We Are Water MN, Program Manager

Position Title: We Are Water MN, Program Manager

Hours: This is an exempt position that will require working occasional evenings and weekends

Salary: $75,000-$95,000

Benefits Eligible: Health, Dental, PTO, Holidays, and 401(k) plan

Closing Date: April 1, 2025

Questions?

Minnesota Humanities Center

The Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) is Minnesota’s exclusive affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Founded in 1971 as one of the nation’s first state affiliates, MHC is committed to promoting the humanities (such as literature, history, civics, jurisprudence, and philosophy) and facilitating storytelling across communities to create a just society that is curious, connected, and compassionate. With support from the State of Minnesota’s Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Fund, created by a vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008, MHC also supports and facilitates efforts by communities across the state to preserve, share, and deeply listen to one another’s unique stories, and thereby build their capacity to think, talk, and work across differences to identify and pursue shared goals.

We Are Water MN

We Are Water MN (WAW MN) was launched in 2016 to strengthen Minnesotans’ relationships with their two most valuable resources—water, and one another. Combining a world-class traveling exhibit with locally organized, deeply participatory programming, WAW MN brings scientific, historical, spiritual, and personal stories about water into dynamic conversation, helping residents to better understand and care for the place in which they live and the people living there with them. WAW MN does not promote specific policies or perspectives regarding water use but rather promotes habits of collaborative and mutually humanizing inquiry, reflection, deliberation, and action necessary to community thriving. WAW MN is funded in part with money from the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Fund, with additional support from NEH.

Responsibilities

MHC seeks to hire a Program Manager (PM) who will be the public face and main organizing force behind the nationally acclaimed WAW MN traveling exhibit and community engagement program: a collaborative initiative involving MHC, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), a network of six additional statewide agencies and organizations, and a rotating cohort of local organizations and voluntary associations from across the state.

This is a community engagement, education, and capacity-building position supported by internal and external partners familiar with statewide water issues; no prior knowledge of water science or water policy is necessary.

The WAW MN PM will report to MHC’s Director of Civic Renewal programming and the CEO. PM will also work closely with both MHC and MPCA staff members, representatives from the statewide partner network, and a rotating cohort of local partners.

Behavioral Expectations

• Demonstrate high integrity, passion, and commitment to the mission and goals of MHC
• Professional attitude and appearance
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and highly organized
• Strong and collaborative with the confidence to take the lead on solving problems when necessary, and the wisdom to take good advice and let others shine whenever possible
• Skilled in interpersonal communication and able to interact effectively with diverse stakeholders

General Expectations

• Initiative-taking, flexible, and optimistic individual with excellent people skills
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities
• Culturally competent and the ability to build strong relationships, find common ground, build consensus, and strengthen collaboration among diverse stakeholders
• Working knowledge of project planning, budgeting, and administrative operations
• Strong work ethic and commitment to create high-quality programming
• Continuous Learning – Commitment to learning, applying, building on, and evaluating new knowledge and skills
• Enthusiasm – Exhibits passion, cheerful outlook, and excitement about MHC’s work

Requirements

The ideal candidate will be an individual that is organized, enjoys learning, values working with others, and is comfortable working on several projects simultaneously. The ideal candidate will be a strong storyteller, writer, and editor who is committed to amplifying the voices of scholars and individuals from historically politically disenfranchised communities.

• An Associate or Undergraduate degree, either in the humanities, education, social work, social sciences, environmental sciences, or other relevant field
• A minimum of 4 years of professional experience in project or program management or related positions, preferably in the government or non-profit (including higher education) sectors
• A strong understanding of effective civic engagement, democratic engagement, and community engagement programming and practices
• Experience working with racial and ethnically diverse communities.
• Exceptional public speaking skills, a clear and compelling writing style, and clear potential to be an effective thought leader and mission communicator
• Demonstrated capacity to engage diverse adult learners, in ways that develop their own capacity to organize broadly appealing and accessible community engagement programs.
• A strong writer who feels comfortable communicating directly with MHC and MPCA leadership, external partners, event attendees, and other audiences in a wide variety of formal and informal settings
• Capable of analyzing and managing a complex budget, including by appropriate planning and tracking expenses, paying subcontractors, invoicing funders, and reconciling program-level and organization accounts 
• Experienced in compiling, synthesizing, and reporting summarized research
• Familiar with and effective in using the Microsoft Office suite of technologies as well as technologies commonly used by partners including Zoom, Google Video, Google Drive, etc.
• Disposition and ability to address contentious issues and negotiate divergent perspectives in a non-ideological, cross-partisan, trust-building manner
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends with occasional travel outside of the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area    

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, multi-functional copiers/printers, and filing cabinets.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to effectively communicate, use a telephonic device, and/or use a computer. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. This is a sedentary role: however, some filing is required. This would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand, as necessary. While performing the duties of the job, the noise level in the office work environment is usually moderate. Stress levels may become high during certain times of the year.

Expected to work a flexible and varied schedule that may include working on evenings, weekends, and some holidays. Must be available to respond in the event of a crisis as needed. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability status, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected class under law.

Apply

Interested candidates should email their cover letter (including salary requirements) and resume to jobs@mnhum.org. We are unable to accept telephone calls.