Director Curriculum & Outreach (Slavery North)

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access fuel innovation and creativity and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863 UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching research scholarship and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse equitable and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valuedand thrives and offers a full range of undergraduate graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental social economic and technological challenges in our world.

Slavery North Initiative
Slavery North is a one-of-a-kind academic and cultural destination where scholars thinkers artists and cultural producers build community and produce research and cultural outcomes that transform our understanding of the neglected histories of Transatlantic Slavery in Canada and the US North. Slavery North seeks to advance social justice by recuperating and interrogating the complex histories of Transatlantic Slavery and European colonization of the Americas thereby recovering and centering the cultures experiences lives and resistance of enslaved peoples in Canada and the US North. At the heart of Slavery North is a fellowship program that will welcome national and international students artists and scholars providing them with the space funding time and community to produce transformative research outcomes.

Job Summary

The Director of Curriculum and Outreach manages Slavery Norths developing strategies to interpret and share research findings with academic and professional organizations the community and the media. The Director collaborates with active researchers at UMASS and in the field as well as reviews related academic publications to help publicize the history andart historicaldepiction of slavery in the northern part of North America. The Director plans and organizes panel discussions exhibitions screenings conferences workshops and other in-person and virtual events. Additionally thedirector is responsible for developing historical and art historical curricula for all educational levels and for academic and lay audiencesin this emerging field of study.

Essential Functions

• Promotes academic outreach by organizing conference panels and panel series exhibitions screenings conferences lectures interviews workshops and other in-person and virtual events. Plans all logistics for Institute events such as participant communication venue selection and reservations technical support photographic and video documentation participant releases lodging accommodations catering travel and venue set-up. Serves as program manager at events to ensure successful execution.
• Records documents archives and disseminates all Institute events and programming. In collaboration with the Institute Administrative Assistant documents all Institute outcomes for funding and grant applications and for updates to the Institute website and other social media digital and face-to-face dissemination.
• Supports Slavery North Fellows and provides guidance and assistance in creating suitable visual and art historical content to elevate and publicize their research projects across Slavery Norths social media platforms.
• Secures all necessary legal releases for image recording and copyright permission for Institute outcomes.
• In collaboration with the Director Associate Director and others identifies and writes grant and funding applications for Institute events and outcomes.
• With the support of the Director Associate Director and others creates writes packages and delivers original research-based art historical curriculum on Institute mandate areas for workshops and events directed at various constituents.
• Coordinates with other campus departments and programs at UMass Amherst and the Five Colleges (as well as other external stakeholders and affiliates) to promote the mission and goals of Slavery North by hosting national and international conferences events and symposia.
• In concert with the Director of Research and Engagement curates mandate-related art exhibitions and plays a significant role in formulating the overall direction of Slavery Norths artistic and cultural research outcomes. Works with the Director to develop produce and implement art historical exhibition-related programming and educational materials.
• In collaboration with University Relations and the UMass News and Media Office acts as Slavery Norths media liaison. Schedules organizes and supervises media bookings (for Director Associate Director fellows visiting scholars etc.) and coordinates public outreach and promotion of the Institutes goals and mission.
• Creates original marketing and promotional materials for the Institute to support maintain and expand its reputation and to promote knowledge of its work and outcomes within academia and the general public.
• Develops oversees and manages social media channels of the Institute. Develops a dynamic and professional Institute podcast and creative podcast programming and expands the Institutes podcast and social media presence to enhance its reputation. Organizes guest bookings for podcast materials and oversees the technical and artistic aspects of the productions.
• Professionally represents the Institute at various scholarly and academic conferences and with community partners to develop a strong collaborative approach to expanding the Institutes presence locally regionally nationally and internationally.
• Supervises undergraduate and graduate student employees.
• Maintains both professional and confidential relationships.
• Maintains up-to-date information regarding current events and public opinion in helping the Institute to address and respond to current events and attitudes.
• Supervises a staff member.

Other Functions

Performs related duties as assigned or required to meet the Institutes Colleges and Universitys goals and mission.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge Skills Abilities Education Experience Certifications Licensure)

• MA level degree in Art History.
• Expertise in Transatlantic Slavery Studies the Visual Culture of Slavery Black Diaspora Studies African American Studies and/or
• At least three years of experience in a professional or supervisory work setting; with at least one year of teaching or research experience in an academic concentration related to the mandates of Slavery North.
• Expertise in Transatlantic Slavery Studies the Visual Culture of Slavery Black Diaspora Studies African American Studies and/or African Canadian Studies or related field(s); specific knowledge of Transatlantic Slavery in Canada and/or the US North.
• Evidence of training in and knowledge of primary research in the Humanities and/or Fine Arts as related to the study of Transatlantic Slavery and the Black Diaspora.
• History of publication or original creative outcomes in topics of concern to Slavery North. This should include at least four publications and four lectures and/or presentations at academic conferences or symposia.
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating academic conferences or symposia and experience moderating and presenting at such conferences.
• Demonstrated experience in curriculum development and delivery. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively both collaboratively in a diverse group and independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to represent the Institute professionally amongst a wide array of people from different backgrounds including community leaders visiting scholars academics general public media and University administrators.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other University media offices to carry out the goals and missions of the Institute.
• Ability to commute to various locations beyond the main campus reliably.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge Skills Abilities Education Experience Certifications Licensure)

• History of demonstrated contributions to engagement with and/or interest in the issues related to Institute mandate areas: and demonstrated ability as effective public speaker and educator.
• Demonstrated knowledge of social media and media relations.
• Personable organized creative and enthusiastic about education for academic and lay audiences.
• Demonstrated interest in the issues and histories with which the Institute engages.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office environment but will manage set up at various venues for public presentations.
• Ability to travel independently and work in various locations on- and off-campus to set up and oversee the successful outcome of Institute events and meet with Institute partners stakeholders media outlets and others.

Additional Details

This position is funded by a grant and the initial appointment is through November 6 2026.

Work Schedule

37.5 hours per week. Flexible schedule. Some night and weekend work will be required.

Salary Information

Salary Level 28

Exempt Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Upload your cover letter and resume along with your completed application. Our team will check references at the final stage of the interview process. Please be prepared to provide contact information for at least three (3) professional position will remain open until filled or the advertised closing date whichever occurs submissions are recommended.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race color religion caste creed sex age marital status national origin disability political belief or affiliation pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s) veteran status sexual orientation gender identity and expression genetic information natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment admission to and participation in academic programs activities and services and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities women persons with disabilities and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes rules and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.