Open Positions:

​DIRECTOR

POSITION SUMMARY:
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education (Byrd Center) invites applications for a full-time twelve-month position of Director. The appointment will begin in the first quarter of 2025, starting date negotiable.

The Byrd Center is a 501(c)(3) educational organization and congressional archive located on the campus of Shepherd University, in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The archive contains the extensive papers of Senator Robert C. Byrd and other collections from members of Congress in the West Virginia delegation. The Center’s oversight body is the board of directors of the Congressional Education Foundation.

The Byrd Center’s director will have general administration of the Center with an emphasis on developing a plan to conduct oral histories from individuals associated with Sen. Byrd.

Fundraising is an incumbent task for the Director. Funding comes from the Friends of the Byrd Center, private grants, and state and federal agencies. Currently, the Byrd Center has funds from the Congressional Directed Spending budget which must be spent down by June 2026. Accessing previous funding resources and cultivating new sources are imperative to the continued health of the Byrd Center.

Day-to-day, the Director will be responsible for overseeing a small permanent staff, student interns, caring for the Byrd Center’s building and its resources, fundraising and outreach, and creating public programming. Together with the archivist, the Director will maintain the Byrd Center’s standing as a founding member of the Association of Centers for the Study of Congress (https://congresscenters.org/).

As an independent entity on the campus of Shepherd University, the Director is also required to maintain lines of communication with the University’s executives and with the Shepherd Foundation, which administers the Byrd Center’s funds. The Director will also be expected to liaise with other Shepherd University departments (e.g., facilities, IT, Scarborough Library) and to cultivate partnerships across the local community.

Most work hours will be conducted on site. Some evening and weekend hours are required. Minimal travel. Retirement and health benefits are available.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
• Management of staff and student interns
• Cultivating funds through grants and local donors
• Vision planning for future projects, programs, and the maintenance and development of the archival collection
• Promoting the Byrd Center through participation in professional organizations
• Day-to-day caretaking of the Byrd Center collections
• Coordinating with Shepherd University's Facilities Department on care of the Byrd Center building
• Communicating with Shepherd University staff, faculty, and executives, as needed

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• M.A. in United States History with a particular interest in twentieth century government and politics, West Virginia history, and/or oral history.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
• Previous non-profit management
• Grant writing
• Previous experience conducting oral history interviews

TO APPLY:
Application packets should include cover letter, CV, and contact information for three references. Submit applications to [email protected], with the subject line "Director Application." Review of applications will begin immediately. The position will remain open until filled.
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DESCRIPTION OF EMPLOYING ORGANIZATION:
A private, nonprofit 501(c)(3), and non-partisan educational institution on the campus of Shepherd University, the Robert C. Byrd Center engages the public as well as teachers and students (grades 6-12 and university levels) in civics education programs that promote a clearer understanding of representative democracy, the U.S. Congress, and our Constitution. The center has provided teacher training and civics learning resources, and conducts public programing for a growing regional and statewide audience. This work is grounded in the archives of the Byrd Center, a nationally recognized resource for scholars, housing the papers of five members of Congress who served West Virginia, including those of Senator Robert C. Byrd, the longest serving member of the U.S. Senate. For more information, please go to the Center’s website: Byrdcenter.org.

The Robert C. Byrd Center is an equal opportunity employer: All qualified applicants are welcome and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, ​disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.