Job Listing: Historian A - Religious Liberty (The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)

Historian A – Religious Liberty

About the Position

The Historian A of Religious Liberty conducts historical research into 18th-century Religious Liberty as part of the goals of the three-year Lilly endowment “250 Years of American Religious Liberty” project. This role is responsible for developing a comprehensive, multi-chapter, research report on 18th-century Religious Liberty in Virginia and its wider impact on the development of the United States. They will develop staff training programs and materials in conjunction with the Training department and develop Religious Liberty programming in conjunction with the Performing Arts department. They will also present findings at conferences and academic engagements throughout the course of the project.

This is a full-time, three-year grant-funded position. The role is time-limited and expected to conclude at the end of the grant term unless additional funding is secured.

Main Duties:

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Conducts and oversees research into 18th-century Religious Liberty for the “250 Years of American Religious Liberty” project.
• Conducts and oversees original historical research on Religious Liberty in 18th-century Virginia in support of the major interpretive goals and educational mission of the Lilly endowment
• Functions as project lead for a comprehensive, multi-chapter, research report on 18th-century Religious Liberty in Virginia and its wider impact on the development of the United States.
• Develops staff training programs and materials in conjunction with colleagues.
• Assists in program development in conjunction with the Performing Arts department.
• Manages project deliverables, timeline and budget to ensure that project is completed on time and on budget.
• Participates on the scholarly research board assembled for this project.
• Serves as a staff liaison and may oversee research assistants, associates, fellows, interns and volunteers, to ensure that the work meets Foundation and professional standards.
• Recommends further 18th-century Religious Liberty research projects in response to the Foundation’s objectives and guidelines.
• Proposes appropriate research strategies, methodologies, and techniques. Provides input into the development of ongoing research projects.
• Maintains contact with researchers and scholars from outside the Foundation, who concentrate in areas of 18th-century Religious Liberty in Virginia.
• Keeps abreast of recent historical literature and interpretive best practices, maintains awareness of state-of-the-art research and emerging Religious Liberty historical arguments, and seeks opportunities to infuse programming with current historical scholarship.
• Presents findings to internal and external audiences at conferences, academic engagements, lectures, and audio-visual presentations throughout the course of the project.
• Represents the Division on assigned committees, providing input based on 18th-century Religious Liberty reading and research.
• Performs other related tasks as required.

This job description reflects the general responsibilities of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Duties and responsibilities may evolve over time based on operational needs.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in history or a related field and 3–5 years of related professional experience; OR Master’s degree in history or a related field and 1–3 years of related professional experience.
• Research experience in a museum or an academically related position with a specialization in Early American History, American Studies, or a related field.
• Experience writing on historical topics for public and academic audiences.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A doctorate or terminal degree with academic specialization in 18th-century Religious Liberty in Virginia or a closely related field, demonstrating significant experience in conducting advanced/scholarly historical research in a museum or in an academically related position, plus one-year experience teaching as instructor of record at the collegiate or secondary level.
• Demonstrated ability to read and assimilate information, including divergent or minority narratives.
• Experience working in historical interpretive environment, such as a living history museum or equivalent.

Key Skills / Competencies:

• Must possess specialist knowledge and experience with 18th-century Religious Liberty history.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and conduct original research projects and to perform work independently and as a member of research team.
• Ability to manage a variety of projects simultaneously and produce research that meets the Foundation’s standards.
• Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills and experience presenting to both public and academic audiences, the ability to prepare material of a caliber to be published, and the ability to teach all levels of personnel.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct primary source research, familiarity with current historical literature, and knowledge of proper citation practices.
• Knowledge of colonial Virginia and colonial British America.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Requires prolonged time at computer
• Requires prolonged time reading
• Requires occasional periods of time talking to audiences

Typical Work Schedule:

This is a full-time, three-year grant-funded position. The role is time-limited and expected to conclude at the end of the grant term unless additional funding is secured.

To Apply, visit: Careers - Colonial Williamsburg