The Stafford Air & Space Museum has announced the opening of a unique combined position of MARKETING COORDINATOR and AIR & SPACE HISTORIAN.  This multifaceted position will oversee all of the museum’s marketing, PR, and social media efforts, provide writing composition to support museum programming and exhibits, as well as providing a professional level of expertise in the history of aviation and space exploration history.   

Basic Requirements Include:

• At least three years of strong marketing background, with emphasis on social media.  This includes web site maintenance, and basic graphic skills using Photoshop and other graphic programs;

• A strong and enthusiastic working knowledge of aviation and/or space flight history, as well as the capability to train volunteers, and other staff to give informative, exciting group tours of the museum; 

• Must have strong, creative, interpretive writing skills, with special capabilities of being able to tell engaging stories about aviation and space exploration, and the human-interest stories behind many of the museum’s displayed artifacts;

• Must be able to personally and positively interact with the public, and develop a strong public perception that the museum is a growing, highly energetic facility of national quality and importance;

• Must be able to simultaneously handle multiple projects, and professionally complete them to the quality standards of the museum.

About the Museum: The Stafford Air & Space Museum is named for legendary test pilot, Gemini & Apollo astronaut, and the “father” of stealth technology, General Thomas P. Stafford.  At the age of 93, General Stafford is still a driving force in the museum’s development, as well the nation’s aerospace industry.  Although living in Florida, he is on the phone daily with museum staff, and often makes personal trips to Weatherford to view the progress of the museum’s evolution.

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Operation: The museum is owned and operated by the City of Weatherford, which underwrites the facility’s operational costs.  Developmental costs for new additions and the hundreds of new exhibits being created is handled by the Stafford Foundation, an endowed 501-c-3 fund-raising arm for the museum.  Although currently small in operational size, the museum has great financial stability, and an incredible growth potential.

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Aggressive Expansion & Renovation Phase: The museum is going through an aggressive expansion and renovation phase, with the recent addition of a 20,000 sq. ft. expansion.  This expansion will contain major new galleries dedicated to the comprehensive discussion of the Apollo and Space Shuttle Programs, as well as a unique display area devoted to the development of stealth technology, that will soon house an actual F-117 stealth fighter.  At the same time, the original museum is undergoing a near total renovation of ten existing galleries ranging from early and modern aviation, development of rocketry, early spaceflight, Mercury and Gemini programs, and the future of human spaceflight.  These new or renovated galleries will soon house hundreds of new exhibits, containing thousands of highly historic artifacts from the museum’s outstanding collection.

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This fall, construction will begin on another new 12,000 sq.ft. expansion that will house an orientation theater, a large area for hands-on aerospace themed STEM exhibits, and an event center capable of hosting groups of more than 500 people.  When completed, the facility will encompass more than 74,000 sq.ft. of indoor space.

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The outdoor area will continue to exhibit historic aircraft, as well as a major new aerospace-themed playground that is currently under construction.  In the near future, this area will be incorporated into a beautiful new six-acre city park. 

The quality of the museum is best demonstrated by the fact that it is one of the only Smithsonian “Affiliate” organizations in the central U.S., and one of the very few air and space museums in the nation to receive TripAdvisor and Google’s coveted “5-Star” rating.

Compensation: Pay level is competitive to other non-profits, and is partially negotiable based on level of experience and expertise.  The City provides an outstanding benefit package that includes paid health and life insurance, retirement and pension, paid vacation and holidays, and other valuable add-ons.

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ABOUT WEATHERFORD:

The museum is located in General Stafford’s hometown of Weatherford, Oklahoma, located less than one-hour west of Oklahoma City on fabled Route 66 and Interstate 40.  Often referred to as the western capital of Oklahoma, the city is a highly progressive and fast-growing community of nearly 14,000 residents.  It not only has a small-town charm, but it is a vital economic engine to western Oklahoma in the areas of wind power, oil and gas, and agriculture.  Recently, the city was named as one of the fastest growing small communities in the U.S., as well as being named the safest city in Oklahoma! 

 

Weatherford’s public-school system is one of the highest rated public-school systems in Oklahoma.  The city is also home to Southwestern Oklahoma State University.  The university, with an enrollment of more than 6,000, is nationally and internationally known for its school of Engineering Technology, and Pharmacy programs, and works closely with the Stafford Museum in many endeavors. 

 

Weatherford residents love its small-town feel, and appreciate how it provides them with a peaceful and safe atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan cities.  For its size, the community provides outstanding shopping, health care, education, and a wonderful quality of life at a significantly lower cost than the national average. Yet, it is located less than an hour away from all of the events, shopping, restaurants and pro sports offered in Oklahoma City, one of the nation’s most vibrant, dynamic and fastest growing cities in the nation with a metro area of more than 1.4 million people.

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APPLICATIONS:

Interested applicants may apply on line on this web site, or by sending a letter of interest and a detailed resume to:  teresa@cityofweatherford.com.