Job Description

Job Title: Museum Manager
Location: 3875 116th Street, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Contract: Contract with the Pleasant Prairie Historical Society, Inc. - 36 hours per week
Reports to: Pleasant Prairie Historical Society, Inc. Vice President / Board of Directors

About the Pleasant Prairie History Museum:

Pleasant Prairie History Museum is a small, local history museum that was dedicated in 2020 focused on preserving and sharing the history of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Operated by the non-profit Pleasant Prairie Historical Society, it’s located in the restored 1927 Dublin School. The museum features 1,700 square feet of exhibit space, over 1,400 artifacts, and 30+ linear feet of archival materials. The Historical Society fundraises to support its operations and hosts up to eight community events annually.

Position Overview:

Pleasant Prairie Historical Society seeks to contract with an outgoing, self-motivated, and detail-oriented Museum Manager to oversee a wide range of responsibilities central to the preservation, presentation, and promotion of our collections and programs. This multifaceted role involves public engagement and event management, fundraising, exhibit development, collections care, membership promotion, volunteer coordination, communications, facilities maintenance and administrative tasks.

Key Responsibilities:

Public Outreach, Engagement & Public Event Programs

• Plan and execute events (e.g. History Happy Hour) and fundraisers, including designing promotional materials and signage.
• Manage museum facility rentals, including scheduling, communication, setup, and cleanup.
• Coordinate and support volunteers and interns, providing training and supervision.
• Prepare and email online Museum Monthly Newsletter.
• Develop and distribute the bi-annual printed newsletter, including writing and layout.

Fundraising Development & Communications

• Coordinate the membership program, including renewals, outreach, and benefits.
• Fundraise for museum operations and development.
• Research and apply for grants and other funding opportunities.
• Request, track and process donations, maintaining accurate donor records in PastPerfect.
• Manage the museum's Google website and social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram), providing weekly posts and engaging content.

Exhibits & Interpretation

• Design, develop, and install at least one museum exhibit annually, from concept through execution.
• Create interpretive materials and engaging content for diverse audiences.
• Lead guided tours and field trips and provide research assistance to visitors.

Collections & Archives

• Manage the care, documentation, and organization of museum collections and archival materials.
• Maintain collection management database and accession records in Past Perfect.

Administration & Policy

• Collaborate with community partners to advance the museum’s mission.
• Work with Board Vice President to prepare and bring agenda packets for meetings.
• Implement museum policies and procedures in line with best practices and institutional goals.

Facilities & Maintenance

• Ensure exhibit areas and public spaces are clean, orderly, and presentable.
• Perform or coordinate with a volunteer to complete building cleaning tasks.
• Perform light maintenance tasks such as taking out the trash, refilling toilet paper and paper towels, and tidying common areas as needed.
• Assist with coordination of exterior building maintenance contracts.

Schedule & Availability:

• This position offers some flexible scheduling outside of public-facing hours to accommodate a variety of tasks and responsibilities.
• Museum Manager’s typical working days totaling 36 hours: Tuesday through Friday 9:00 – 4:00, Saturday 12-4:00, other 4 hours flexible.
• Museum Manager must be at the museum during open hours unless a trained volunteer is scheduled to cover the front desk and visitor needs during those times.
• Museum Manager is expected to prepare for and attend 7:00 AM breakfast meetings with the Society Board of Directors, which occurs approximately 8 times per year.
• Some evening and weekend hours may be required for events, programs, rentals, or special projects.
• The position may involve physical tasks such as lifting exhibit materials, moving tables/chairs for event setup and cleaning.

Qualifications:

Education & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Museum Studies, History, Public History, or related field.
• Experience: 1–3 years of professional experience in a museum, historical society, or similar cultural institution.
• Core Competencies: Proven experience in event management, exhibit development, collections management, fundraising, and grant writing.

Technical Proficiency

• Design & Layout: Experience with Microsoft Office, Canva, Vista Print, and Adobe Illustrator/Creative Cloud.
• Museum & Admin Tools: Proficiency with (or ability to quickly learn) PastPerfect software, Microsoft 365, and Google Workspace (specifically Google Sites).
• Communication: Skilled in social media management (Facebook, Instagram), website content updates, Constant Contact, and donor management tools.

Professional Skills

• Project Management: Ability to independently manage multiple projects, rank priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Communication: Strong writing, design, and verbal communication skills.
• Organization: High level of multi-tasking ability and attention to detail.

Soft Skills & Values

• Attitude: Positive, engaging, and mission-driven mindset.
• Work Style: Collaborative and flexible; able to thrive in both independent environments and team settings.

Compensation:

Contractor’s salary range: $20.00 - $22.00 per hour, commensurate with years of experience.
Benefits: Paid vacation time and holidays. Flexible hours on event days.

To Apply:

Please submit all of the following: 1) cover letter, 2) resume, and 3) portfolio or examples of past exhibit or publication work to jwerbie@pleasantprairiehistoricalsociety.org by 4:00 PM CST on Friday, June 5, 2026.

Pay: $20.00 - $22.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person

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