Security Card can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List C Documents.)
Benefits:
- Enjoy great benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) and many, many more! Choose one of three great medical plans, including one with a $0 premium option, with completed preventative visits!
- For more information about employee benefits, please click this link or visit SCGov.net for additional information.
- Utilize our award-winning wellness program including free gyms at multiple Sarasota County Government locations.
- Enjoy 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days and 16 paid vacation days in the first year of full-time employment with increasing accrual rates with years of service. (That adds up to a possible 30 days off in your 1st year!)
A different blend of voices prompt better conversations, choices and results for everyone. Sarasota County – Many Voices, One Team.
We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different.
Our vision is to attract, develop, retain and engage a talented workforce broadly representative of the citizens and communities we serve. To further value creativity, innovation, collaboration and great customer service – internally and externally.
A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members. For assistance with the application, please call 941-861-5353.
Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA Compliance).
Sarasota County Government is a Tobacco-Free/Drug-Free Workplace.
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