Cultural Heritage Coordinator
Reports to Cultural Heritage Manager
Sandy Spring Museum (SSM) is a private, independently operated museum located between Washington, DC and Baltimore, Maryland. The Museum connects diverse communities and advances social equity through shared and inspiring experiences of the region’s cultural heritage.
In addition to stewarding a significant collection of artifacts and archival materials related to Sandy Spring, SSM is the state-designated Regional Folklife Center for Montgomery County. This role uniquely positions the Museum to connect past, present, and future by elevating the community’s living traditions.
As Regional Folklife Center, SSM serves traditional artists in Maryland’s most demographically diverse county through grant support, technical assistance, programming, marketing, capacity building, and access to free community space.
SSM maintains fully digitized collections that are publicly accessible online and catalogued with attention to cultural association, including Quaker and non-Quaker communities, free and enslaved people, farmers and merchants, and others who have shaped the region.
Job Description
The Cultural Heritage Coordinator supports community-centered public programs and helps steward relationships with community partners in service of Sandy Spring Museum’s mission of fostering social equity through the sharing of cultural heritage. Working under the guidance of the Cultural Heritage Manager, this position focuses on day-to-day coordination, logistics, communication, and documentation that enable successful community programs and partnerships.
Primary Responsibilities
Program Coordination
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- Assist in planning and coordinating community-driven programs, events, and workshops in collaboration with community partners and museum staff.
- Support the execution of in-house programs, including scheduling, materials, and on-site assistance.
- Help manage event logistics by communicating with partners and staff, preparing materials, and providing on-site support to ensure programs run smoothly and are
welcoming to participants. - Draft basic program-related content for social media and digital platforms to promote events.
Community Collaboration and Outreach
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- Serve as the day-to-day contact for community partners once programs are in development, ensuring clear communication and timely follow-up.
- Work collaboratively with partners to clarify needs and practical steps for program implementation.
- Collect partner feedback after programs and share key takeaways with the Cultural Heritage Manager.
- Support evaluation efforts by documenting outcomes and tracking feedback.
- Share leads, observations, and potential connections with the Cultural Heritage Manager to inform future partnerships.
Documentation and Data Support
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- Maintain basic records of agreements and collaborations with community partners.
- Keep the community contacts database up to date.
- Provide brief updates to the Cultural Heritage Manager on program progress and outcomes when requested.
Required Qualifications
- Minimum 2 years experience in programming in a museum or similar setting
- Demonstrated experience in building and fostering community relationships
- Strong project management and problem-solving skills
- Excellent, demonstrable tech skills, including the ability to quickly learn new software and applications; facility with Microsoft Office suite
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize, and manage multiple, diverse and competing priorities while meeting deadlines
- Ability to be flexible and change plans as needed when new information is acquired
- Demonstrated excellence in verbal and written communication skills
- Familiarity with arts and culture industry
Desired Qualifications
- MA in folklore studies, ethnomusicology, anthropology, public history or related discipline
- Multilingual
- Working knowledge of Montgomery County history, cultural heritage, and/or familiarity with region
Terms of Employment
This is a part-time, non-exempt position of 22.5 hours per week. The employee will typically work three 8-hour shifts per week, each including a 30-minute unpaid meal break. Work hours may vary based on program needs, and occasional evening and weekend shifts will be required. This position is scheduled for 48 weeks per year, with four weeks of unpaid leave, to be taken flexibly by arrangement.
To apply, please send a single PDF with a cover letter detailing your relevant experience, a resume, and three references to aweiss@sandyspringmuseum.org. Applications will be reviewed as they are received.