Museum Writer-Editor

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has an opening for a full-time, exempt Writer-Editor in the Museum Services division.

Company Overview: Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum documents and interprets the history of country music—a musical genre and culture central to the identity of the city, the state, and the nation. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the museum proudly combines subject expertise, ambitious research, and preservation of an unparalleled collection with expressions of creativity in music, art, and history. The museum collects artifacts that illustrate the evolving history and traditions of country music and provides diverse learning opportunities through educational programs, publications, and exhibitions. The core exhibit follows the story of country music from its folk beginnings through its evolution as a commercial art form. Rotating exhibits examine a broad range of topics, from country classics to contemporary and emerging artists in American Currents. The museum owns Hatch Show Print, a letterpress print shop opened in 1879, and it operates Historic RCA Studio B, where Elvis Presley and many others recorded.

What We Offer for Full-Time Staff:

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance Options
Competitive Pay
Paid Vacation and Sick Days
Paid Holidays (13) and Floating Holidays (2)
401(K) with Up to 3% Employer Match
Employee Assistance Program (Free Counseling and Legal Services)
Eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness
FREE 24/7 Downtown Parking and Transit Benefits
Continuing Professional Offerings
Complimentary Museum Admission (For Yourself, Family, and Friends)
Reciprocal Partnerships with Local Venues (The Nashville Zoo, Dollywood Theme & Water Parks, National Museum of African American Music, tours at The Opry and The Ryman Auditorium, and more)
Up to 25% Discount in Retail Stores and Onsite Restaurant Venues
Opportunities to Attend Exhibit Openings, Concerts and Special Events
Employee Engagement Activities and Opportunities
FSA and Dependent Care Options
Dog Friendly Work Environment
Volunteering and Community Engagement Opportunities

Department Overview: The Museum Services Department is responsible for the museum’s collections, exhibitions, interpretation, and editorial content.

Job Overview: Reporting to the Senior Director of Editorial and Interpretation, the Writer-Editor collaborates with museum staff across departments and divisions to develop and contribute to a variety of projects that interpret and illuminate the country music genre and explore the broad and ever-evolving narratives of its history and its contributions to culture. The position requires excellent writing, editing, and research skills. The candidate must possess a commitment to accuracy, objectivity, nuance, and balance.

Job Duties:

Help develop books from conception to publication. Duties will encompass assisting with new title acquisitions, assisting with author contracts, advising authors on manuscript development, copy editing, photo research, assisting with final proofreading, and coordination with in-house and external PR and marketing.
Develop, write, and edit for other Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum publications including exhibition catalogs, album liner notes, and educational materials.
Help develop and prepare on-site and online exhibitions.
Develop and host public programs for the museum; the writer-editor should expect to make public presentations; moderate panel discussions; and interview musicians, executives, authors, and other experts about country music and its place in the culture of the South, the U.S., and the world.
Contribute ideas and written content for the museum’s website, social media, and other digital platforms.
Interact with outside scholars, historians, curators, and documentarians with a range of institutional affiliations, including media outlets and universities that are working to preserve and interpret country music.
Assist in researching and presenting a wide range of country music information and context for a variety of museum purposes, as well as providing support to the department.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in a related field
Candidates should have knowledge of roots music performers, musicians, songwriters, and songs. An understanding of the music industry and relationships with artists, musicians, and industry professionals is preferred.
Professional publications experience as a writer or editor. Familiarity with Chicago Manual of Style or AP Stylebook a plus.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in book or magazine publishing as an editor or assistant editor
Experience in acquiring book projects for publication or in assigning and developing magazine or newspaper stories
Essential Competencies (Knowledge, skills and abilities needed to success in the position):
Ability to work collaboratively
Respect for country music as an art form
Enthusiasm for sharing a broad range of country music history with the general public
Strong time management skills

Conditions of Employment:

Must be able to work a flexible schedule including some weekends, evenings and holidays