Colorado Black History Study Program Manager

Summary

Description

HISTORY COLORADO has a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion and cultural competency, because of that, we are continuously seeking to recruit individuals who will enhance this diversity and ultimately the effectiveness of our organization.

We believe that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. History Colorado and the State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. 

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401K and 457 plans

• Medical and dental health plans

• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• 11 paid holidays per year plus 12 hours of vacation and 6.66 hours of sick leave a month 

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness – A borrower may qualify for forgiveness by making 120 on-time payments while employed full-time in public service, if they have certain kinds of federal loans in a qualifying repayment plan

• BenefitHub state employee discount program

• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules and more.

HISTORY COLORADO has a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion and cultural competency, because of that, we are continuously seeking to recruit individuals who will enhance this diversity and ultimately the effectiveness of our organization.

Description of Job

Two-and-half-year term-limited position

The Colorado Black History Study Program Manager position will manage a team of four research historians. In this role, they will have a strong hand in guiding the research and shaping the final report in collaboration with History Colorado leadership and the legislatively created Colorado Black Equity Commission.  The study’s findings will be rooted in a wide range of evidence, including published primary sources and archival materials, oral histories, and required community engagement sessions held throughout the research period. The research is allotted two-and-half years to complete and then will be used by the Commission as the basis for economic analysis to quantify the cost of these generationally harmful systems on Black Coloradans. The final product will be a substantial historical report to be produced by History Colorado in late 2026. 

Senate Bill 24-053 is an ambitious endeavor to build historically-informed, State-facilitated reconciliation and repair. This two-and-half-year term-limited position will be central to accomplishing this significant goal.

Duties: 

• Manage Historical Research and Writing Project

  • Managing the daily operations of the research historians conducting this study. 

  • Working with the research historians to identify specific topics and themes to explore, in collaboration with the team and History Colorado staff. 

  • Providing regular guidance and feedback on the historical research. 

  • Ensuring the accuracy of the information included in the findings.

  • Providing regular progress updates to appropriate History Colorado staff, including the Director of Interpretation and Publications, the Chief Creative Officer, and the President,  as well as preparing quarterly updates for the State Legislature’s Black Coloradan Racial Equity Commission.

• Facilitate Community Engagement and Collaboration

  • Organizing community engagement meetings in various locations around the state over the duration of the project. 

  • Collaborating with meeting facilitators to prepare them for the conversation by sharing relevant questions and/or findings to date.

  • Presenting research or leading discussions at community engagement meetings when appropriate.

  • Ensuring follow up with community members who may be able to more deeply inform the research.

• Prepare the Black Coloradan Racial Equity Study Report

  • Overseeing the production of a substantial report on Black history and racial equity in Colorado.

  • Collaborating with the team of research historians and other colleagues to ensure that each section of the report is part of a cohesive whole. 

  • Ensuring a consistent, compelling, and broadly accessible presentation of information and author’s voice throughout the written report.

  • Meeting deadlines for specific parts of the report. 

  • Facilitating revisions according to feedback received from colleagues, History Colorado staff, and outside reviewers.

  • Presenting the report to the legislative steering committee, other interested stakeholders, and the general public in ways appropriate for the situation.

  • Sharing findings in other forums and formats as appropriate, including potential media interviews. 

• Administration

  • Managing personnel functions for the team of research historians, including approval of timesheets, travel approval and documentation, and performance reviews. 

  • Managing the project budget. 

  • Ensuring that community partners and others receive timely communication and payment.  

  • Working with appropriate History Colorado staff as needed on budget, accounting, human resource, and other necessary issues related to the successful completion of the study. 

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

• Educational background or work experience in history, specifically Black history in America and/or the American West, Black or Africana Studies.

• Strong familiarity and comfort with historical research skills, including methods utilizing published primary sources, archives, oral histories, and interviewing. 

• Aptitude for providing guidance and constructive feedback on research and written work. 

• Exceptional writing and editing skills. 

• Demonstrated experience in relationship building and authentic community engagement with historically marginalized and excluded communities.

• Ability to organize public meetings in a variety of locations. 

• Cultural competence.

• Ability to communicate in compelling and accessible ways that inform wide audiences. 

• A Master’s degree in history, with focus on Black history or Black Studies is a plus. 

• Experience in successfully completing large and complex research projects.

• Experience managing a team to achieve an optimal outcome. 

• Knowledge of the archival landscape that can support this research.

• Experience applying an equity and inclusion lens to the research processes.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a broad audience through writing.

To effectively implement this work, successful Colorado Black History Study Program Manager should possess cultural competence skills, including: 
 

• Cross-cultural communication, cultural sensitivity, and community engagement.

• A research lens that emphasizes building relationships, ethical considerations, and empowering communities.

• Recognition of the historical context, and intersectionality of cultural identities, and value of local knowledge.

A successful Colorado Black History Study Program Manager will possess the following temperament and character traits:

• High energy, intensely curious, open-minded, and tenacious.

• Detail-oriented, highly organized, and self-motivated.

• Team-oriented, collaborative, and receptive to ideas. 

• Commitment to working with focus and intentionality on the goals of this legislation.

• Inspired by the mission of History Colorado and its service to the people and communities of Colorado.