ADMINISTRATOR CULTURAL AND HERITAGE AFFAIRS DEFINITION:
Under direction, organizes, plans, directs, supervises, and coordinates programs designed to promote public interest in local history, in the arts and in the cultural values, goals, traditions, and heritage of the Community, State, and Nation; does related work as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Positions in the class are primarily concerned with administering functional programs in the areas of the arts, culture, history, and heritage. The duties entail planning, organizing, and directing program activities. Requiring a general knowledge of personnel and fiscal management, grant application and administration, property, and equipment management, and public information/public relations program planning.
While specific functional programs and the corresponding responsibilities for planning their various aspects may vary somewhat among jurisdictions, they nevertheless have many features in common. Typical among these are the development of arts and historical programs, projects, and publications; promotion of the local arts and historical communities through publicity, information dissemination, and the rendering of technical services; development of commemorative programs; development and interpretation of cultural and historical facilities; supervision of volunteers, professional and other employees in carrying out functional activities; and the coordination of activities with local, state, and national arts and historical organizations.
The impact of each program is broad in scope and has major social and economic effects on the community; for example, it engenders the participation and interest of artists, artistic interest groups, historians, historical interest groups, and the increased use of cultural and similar types of facilities. The programs rely heavily on attracting, training, and supervising either volunteer workers or contract personnel as well as upon the assistance of organized groups and organizations in the community.
An important element of the positions in this class is the responsibility for developing a public information program which requires writing and editing skills and the selection of methods for dissemination of information in the form of pamphlets, newsletters, periodicals as well as the use of public communication media such as the press, radio, exhibits, etc.
The intent of the public information program is to:
Make use of specialized information media which will specifically reach certain groups such as artists in the various fine arts or performing arts, or those interested in historic preservation.
Present information about specific activities and achievements in a manner so as to encourage public support (financial), and interest and participation in it.
Carry out part of the jurisdictions obligation to promote public education in a subject matter area such as fine arts (sculpture, painting), local history, historic architecture, etc.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Works with other administrative personnel and with governing board (a) to formulate program policy; (b) to identify various components of the program and its financial, personnel, and material needs, and problems; (c) to confer on major changes in program operations, regulations, policy, etc.
Compiles financial data on funds received and/or disbursed such as regularly budgeted monies, grants-in-aid, etc., by collecting, and extracting data from financial records, performing necessary computations, etc., in order to provide officials or governing board with data for financial reports.
Advises concerned officials on procedural methods affecting administrative practices such as securing of services for printing, office supplies and equipment by examining, explaining, and recommending procedural methods most appropriate for the specific program in order to facilitate efficient operations.
Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities taking into account the difficulty and requirements of assignments and capabilities of employees; reviews completed assignment and discusses problems relating to the execution of assignment with the employee. May perform other supervisory work such as interviewing perspective employees, identifyng needs of employees, etc.
Develops (or oversees the development of overall exhibit plans by giving technical approval to exhibit design and construction including such visual materials as maps, photographs, slides, and other similar visual media taking into account those visuals that are best suited to inform and educate the audience on a topic or program.
Speaks before audiences whose interest lies in various fields of history (e.g. local, industrial, ethnic, architectural) pointing out the significance of the local events in terms of the national heritage. Uses advisory committe meetings, surveys, communications media, and other similar methods in order to assess public or group interests, needs, reactions, and to stimulate their cooperation and participation in the functional program which includes the use of cultural facilities and interest in creative arts and historical activities.
Plans the functional program activities such as festivals, parades, commemorations, civic celebration, committee meetings, by deciding on when and in what order activities are to be scheduled, how they are to be carried out (at times in cooperation with other organizations) and how they are to be funded.
Maintains cooperative relations with a multitude of organizations and groups some of which have their own functional programs, (educational, recreational, historic, etc.) and collaborates with them and explains policies, guides, functional program objectives, and public information program objectives.
REQUIREMENTS:
NOTE: Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience.
Six (6) years of professional experience in stimulating public interest and in developing, planning, and providing programs in an organization which is concerned with any one of the following: (a) fine or applied arts, (for example, painting, pottery/ceramics, poetry), (b) performing arts, (for example, music, theater, dance), (c) history, anthropology, or related activity, (for example, museum, historical society).
OR
Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience.
OR
Possession of a master's degree in the humanities, history or journalism from an accredited college or university; and one (1) year of the above-mentioned professional experience.
NOTE: "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.
LICENSE:
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of the practices, methods, and principles relating to administrative processes and responsibilities such as policy and procedures formulation, personnel and fiscal management, contract, property and equipment management, and public information. Knowledge of the various organizations and facilities whose programs and services relate to fine arts, applied arts, performing arts and history, (or a specialized area of history, such as anthropological, ethnic or cultural history, etc.).
Ability to integrate a unit's administrative services with its functional program and with the general administration of a jurisdiction or agency.
Ability to represent and speak on behalf of the interests and needs of the general public, organized groups, and organizations.
Ability to evaluate program actions, policies, and accomplishments.
Ability to promote public interest in program activities using standard methods and techniques in the preparation (writing and editing), and dissemination of information in the form of pamphlets, newsletters, periodicals, and in the use of public communication media, i.e., press, radio, etc.
Ability to plan and carry out surveys and studies of existing social, educational and historical, cultural services.
Ability to give talks before professional and non-professional groups interested or concerned with the varied programs relating to the creative arts and history.
Ability to coordinate program services in order to achieve maximum efficiency and proper utilization of available funds (including grant-in-aid funds), personnel, equipment, materials, and supplies.
Ability to act as an advisor to organizations and administrative officials on program planning, contract administration, public information program planning.
Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view.
Ability to communicate with others effectively, both orally and in writing and in working out solutions to problems or questions relating to the work.
Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative statistical, technical and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
