History Fair Program Associate

History Day Program Associate

• JOB TITLE: History Day Program Associate – temporary, part-time
• DEPARTMENT: Education – History Day
• FLSA STATUS: $17/hr, 20-35 hr/week (not to exceed 950 hours in FY2024)

JOB SUMMARY: The temporary part-time Program Associate helps coordinate Chicago Metro History Day (CMHD), a program of the Chicago History Museum. The job is composed of administration, history education, project management, and direct relations with teachers and students, volunteer judges, and parents. This role combines event coordinator and history educator responsibilities. This role is required to work some nights and weekends according to program needs. This position may be renewed in FY2026 if funds permit.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• In collaboration with the History Learning Specialist and CMHD Manager, the Program Associate may lead classroom visits, field trips, research days, teacher professional development, or curricular development
• Support teachers in administering or teaching the History Day process in their classrooms as needed
• Facilitate on-site student research during Research Days and field virtual research technical support queries
• Coordinate logistics for CMHD in-person events (registration, scheduling, attendee check-in, reporting, etc.)
• Under supervision of the CMHD manager, create, send, and collect invoices and payments from participating schools
• The Program Associate will support History Day event coordination including scheduling, online registration, venue and catering logistics, and coordinating with external partners
• Process History Day projects before, during, and after CMHD competitions
• Coach students on their inquiry-based history projects (research, thesis, analysis, etc.) either individually or with other HD staff in a classroom or workshop setting
• Evaluate student work using a performance assessment rubric
• Manage aspects of the in-person CMHD competitions
• Maintain and update program files and materials
• Work all regional and state History Day contest dates (required), may attend national contest if funds permit
• Participate in other CHM institutional committee, event, special project, or task force work as assigned

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

The History Day Program Associate for the Education Department works as part of a program team consisting of the History Day Manager (Crystal Johnson) and Program Specialist (Lauren Maly) and other temporary staff. They work together to fulfill the goals, objectives, and metrics of the program which is based on a project-based approach to historical inquiry. The Associate works with fellow staff to coach students, oversee evaluation of projects, manage category competitions, and coordinate events. They will have occasional interactions with teachers, students, parents, adult volunteers, and librarians. Besides the required contest dates, the working hours and days of work will be decided between the Associate and the Manager.

REPORTS TO:

Crystal Johnson, History Day Manager

DIRECT REPORTS:

None

QUALIFICATIONS:

• B.A., or beginning graduate work, preferably in history, education, or a closely related discipline
• Ability to communicate well—verbally and in writing—with diverse groups of people
• High level of proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and database management
• High level of proficiency in doing history research
• Highly organized, efficient, and is detail-oriented
• Knowledge of inquiry-based learning
• Can work on a team and individually
• Possesses problem-solving skills
• Able to lift 25 pounds
• Other beneficial skills may include: photography, knowledge of social media, videography, website or documentary production, proficiency in MS Publisher or Canva, and/or handling presentation equipment (laptops, projectors)
• Commitment to the mission, values, and programs of the Chicago History Museum
• Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for all CHM employees

This position is hybrid and will require 1-2 days/week of on-site work. Additionally, this position may require off-site work at schools, libraries, and other locations one or more times per week.