Who We Are:
Illinois Railway Museum is one of the most successful nonprofits focused on preserving railroad history. Originally formed to preserve a single, historically significant piece of rolling stock, it has evolved into an educational and historical preservation organization, creating the largest demonstration railroad and museum campus in North America.

We are passionate about educating the public about our nation’s railroad and railway history by: 
- Collecting, preserving, and restoring rolling stock, artifacts, structures, and related transportation equipment for display to the public.
- Exhibiting the operation of restored rolling stock and equipment on a demonstration rail line.
- Collecting, preserving, and maintaining a reference library of publications, drawings, technical information, and other forms of transportation documentation for research and other purposes. 

What We Do:

 Our immersive experiences transport you back in time to the glory days of rail travel – no matter your age. Here you can:

- Experience a train ride on one of our many historic trains.

- Enjoy one of our many, family friendly, events such as the Bunny Trolley Hop, A Day Out with Thomas™ or the Happy Holiday Railway, to name just a few!

- Participate in an array of unforgettable, hands-on, learning experiences.

- Board a streetcar for a ride to the historic 1851 East Union Depot.

- Explore the largest collection of railway equipment in the U.S. or have fun in our train-themed playground.

- Relax in a plush armchair of the Santa Fe Lounge Car or have a seat in the dining car of the famous Pan-American train. 

Where We Call Home
The Illinois Railway Museum is situated on 100 acres of land in Union, Illinois, less than 60 miles from Chicago. 

Who We're Looking For
The Illinois Railway Museum is seeking to hire its first Events and Outreach Coordinator (EOC) responsible for overseeing the coordination, management, and development of special events to increase the museum’s attendance and admissions.

The EOC is also responsible for developing collaborative and authentic relationships
with external stakeholders and strengthening communications with the museum’s supporters to achieve IRM’s education and community involvement goals. The EOC will collaborate with volunteer leadership across the organization to grow the museum’s special events, groups, and charter businesses. You are passionate about history and the growth of our nation through transportation, especially our railroads and love sharing your enthusiasm with others. You have an impeccable eye for detail; are approachable and proactive and believe strongly that trust is the foundation for building lasting relationships. You excel at goal setting, implementation, and workload prioritization. You thrive on creating supportive relationships internally and externally and collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders; have strong interpersonal and communication skills; are comfortable navigating the logistical challenges inherent in a decentralized, volunteer-run organization; are self-directed yet flexible and excel in a deadline-driven and entrepreneurial environment. You love learning, problem solving, working with people from all walks of life, and possess a “No task too small” attitude.

You Will:

Collaborate and engage volunteer leadership across the organization to grow IRM’s Groups and Charter business to meet strategic goals.

Take responsibility for the entire spectrum of IRM special events, encompassing conceptualization, financial oversight, vendor collaboration, and on-site assistance during events. This may involve liaising with external event planners, the Special Events Planning Committee, as well as coordinating with internal staff and volunteers.

- Oversee all event budgets and provide accurate reports and
projections.

- Build authentic relationships, internally and externally, to support the mission and work of IRM.

- Promote IRM programs and events in collaboration with our Marketing team and other relevant functions.

- Represent IRM at community meetings and events.

Skills and Experience of the Successful Candidate

- Passion for history and IRM’s mission.

- Demonstrated experience implementing and growing special events.

- Education in museum administration or history a plus.

- Proven experience organizing volunteers and/or community members for a cause.

- Excel in multi-tasking, goal setting, accountability, and workload prioritization.

- Self-starter with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.

- Excellent oral and written communication skills.

- Known for your creativity, ability to address setbacks, troubleshoot issues, and seamlessly direct multiple priorities at the same time.

- Thrive on developing efficient systems.

- Fluency with Microsoft Office and Google Business tools extremely helpful.

- Current driver’s license and ability to be insured required to drive Museum vehicles

COMPENSATION and BENEFITS

- IRM offers a competitive salary of $73,000 to $78,000, including:
Paid time off.

- Up to $5000 reimbursement for qualified moving expenses.

- Position is primarily on-site, with occasional time to work remotely. 

To Apply
Position open until filled. Preference given to applications received before March 25th, 2024. All inquiries and discussions are considered strictly confidential. IRM is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a truly diverse team. 
Please email your resume and cover letter expressing:

- How the mission of IRM aligns with your personal professional goals.

- Your experience implementing and growing special events.

- Your experience collaborating with volunteers.

Send to:
Cynthia Winter
Solid Ground Consulting
cynthia@solidgroundconsulting.com