Writer and Interpretive Planner

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Posting Date: Sep 15, 2023

Location: DRUMHELLER, AB

Company: Government of Alberta

Job Information

Job Title: Writer and Interpretive Planner 

Job Requisition ID: 47607

Ministry: Arts, Culture and Status of Women

Location: Drumheller – Royal Tyrrell Museum

Full or Part-Time: Full Time

Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week

Regular/Temporary: Permanent

Scope: Open Competition

Closing Date: October 2, 2023

Classification: Program Services 4 Market Adjustment

About Us

The Government of Alberta is committed to a diverse and inclusive public service that reflects the population we serve to best meet the needs of Albertans. Consider joining a team where diversity, inclusion and innovation are valued and supported. For more information on diversity and inclusion, please visit: https://www.alberta.ca/diversity-inclusion-policy.aspx.

The Ministry of Arts, Culture and Status of Women works to improve Albertans’ quality of life through support of cultural development, historical preservation and increased gender equality.

Within the Ministry, the Heritage Division aims to increase Albertans’ knowledge of their fascinating past and enhance quality of life by protecting, presenting, and preserving their cultural and natural heritage. These goals are realized, in part, by operating a network of heritage facilities, including the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology (RTMP).

The RTMP mandate aims to ensure that the institution is an internationally recognized public and scientific museum dedicated to the collection, preservation, protection, presentation, and interpretation of palaeontological history, with a particular emphasis on Alberta’s rich fossil heritage. Visit tyrellmuseum.com For full details on the Museum’s Vision, Mission, and Values, and the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan.

Role

Do you want to share your passion for science and natural history with the world? As Writer and Interpretive Planner at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology you will have the opportunity to drive content that creates lifelong memories for visitors of all ages, from around the world. Working with a highly collaborative team, you will represent the institution through world-renowned exhibits, and engaging written content.
 

You will work with teams of museum professionals, internal and external stakeholders, and subject matter experts to plan and develop exhibit interpretive plans. Your highly creative, organized and succinct interpretive plans will  leverage Museum resources and expertise to create clearly articulated strategies, providing the foundation for exhibit design and production. Finally, your writing will incorporate team’s expertise to produce the content that engages visitors and creates lifelong memories. 
 

While verbal communication is key to success with your teams, this position does not entail first-person heritage interpretation to live audiences. Your ability to create a vision, develop a plan and deliver content is your strength.
   

Reporting to the Director of Exhibits and Communications, you are responsible for interpretive planning and all public facing text. To be effective, you must advance the exhibit development process, organize, develop and maintain complex scientific content, and work closely with many internal and external stakeholders. The job is complex in reach throughout the organization and the output standard is high. The work is diverse and requires creativity, organization, drive for long-term results and daily agility. This job ensures strong positioning of the brand and reputation of excellence enjoyed by the Royal Tyrrell Museum.    


Key responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to: 

  • Interpretive planning for museum exhibits and related visitor experiences to advance content, design, and production in a manner that communicates clear and compelling stories to target audiences.
  • Editing material from all program areas to meet the needs of target audiences.
  • Writing exhibit text panels, captions, labels, storyboards, and scripts to ensure readability, consistency and accessibility for abstract subject matter to complex international audiences
  • Supporting teams and individuals throughout the organization to advance and improve written messaging.

Qualifications

University degree in a related field (Museum Studies, Liberal Arts, Education, Journalism, Social Sciences) and at least four (4) years of progressively responsible related experience is required. 
 

Equivalency: Directly related education or experience considered based on:

  • 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or
  • 1 year of experience for 1 year of education.
     

Assets: 

  • Proven track record in developing and delivering innovative interpretive plans for museums and related visitor experiences 
  • Passion for writing and editing museum copy for diverse audiences  
  • Knowledge of museum visitor studies and informal learning 
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with meticulous attention to written details 
  • Works well in a highly collaborative team environment
  • Experience with stakeholder engagement 
  • Familiarity with exhibit development processes (content, design, interactive, production, etc.) 
  • Ability to research and synthesize information from multiple sources

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.
 

This link will assist you with understanding competencies: https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.
 

Creative Problem Solving: 
Engages exhibit stakeholders before and during exhibit projects to create mutual understanding.Uses all feedback and experience to improve interpretive processes and engage more meaningfully with teams.Works with all team members to find the best solutions and forward institutional best practices (e.g.,exhibit interactives, technology, communication tactics)
 

Drive for Results:
Focuses on outcomes for audiences, sometimes in the face of competing viewpoints and distractions during the development process .Takes responsibility for the quality of outputs and influence on exhibit development. Seeks assistance when necessary and provides direction to next team/person in the process. Works to raise writing standards throughout the organization, which minimizes errors and editing time.
 

Build Collaborative Environments:
Works with project teams comprised of staff from all sections of the RTMP,uses effective verbal communication to understand goals/objectives before embarking on written communication. Appreciates and considers multiple (and sometimes opposing) viewpoints relating to communications and exhibit projects. Is a strong and enthusiastic team player in project development and daily interactions.
 

Agility: 
Thinks creatively to identify new ways of approaching communications and interpretation challenges. Works with stakeholders to identify multiple approaches, and effectively communicates rationales through interpretive plans. Effectively switches from project work with large and varied teams to individual focus on specific tasks (i.e., writing/editing). Effectively organizes workflow to ensure first drafts, final drafts, and ongoing work is appropriately reviewed and finalized

Salary

$2757.39 to $ 3,604.17 bi-weekly. ($71,967 - $94,068-year)

Notes

This is a full-time position, located at theRoyal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller. This position is 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
 

Applicants are advised to provide a cover letter summarizing information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience and relevant examples of required competencies.

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies across the government of Alberta, at equal or lower classification and salary.

For more information on the Government of Alberta hiring process, view this link: https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-hiring-process.aspx.
 

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees.

How To Apply

Click on the “Apply Now” button.
 

Candidates are required to apply for a job online. Please visit https://www.alberta.ca/navigating-online-jobs-application.aspx to learn more about creating a candidate profile and other tips for the Government of Alberta’s online application system.
 

If you are not currently an employee with the Government of Alberta, the first step in applying for a job is creating your candidate profile within our online application system, click here to access the main log in page where you are able to ‘Create an account’, reset your password (‘Forgot your password’) or ‘Sign In’ should you already have an account.
 

Existing employees should access the Career tile in 1GX to submit their application in order to be recognized as an internal applicant.
 

Once you have created your candidate profile, visit the Alberta Public Service job site to apply for jobs at https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-jobs.aspx.
 

Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience and relevant examples of required competencies.
 

Resources for applicants:

It is recommended applicants who have completed post-secondary studies from outside of Canada obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) or from recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator; please visit the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada for more information. 

Closing Statement

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.
 

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.
 

If you require any further information on this job posting or a copy of the role profile, and/or require a disability related accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Saren Frias at Saren.Frias@gov.ab.ca.


If this competition is closed as per the closing date noted above, please continue to check http://www.jobs.alberta.ca for a listing of current career opportunities with the Government of Alberta.