Research Assistant (2), Center for Digital and Public Humanities, UMKC School of Humanities and Social Sciences

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Center for Digital and Public Humanities

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

The Kansas City Monuments Coalition (KCMC) is a community focused project funded by the Mellon Foundation's Monuments Project initiative. The project is a collaborative effort of community partners, public historians, scholars, and artists seeking to tell and disseminate inclusive histories of Kansas City. This three-year project includes support for community-based projects and programming. Community partner projects are varied, including creation of new monuments, websites, digitization projects, exhibits, interpretative signage, oral histories, and digital tours, among others. The UMKC based team will also work on projects that will enhance the inclusion of diverse histories of the university and the greater community in public spaces as well as work toward the completion of a large-scale web project that focuses on Kansas City's Civil Rights history.

Key Responsibilities:

* Serve as an assistant project manager and work directly with leadership to achieve the goals of the program.

* Serve as the lead liaison for approximately half of KCMC's community partner organizations.

* Collaborate with community partners (on site and off site) as they implement their projects, providing them with needed historical research, digital and public humanities skills, and logistical and human capacity support. The work will be varied and dependent on the specific needs of the partner organizations. The Research Assistant will manage a team of interns, which will include a graduate student and multiple undergraduate students, as they engage in this work.

* Organize skills workshops, speaker events, and two public symposia.

* Work directly on UMKC's Mellon projects, which include conducting and processing oral histories, researching and authoring historical essays for the Kansas City Public Library's KC Civil Rights website project, and researching and writing text for UMKC and KC history interpretative signage and digital tours.

* Other duties as assigned.

This position is a full-time, benefit eligible unranked academic position on 12-month contracts. This position is 100% externally grant funded through November 2027.

The candidate will be expected to reside in the Kansas City area so that they are available to work on site with the partner organization and to manage undergraduate interns.

Two Research Assistant positions are available.

Minimum Qualifications:

A bachelor's degree in a humanities or related field.

It is essential that the successful candidate have excellent historical research, organization, and written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

MA degree, or higher, in a humanities field.

Experience with project management and/or program organization as well as digital and public humanities skills is also desirable.

Salary is commensurate with experience, education, and internal equity.

For consideration, you must apply online at www.umkc.edu/jobs, click in Academic Positions (Job Opening ID 54361).

Please include a CV, cover letter, writing sample, and three references. The KCMC leadership team will begin reviewing applications after a February 1, 2025, deadline with a desired start date of March 1, although the start date is negotiable.

If you are experiencing technical problems, please email umpshrsupport@umsystem.edu.

For questions about the position, please contact umkcfacultysearch@umkc.edu including the Job Identification number 54361 and name of the position.

Kansas City offers the best of both worlds-a vibrant, urban community with Midwestern appeal. The city's rich history and its modern-day, innovative thinking come together to create an eclectic group of neighborhoods that offer a little something for everyone. From thriving arts districts, an energetic downtown nightlife, casual to upscale shopping and champion sports teams, you will have no problem making yourself at home. Of course, one of Kansas City's biggest claims to fame is its food, especially its world-famous barbecue. Foodies will delight in the culinary scene found throughout the city. Ranging from award-winning chefs to cozy pizza joints, Kansas City definitely is not lacking any flavor.

UMKC's campuses are conveniently nestled in the middle of all the action. Volker Campus is just minutes from the legendary Country Club Plaza, perfect for shopping or restaurants for lunch or after-work happy hours. Surrounded by hip neighborhoods and eateries, the Health Sciences Campus is located downtown near University Health Truman Medical Center and Children's Mercy Hospital.

UMKC is proud to be "Kansas City's university," and the campus and its people celebrate all the characteristics of the surrounding community. To learn more about life in Kansas City and find more resources, visit VisitKC.com.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Values Commitment

We value the uniqueness of every individual and strive to ensure each person's success. Contributions from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives promote intellectual pluralism and enable us to achieve the excellence that we seek in learning, research and engagement. This commitment makes our university a better place to work, learn and innovate.

In your application materials, please discuss your experiences and expertise that support these values and enrich our missions of teaching, research, and engagement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy applies to all employment decisions including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotions, pay practices, benefits, disciplinary actions and terminations. For more information, visit https://www.umsystem.edu/ums/hr/eeo or call Human Resources at 816-235-1621.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Office of Equity & Title IX at 816-235-6910.