Manager of MESDA Educational Conferences, Travel, and Symposia

Old Salem Incorporated
Winston Salem, NC
Operating within a collaborative environment and reporting to the Chief Curator and Director of Collections, Research, and Archaeology, the Manager of MESDA Educational Conferences, Travel, and Symposia oversees the planning and execution of in-person and hybrid programs, conferences, symposia, and donor travel. In addition to coordinating complex events, this position helps shape MESDA's scholarly community. This role collaborates across departments to develop mission-centered, financially sustainable programs that highlight MESDA and Old Salem’s collections, research, and makers, engaging regional, national, and international audiences.The position facilitates established program brands such as the biennial Furniture Seminar, the Ceramics Seminar co-sponsored with Colonial Williamsburg, the Map Seminar, and the Textile Seminar, while helping develop new initiatives that strengthen the museum’s national and international reputation. This position will be located on site at our Museum Of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA). WHAT YOU’LL DO:
  • Collaborate with curators, educators, and other staff to develop major educational programs that are mission-centered, relevant to MESDA’s regional focus, financially sustainable, and reputation-building.
    • Plan and manage all aspects of program and event execution, including budgeting, marketing, logistics, vendor contracts, speaker coordination, travel arrangements, as well as post-event follow-up and evaluation.
    • Develop and manage departmental and event budgets totaling over $180,000 annually, ensuring projects remain within or below projected costs.
    • Work closely with the Development Department to build donor relationships, steward existing supporters, and cultivate new donors and members through programs and special initiatives.
    • Lead MESDA’s corporate and individual sponsorship program, identifying and securing sponsorship opportunities for MESDA programs with new and existing partners.
    • Oversee marketing strategy for MESDA programs, including social media, email campaigns, print and digital advertisements, and direct mail appeals.
    • Assist in maintaining the MESDA website using WordPress, creating clear, engaging program pages and ticketing links.
    • Use the Altru CRM database to create events, manage donors and constituent data, and generate reports and queries.
    • Manage livestream and virtual access to events, troubleshoot technical issues in real time, and stay current on emerging virtual event technologies.
    • Coordinate MESDA Advisory Board meetings and serve as a primary administrative contact for board members.
    • Support visits and trips by outside special interest groups to MESDA by coordinating catering, contracts, and cross-departmental logistics.
    • Coordinate with the Director of the MESDA Summer Institute to plan and execute logistics associated with the program.
    • Provide mentorship and guidance to museum and history professionals.
    • Perform other duties as assigned.
    • Bachelor's degree in art history, History, American Studies, African American Studies, Southern Studies, Museum Studies, Public History, or a related field; or equivalent professional experience.
    • 3–5 years of experience in museum or arts education programming and execution, or equivalent experience.
    • Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across departments and a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
    • Highly self-motivated, organized, and detail-oriented, with strong time management and interpersonal skills, especially in fast-paced environments.
    • Excellent customer service and donor relations skills, with experience of engaging and stewarding diverse audiences.
    • Experience in program marketing, particularly through social media, email marketing, and earned media.
    • Ability to work on a flexible schedule in office, including weekends, holidays, and special events.
    • Comfortable working in a seasonally fast-paced environment with multiple deadlines.
    • Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Zoom.
    • Experience using Altru museum management system, Raiser’s Edge, or similar Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms.
    • Strong written, visual communication, and design skills, with experience using tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, WordPress, or similar platforms.
Posted 2026-03-17

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