Please do not call or email us about these positions. We’ll share our hiring progress on this webpage and try to be as transparent as possible.

Museum Outreach Director

Research Associate

MUSEUM OUTREACH DIRECTOR

Job Type: Contractor
Job Duration: 6 months
Contractor compensation: $60,000 plus travel expenses
Required travel: likely three one-week road trips in New York State
Timing: approximately December 2024 – May 2025

Do you love museums? Especially small ones? Do you enjoy meeting the volunteers that are behind so many museums? And do you love data? If the answer is YES to all of these questions, we would love to hear more about you and how you might fill this contract position!

Overall project description:
Wilkening Consulting has been retained by New York State to conduct an operational survey of New York State Museums. We will be attempting to collect attendance, financial, and other information from as many museums in the state as possible.

Contractor responsibilities:
The Museum Outreach Director will be primarily responsible for maximizing participation in this critical research. Project responsibilities include:

Finalizing and implementing a communications plan, including supporting email and USPS communications from NYS museum organizations and agencies
Working directly with NYS museum staff/volunteers to help them complete the data collection survey, including following-up and reminding them to participate as necessary
Developing educational materials used to support capacity building through data collection among NYS museums, such as infographics, templates, videos, workshops, etc.

While 100% participation by NYS museums is the ultimate goal, a realistic goal is a 60 – 70% participation rate.

Contractor qualifications:
Experience:

Has worked in the museum field; small museum experience preferred
Exposure to/understanding of museums of different sizes and types
Development of educational materials, such as curricula, running workshops, etc.
Volunteer management
Familiarity with New York State and its museums
Competence at collecting and working with basic museum data (e.g., visitation data, budgeting, etc.)

Other desired attributes:

Ability to build strong relationships with museum board, staff and/or volunteers
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to motivate others
Well-organized and thoughtful planner
Persistence

This position requires a valid driver’s license and the ability to travel around New York State for in-person visits to museums as needed.

Contractor compensation and budget:
We expect this contractor to be working full-time on this project for approximately six months. The budget for this work is $60,000 plus pre-approved expenses (including travel expenses, attendance at the MANY annual meeting, etc.).

As a short-term contractor, you are responsible for providing your own equipment and fulfilling the contracted goals. You are also responsible for any tax obligations, benefits, etc. We are going to pay a set fee per our contract, and celebrate with you when the contract obligations are fulfilled in a timely manner.

To apply:
We’ve put together a short questionnaire for interested contractors to complete. You can download the questionnaire here in advance, and when you are ready, go to this link to submit your initial proposal.

Please do not call or email us about the position. We’ll share our progress on hiring this contract position on our website, and try to be as transparent as possible.

We can’t wait to hear from you

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

Job Type: Full-time
Job Duration: 12 – 18 months, with possibility of transitioning to permanent employment
Salary: $55,000-$60,000
Location: Remote
Beginning Date: December 2024
Benefits: Vacation, flexible schedule including PTO and federal holidays, 401(k) with company match. Salary is intended to cover employee health insurance needs, and employee is responsible for ensuring their own coverage (ICHRA plan available)

Do you love museums and data? Do you find spreadsheets exciting? How are you at logic problems?

If you like these questions, we would love to chat with you about our Research Associate position!

Wilkening Consulting is expanding to include a Research Associate so we can build capacity and better serve the museum field over the coming year. This position is fully funded for 12 months, and will likely be funded for an additional 6 months. Our goal is to make this a permanent position in 2026.

Position summary:
The Research Associate will be involved with all aspects of research conducted by Wilkening Consulting, including fielding research, managing data sets and reporting, and dissemination of research results. This is an entry-level position, perfect for individuals starting their careers, but we also welcome applicants who would like to transition into research. We are looking for someone who is excited about museums and data, and who loves nothing more than to make sure every data point on a spreadsheet is correct and in the right place.

Responsibilities:
Learning Opportunities

Dive deep into how our research projects work, and learn the nuts and bolts of survey design and administration
Develop an understanding of the ethics and principles of research
Gain a nuanced perspective of the richness and variety of the museum field, and its work throughout the United States, by supporting the research efforts of hundreds of museums
Encouragement to pursue curiosity, attend conferences and meetings

Quantitative Research

Assist in the management of the Annual Survey of Museum-Goers, including tracking museum deliverables, developing templates, pulling down reports, and developing individual museum reports
Assist in the management of client audience research projects
Assist in the management of research projects measuring scope and impact of museum field

Qualitative Research

Manage online qualitative panels, interacting directly with research participants

Research Dissemination

Manage the Wilkening Consulting website and social media pages
Manage the Wilkening Consulting email list and communications

Other Tasks

Responding to clients as needed

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree
Museum experience is a plus, but not required
An intrinsic love of data and spreadsheets, and a desire to ensure everything is in its correct place
Enjoys working alone, is a self-starter, committed to accuracy and efficiency … but also enjoys contributing to and pulling their weight on a team
Strong written and verbal communications skills
Excellent organizational and analytical skills with strong attention to detail
Familiarity with website design
Curious and willing to learn
A commitment to promoting diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in the museum field

Reporting relationship:
Wilkening Consulting is a small but mighty team, and the Research Associate will be working closely with all team members. The Research Associate’s day-to-day supervisor will be Jessica Strube, Senior Research and Project Manager.

Remote work considerations:
As a remote employee, applicant can reside in any part of the United States. Employee is expected to work a full-time, distraction-free schedule, but there is flexibility in making their own hours. Employee is expected to provide their own workspace. Wilkening Consulting can either purchase a workstation for the employee or provide a technology allowance. Employee will be expected to travel at least once a year for an in-person staff meeting.

To apply:
We’ve put together a short questionnaire for interested applicants to complete. You can download the questionnaire here in advance, and when you are ready, go to this link to submit your initial proposal.

Please do not call or email us about the position. We’ll share our progress on hiring this position on our website, and try to be as transparent as possible.

We can’t wait to hear from you!

Wilkening Consulting will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability or marital status, and will undertake or continue existing EEO programs to ensure that minority group members and women are afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination, and shall make and document its conscientious and active efforts to employ and utilize minority group members and women in its work force.