Executive Director, Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House
Department: Historic Sites
Location: Alexandria, VA
SITE OVERVIEW
The Woodlawn plantation and Pope-Leighey House sites are nestled in a quiet area of Alexandria, Virginia on the traditional lands of the Doeg, Manahoac, Susquehannock, Patawomeck, and Piscataway peoples, less than forty minutes' drive from the heart of Washington, D.C. Woodlawn, originally part of George Washington’s land holdings, was initially a traditional plantation with enslaved workers that later transformed with Quaker ownership into an experimental, racially integrated farming community decades before the Civil War. Woodlawn became a house museum in 1949 and was purchased by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1954, making it the organization’s first site open to the public. In 1964, a Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian home, the Pope-Leighey House, was moved to the property from its original location in nearby Falls Church, VA to prevent its demolition. The entire Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House site includes 126 acres, 11 roofed structures, a collection of furnishings and decorative arts related to both residences and an active farming program established in partnership with Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture.
The mission of Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House is to engage with the community to preserve history and care for nature at this former site of enslavement. The programs, events, and interpretation foster racial justice, promote sustainable practices, nurture wellbeing, and contribute to community repair.
JOB SUMMARY
The Executive Director (ED) will provide impactful leadership to Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House, a Stewardship Site that is owned and operated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP). The new Executive Director will be tasked with implementing an exciting vision for the site that includes inclusive programming, partnerships and community engagement, interpretation that tells a full and truthful history, as well as continuing the overall evolution of the site. The ED will create mission-aligned revenue generating opportunities for the site to be sustainable and a value to the community. The ED will make historic sites highly relevant today by exemplifying equity, inclusion, justice, and diversity in all aspects of its operation.
The ED will lead the expansion of full and truthful interpretation and public programming at the site, especially relating to the site’s African American, Indigenous peoples, LGBTQ+, gender, plantation, and architectural histories at the site, the broader community and in the region. Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House will make manifest the Trust’s strategic priority of “Telling the Full American Story” through on-site and virtual programs, school tours, exhibitions, local, regional and national partnerships, staff training and other relevant actions.
The ED’s core responsibilities will be to oversee site operations including managing staff, site maintenance and security, programming, revenue generation, balancing the budget, promotions and marketing, and fundraising. The ED is responsible for individual, corporate, foundation, and government fundraising to support the ongoing operations at the site, and expansion of the site’s reserves to sustain its long-term operations. They will work with, and continue the development of, a diverse and inclusive advisory council to achieve the site’s financial self-sufficiency and to strengthen governance practices rooted in representational equity in keeping with the National Trust’s vision for its historic sites.
The ED will develop ethical and equitable community partnerships, and strategic institutional partnerships, which will subsequently inform programming at Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House. The ED will develop and maintain a community presence and ensure that relevant programming and activities directly serve local needs and are drivers for long-term viability of the site, including engaging with agricultural professionals, local K-12 teachers, and conservation advocates. In particular, the ED will work in close collaboration with descendant committees and other stakeholders to accomplish these goals and support program activity expansion developed by the Senior Manager of Programs.
The Executive Director will report to the Senior Vice President (SVP) for Historic Sites and will work in collaboration with NTHP headquarters staff, especially the Historic Sites Department’s technical support positions in collections, finance, interpretation, and architecture, as well as staff in the Trust’s legal, finance, public affairs, marketing, fundraising, and other divisions.
DUTIES
Leadership
- Work with the Historic Sites SVP and Historic Sites Department technical support team (Sites Administration, Preservation Architecture, Education/Interpretation, and Collections Management), Site Staff, and greater community to create a new dynamic strategic plan for the site in alignment with the National Trust and manage the implementation.
- Lead the site to integrate Justice, Equity, Diversity, Access, and Inclusion, (JEDAI) measures site-wide and ensure metrics are tracked, targets are reached, and ensure timely maturation of the site in JEDAI practices. JEDAI will be a lens for all the sites’ activities (Program Management; Financial and Operations Management; Fundraising and Marketing; Site Management; and Marketing, PR, and Promotions).
- Model appropriate leadership for site staff that is aligned with ? National Trust values ? and best practices.
- Supervise, retain, and recruit well-qualified and culturally diverse staff and guide the development of workplans, organize overall workflow. Monitor direct reports’ productivity and performance, provide constructive feedback and coaching, and conduct annual performance reviews.
- Identify, enhance, and expand revenue-generating activities that are aligned with telling the full American story.
- Garner appreciation of the site as a nuanced and intersectional space, made up of agricultural lands, plantation, and modernist architectural structures, designed landscapes that speak to a great depth and breadth of historical narratives.
- Act as spokesperson for the site, monitor site brand and messaging and ensure alignment with National Trust brand and messaging. Escalate issues to the Senior Vice President for Historic Sites as appropriate.
