Historian

This position is classified as a full-time, regular role based in Piscataway, New Jersey. IEEE does not provide employer-sponsored immigration support for this role.

About the role

The Historian is part of IEEE's professional History and Heritage team, whose mission is to preserve and share the history of IEEE, its members, their industries and professions, and the related technologies. The position reports to the Director of Heritage Programs and works under minimal supervision, balancing program management, content development, and stakeholder engagement. The postholder will take ownership of Heritage projects and programs determined by management during the annual goal-setting process, driving continuous improvement by leveraging IEEE resources and proposing innovations to elevate the team's remit.

Responsibilities

• Independently research and develop historical content for special projects to:
  • Facilitate IEEE’s outreach efforts as assigned by management.
  • Enable and advance activations, events, and experiences commissioned by the IEEE Conferences, Events and Experiences (CEE) Content Transformation team or other CEE teams.
  • Engage academic, professional, public, or IEEE audiences through published research, popular articles, presentations, or lectures at conferences and events as authorized by management.
• Assume day-to-day ownership of Heritage programs as determined by the Heritage Director, including:
  • The Oral History Program: scheduling and conducting interviews, producing and editing transcripts, and managing vendors.
  • The IEEE Global Museum program: designing, curating, and circulating exhibits, and managing exhibit development vendors.
  • New Heritage programs as they are piloted.
  • Assisting the Director in developing improved processes, methodologies, and metrics for assigned programs.
• Advance IEEE History and Heritage by:
  • Sourcing and editing articles, from peer-reviewed research papers to blog posts, as assigned by management.
  • Publicizing programs and special projects through reports or articles for the IEEE History newsletter and other channels.
  • Cultivating relationships with the broader historical community, including academic historians, public historians, avocational historians, and collectors.
  • Maintaining stakeholder relationships among staff, volunteers, IEEE members, vendors, and the IEEE History Committee.
  • Assisting with fundraising activities for IEEE History and Heritage as requested by management.

Requirements

• Master’s or other advanced degree in history, education, public history/museology, archival science, or a related field (required).
• Ph.D. in history, education, public history/museology, archival science, or a related field (preferred).
• 4–7 years of postgraduate experience in a related field (required).
• 7–10 years of postgraduate experience in a related field (preferred).

Skills

• Domain Expertise and Experience:
  • Broad expertise in the history of technology, history of science, public history, or closely related fields.
  • Specific knowledge/training/experience in museum curation and exhibits (helpful).
  • Specific knowledge/training/experience in K-12 education (helpful).
  • Understanding of not-for-profit organizations and working with volunteers (helpful).
• Project Management and Organization:
  • Self-motivation, discipline, and ability to work under minimal supervision.
  • Creative ability to identify workflow improvements and implement new methods to achieve program or project goals.
  • Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple competing priorities simultaneously to meet deadlines.
• Communication and Presentation Skills:
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to present engagingly to small- to medium-sized audiences.
  • Ability to translate complex historical and technical content into accessible formats for multiple audiences.
• Technological Proficiency:
  • Ability to recognize the potential of new information technologies for reference, research, education, and public outreach, and translate them into practical solutions.
  • Proficiency in core Microsoft Office and Google Suite products, such as databases and spreadsheets.
  • Proficiency in communications and media software (helpful).
• Team Culture and Travel:
  • Ability to thrive in a collegial, optimistic team environment aligned with IEEE’s core values.
  • Effective, nimble partnership with a customer-centered mentality.
  • Sensitivity to domestic and international cultural protocols.
  • Ability to travel domestically, including weekends and/or evenings, several times per year; occasional international travel may be required.

Pay

Minimum salary: $80,000.