Position SummaryUnder the general supervision of the Chief Creative Officer and State Historian, The Director of Community Engagement provides strategic leadership, direction, and execution of the Wisconsin Historical Society's (WHS) statewide engagement strategy. Leading the Community Engagement Department, this role is responsible for advancing mission effectiveness by deepening relationships, expanding audience reach, and strengthening partnerships that connect people across Wisconsin to history through meaningful, relevant, and accessible experiences.
The Director leads the development and delivery of community engagement programs, services, and initiatives that align with WHS's strategic priorities, including increasing history literacy, growing and diversifying audiences, and delivering a modern, audience-centered approach to public history. For example, this position leads a team to collaborate on new media development (such as digital shorts and documentaries), community gallery exhibits, historical markers, support affiliate organizations, and other agency initiatives. The Director ensures that engagement efforts are coordinated across divisions, grounded in community needs, and designed to create sustained impact across urban, rural, and tribal communities, as well as historically underserved populations.
The Director works closely with WHS leadership colleagues to coordinate engagement efforts, align priorities, and ensure a consistent approach to how the Society connects with communities statewide. This includes collaborating with experience design, education, programming, marketing, collections, historic sites and attractions, and operational teams to integrate community engagement into broader agency initiatives and experiences.
The Director of Community Engagement oversees a geographically distributed team responsible for key statewide programs and serves as a connector across the organization, aligning engagement strategies with program development and agency priorities.
This role also plays a critical part in shaping engagement strategies for major initiatives, including the Wisconsin History Center, and future new experiences at the agency's Museums and Historic Sites, ensuring strong community integration and long-term audience development.
The position is headquartered in Madison, but a remote location in the State of Wisconsin may be possible.
Salary InformationThe salary will be between $36.50 - $44.00 per hour plus excellent benefits. Pay on appointment for current or former state employees may vary according to the applicable pay provisions found in the Wisconsin State Compensation Plan. This position is in pay schedule 81, range 01. The classification for this position is Historical Society Manager. A 2-year Career Executive trial period will be required.
Visit this link for a calculator of State of Wisconsin benefits: https://dpm.wi.gov/Pages/Employees/RewardsCalculator.aspx
Job DetailsA criminal background check will be conducted prior to an offer of employment to determine if the circumstances of any conviction may be related to the job.
Interested permanent classified state employees should complete this application process to apply.
WHS does not sponsor work visas. Any appointment made will be contingent on the applicant being able to prove valid status to work in the United States.
The position is headquartered in Madison, but a remote location in the State of Wisconsin may be possible.
QualificationsPlease make sure to describe the following qualifications within your resume and/or letter of qualifications in order to be considered for this position.
A minimally qualified candidate will have experience in all of the following:
- Participating in a team project with community partners at a cultural organization.
- Developing a partnership with a community organization as part of a workplace initiative to achieve a shared goal.
- Experience with public speaking and delivering public programs.
In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, a well-qualified candidate will have experience in one of the following areas:
- Experience leading a community engagement project such as historical markers, public programming, co-curated exhibit, community collecting, or other collaborative history initiative.
- Experience managing two or more workplace operations such as developing reports, budget, invoicing, hiring, annual reviews, or presenting to c-suite.
- Experience facilitating a community engagement initiative with a diverse people of different Native Nations, religions, races, abilities, rural, or urban communities.
How To ApplyTo apply, click "Apply for Job" to start the application process. Then, you will access your existing account or to create a new account if you don't have an account. Once you are logged in, click "Apply for Job." Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application.
Your letter of qualifications and resume are very important parts of your application and are used during our evaluation process to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. For instructions on developing your resume and letter of qualifications for your application and what should be included in these materials, click here for resume and letter of qualifications instructions. .
Submitted materials will be evaluated and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the hiring process.
Questions may be directed to jan.zadra@wisconsinhistory.org . or (608) 264-6409.
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Deadline to ApplyApplications are due at 11:59PM on November 20, 2026.
