Historical Society Associate Director
Company: State of Nebraska
Location: Lincoln
Posted on: April 2, 2026
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Job Description:
The work we do matters! Hiring Agency: Nebraska State Historical
Society - Agency 54 Location: Lincoln, NE Hiring Rate: $31.695 Job
Posting: JR2026-00022845 Historical Society Associate Director
(Open) Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed,
job is posted as open until closed): Job Description: The Nebraska
State Historical Society (NSHS) seeks an experienced and
collaborative leader to serve as Director of Collections &
Conservation. This role provides strategic, administrative, and
professional leadership for all collections and conservation
functions, ensuring alignment with NSHS’s mission as a statewide
educational and cultural institution. The Director works closely
with agency leadership and across departments to advance
institutional priorities, address public needs, and guide the
long-term stewardship and accessibility of Nebraska’s historical
resources. Look at what we have to offer! • 13 paid holidays •
Vacation and sick leave that begin accruing immediately • Military
leave • 156% (that's not a typo!) state-matched retirement •
Tuition reimbursement (Depending on Agency Budget) • Employee
assistance program • 79% employer paid health insurance plans •
Dental and vision insurance plans • Employer-paid $20,000 life
insurance policy • Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
through the Federal government • Wide variety and availability of
career advancement as the largest and most diverse employer in the
State • Opportunity to be part of meaningful work and make a
difference through public service • Training and Development based
on your career aspirations • Fun, inviting teammates • A safe and
secure environment At the State, we stand by our core values of
treating others with dignity and respect, acting ethically in all
situations, and creating an environment where our customer is our
top priority. Apply to join our team today! Leadership,
Administration, and Professional Representation Provides leadership
and administrative oversight for all NSHS Collections &
Conservation activities, including: reference and research
services; archives and library collections; 3D object and
archeological collections; digitization and digital access; and
Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center operations. Plans, assigns,
supervises, and evaluates the work of professional staff, fostering
their development and encouraging collaboration across departments.
Ensures fiscal responsibility and strategic alignment of
departmental activities through budgeting, planning, and
prioritization in collaboration with the NSHS Finance team.
Develops short- and long-range plans that balance public access,
responsible stewardship, and improvements to staffing, systems, and
infrastructure that support sustainable operations. Participates as
a key member of the agency’s leadership team, contributing to
organization-wide strategic planning, resource allocation, and
cross-department collaboration to advance NSHS’s mission. Acts as a
subject matter expert on collections and conservation, providing
technical guidance to agency leadership, staff, partners, and the
public; advocates for collections priorities and represents NSHS in
agency planning efforts, professional forums, and public
engagements. Public Access and Use Provides oversight and support
for in-person and online research services, digitization, and
digital access to ensure collections are accessible,
well-documented, and appropriately managed. Ensures departmental
work supports safe public access, exhibitions, and research use
across NSHS facilities and platforms. Collections Stewardship and
Conservation Provides direction and oversight for the physical,
intellectual, and legal stewardship of collections, including
collections care, environmental monitoring, security, inventory,
and rights management. Directs accessioning, processing, appraisal,
collecting, and deaccessioning activities in accordance with
institutional policies, professional standards, and applicable
federal and state laws and regulations. Oversees conservation
operations and infrastructure through supervision of the
Conservation Center Manager. Projects, Partnerships and
Institutional Support Provides leadership for collections-related
projects and partnerships across NSHS, including exhibits, loans,
active collecting, public programs, and collections care
initiatives. Collaborates with internal teams to support
exhibitions, interpretation, education, and site-based stewardship.
Ensures compliance with institutional requirements related to
collections accountability and records retention. Planning, Grants,
and Capacity Development Identifies and oversees grant- and
contract-funded projects; ensures required documentation and
reporting are completed. Leads planning efforts to address backlogs
and expand access as resources allow. Advises agency leadership on
long-term stewardship risks, facility needs, and
collections-related policies. Other duties as assigned within the
scope of classification. Requirements / Qualifications: Minimum
Qualifications : Bachelor's degree in history, historic
preservation, public/business administration or other field related
to area of responsibility including: American studies,
architecture, archeology, anthropology, archival studies, historic
preservation, library science, museum studies or related field AND
two years' experience in cultural resource management; OR a
Master's degree in any of the above-mentioned fields. Experience
may be substituted for the educational requirement on a
year-for-year basis. Preferred Qualifications : Advanced degree
(Master’s or higher) in a relevant field, or an equivalent
combination of education and professional experience. Experience
overseeing multiple functional areas such as archives, libraries,
museum collections, digitization, or conservation. Personnel
management, grant development, and project management experience.
Experience working within a public-sector, nonprofit, or statewide
cultural institution. Familiarity with collections management
systems and digital asset platforms. Knowledge, Skills, and
Abilities: Knowledge of professional standards and best practices
for collections stewardship, archives, libraries, digitization, and
conservation. Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws,
regulations, and policies related to collections and cultural
resources. Ability and desire to lead, supervise, mentor, and
evaluate professional staff. Strong organizational, planning, and
problem-solving skills, with the ability to balance competing
priorities. Effective written and verbal communication skills,
including the ability to explain technical information to diverse
audiences. Ability to work collaboratively across departments and
with external partners. Willingness and ability to adapt to
evolving technologies, systems, and professional practices. If
you're currently employed by the State of Nebraska, please don't
apply through this external career site. Instead, log in to Workday
and open the Jobs Hub - Internal Apply app from your home landing
page. You can access Workday anytime through the Link web page:
https://link.nebraska.gov/ Benefits We offer a comprehensive
package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and
professional development opportunities to help you get the most out
of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total
compensation. Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to
offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and
employment status. For more information on benefits, please visit:
https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.htmlbenefits Equal Opportunity
Statement The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a
supportive environment that strives to promote diversity,
inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in
all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race,
color, religion, sex. age, national origin, disability, marital
status or genetics.
Keywords: State of Nebraska, Lincoln , Historical Society Associate Director, Science, Research & Development , Lincoln, Nebraska
