What are the responsibilities and job description for the Digital Content Researcher & Producer position at Colonial Williamsburg Foundation?
Who We Are
Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.
Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 89 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library.
Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today’s evolved tastes. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.
About The Position
The Digital Content Researcher & Producer serves as historian, researcher, content creator, and producer for digital media projects that advance Colonial Williamsburg’s educational mission, strategic plan, and interpretive approach. This role is responsible for producing and maintaining high-quality, historically accurate digital content across various platforms, including the Foundation’s website and digital media productions. The Digital Content Researcher & Producer collaborates closely with colleagues across the Division and the Foundation to ensure the highest standards of historical accuracy, production quality, and public engagement.
This is a full-time, three-year grant-funded position. The role is time-limited and expected to conclude at the end of the grant term unless additional funding is secured.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Required Education and Experience:
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working at a computer.
Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
Typical Work Schedule:
This is a full-time, three-year grant-funded position. The role is time-limited and expected to conclude at the end of the grant term unless additional funding is secured
Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.
Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 89 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library.
Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today’s evolved tastes. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.
About The Position
The Digital Content Researcher & Producer serves as historian, researcher, content creator, and producer for digital media projects that advance Colonial Williamsburg’s educational mission, strategic plan, and interpretive approach. This role is responsible for producing and maintaining high-quality, historically accurate digital content across various platforms, including the Foundation’s website and digital media productions. The Digital Content Researcher & Producer collaborates closely with colleagues across the Division and the Foundation to ensure the highest standards of historical accuracy, production quality, and public engagement.
This is a full-time, three-year grant-funded position. The role is time-limited and expected to conclude at the end of the grant term unless additional funding is secured.
- Must reside in or be ready to relocate to Virginia***
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Produces digital content, including public-facing web articles and video scripts, focused on the history of religious liberty in the United States, including material focusing onWilliamsburg.
- Creates, edits, and copyedits digital materials.
- Conducts extensive historical research to support the creation of digital media programs, ensuring all content adheres to Colonial Williamsburg’s standards for high-quality content and historical integrity.
- Provides project management on Colonial Williamsburg’s key Religious Liberty digital initiatives, including strategic partnerships and projects with peer institutions. Coordinates with project teams and stakeholders to ensure smooth production workflows and high-quality outcomes.
- Works collaboratively with colleagues to develop content outlines and scripts, emphasizing historical accuracy and inclusive history.
- Provides fact-checking and historical expertise for all digital content, including website content and media scripts.
- Assists in developing and maintaining a strong and diverse editorial calendar for digital projects, ensuring that all content aligns with the Foundation’s strategic goals.
- Produces and directs digital media projects, including web-based content and multimedia presentations, ensuring alignment with Colonial Williamsburg’s brand expression and audience engagement strategies.
- Leverages connections across the fields of early American history to conduct efficient research and address complex historical questions.
- Assists in the strategic planning and execution of digital content initiatives, including the development and implementation of promotional plans for digital content in collaboration with the Foundation Marketing & Engagement team.
- Performs other duties related to the production, development, support, and promotion of digital content initiatives as assigned.
Required Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in History or a related field and 3–5 years of related professional experience; OR Master’s degree in History or a related field and 1–3 years of related professional experience.
- Experience managing editorial calendars and coordinating content across various platforms, including websites, blogs, and social media.
- Experience collaborating across departments or teams, with the ability to lead projects and coordinate with multiple stakeholders.
- Doctorate in History, Public History, or a related field.
- Subject-matter expertise in early American religious history and religious liberty.
- 3-5 years of professional experience in digital content creation, historical research, or media production in a museum, educational, or cultural institution.
- Experience working in a museum or historical site, with a focus on public history or educational programming.
- Experience producing multimedia content, such as podcasts, video series, or interactive digital exhibits.
- Ability to independently conduct primary source research.
- Storytelling knowledge, allowing you to translate academic knowledge into compelling narratives for broad public audiences.
- Proficiency in digital media production tools.
- Expert knowledge of early American history, particularly the colonial and revolutionary periods.
- Strong writing and editing skills with proven experience creating public-facing content that is historically accurate and engaging.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct historical research, fact-check, and synthesize complex information for a general audience.
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working at a computer.
Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
Typical Work Schedule:
This is a full-time, three-year grant-funded position. The role is time-limited and expected to conclude at the end of the grant term unless additional funding is secured