Financial and Operations Management
- Supervise the Deputy Director of Finance and Operations to develop, manage, and maintain a balanced operating budget, including tracking expenses and meeting revenue goals. Ensure that programmatic and other site use is both mission-aligned and revenue generating.
- Ensure that monthly and annual financial reports required by headquarters are completed in a timely and accurate manner, working with the Senior Director of Sites Administration.
- Ensure NTHP requirements are met, appropriate HQ staff are consulted, and approvals are obtained with respect to grant applications and agreements, contracts, and other financial and operational actions, and that they are within budget, fully executed and appropriate.
Programs and Interpretation
- Supervise the Senior Manager of Public Programs and Interpretation on updating tour scripts, developing exhibitions, public programs, and interpretive planning for Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House to tell a more inclusive, nuanced, contextualized stories of the site and reach new audiences to help them have an experience that allows them to see the humanity in one another.
- Work with the Director of Interpretation and Education for National Trust Historic Sites to receive technical support and internal grant support on projects and initiatives that impact interpretation and education.
- Build visitation, engage new and repeat visitors, and expand revenue-generating activities.
Collections Management
- Oversee collections management activities, conservation concerns, donations, and manage loans and exhibition agreements in collaboration with the John & Neville Bryan Senior Director of Museum Collections and the Collections Coordinator.
- Work with Collections Coordinator to ensure that collections activities are within the framework of AAM best practices focusing on the needs, care and security of the museum collections.
- Work collaboratively with diverse cultural groups to utilize different research methodologies including oral histories and cultural practices to engage a diverse public to utilize archival and permanent collection.
- Oversee the creation of on-site and online exhibitions and create innovative ways to make collections accessible.
Fundraising and Marketing
- Oversee and lead the Manager of Events and Development in individual, corporate, foundation, and government fundraising to ensure growth and support for ongoing preservation and site operations to meet or exceed budget targets and expand the site’s reserves to sustain its long-term operations. They will work with, and continue the development of, a diverse and inclusive advisory council to achieve the site’s financial self-sufficiency and to strengthen governance practices in keeping with the National Trust’s vision for its historic sites.
- Create and manage a portfolio of prospects in consultation with NTHP Development staff through solicitation and engage others in the cultivation and solicitation process. Supervise the Manager of Events and Development in developing and implementing targeted fundraising and donor cultivation events and tours.
Site Management
- Work closely with the Graham Gund Senior Director of Preservation Architecture and John and Neville Bryan Senior Director of Museum Collections to monitor major repairs, capital projects or collections care and ensure the maintenance staff’s work program is aligned with NTHP architectural and collections standards.
- Supervise the Deputy Director of Finance and Budget and the on-site Senior Buildings & Grounds Maintenance Technician to be responsible for day-to-day repair, as well as building and grounds maintenance is aligned with preservation standards.
- During emergency events, such as in response to COVID-19, implement appropriate plans and take appropriate measures to protect the property and communicate to appropriate emergency and HQ staff.
Marketing
- Supervise the Associate Manager, Marketing to promote site programming at the local, national, and international levels through social media, group tour outreach, tourism bureaus, and new partnerships. Work with NTHP marketing department on major initiatives.
- Work closely with Associate Manager, Marketing to develop collateral materials, maintain the website, and develop and implement communications, sales, outreach, booking, budgets, and marketing plans.
- Ensure robust social media presence and updated informative website, keeping up with available technologies and current site interpretations.
QUALIFICATIONS
- At least 8 years of professional level experience overall, including at least 5 years of experience in a leadership capacity. Prior work in the nonprofit/public history/cultural heritage/museum/historic sites field is preferred, with experience engaging stakeholders on and managing interpretation of issues relating to slavery, African American history, architectural history, conservation, climate change or related topics a plus. Relevance of experience and size and type of organization worked for may be considered when considering background/qualifications. Experience and demonstrated success in supervising professional staff, as well as successfully managing key internal and external stakeholders and relationships. Proven ability to collaborate across departments to implement processes and achieve results.
- Entrepreneurial spirit and skill set, with business development experience and ability to be flexible in a dynamic work environment.
- A life-long learner committed to exploring, engaging with, and sharing the histories of people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, women, and other underrepresented groups with the public, even when the topic may seem challenging.
- Demonstrated commitment to JEDAI in implementing organizational changes and policies in the management of historic sites and the development of programming and community relations.
- Demonstrated success engaging historically underrepresented communities, constituents, and partners. Ties to culturally diverse affinity groups, professional organizations, or related associations are a plus. Bi- lingual language skills a plus.
- Experience in project management and the ability to prioritize, multi-task efficiently and respond to a high volume of ongoing requests in a timely fashion. Able to handle frequently changing and/or unscheduled tasks with accuracy.
- Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, including issue identification and prioritization.
- When working in the office, public contact, and ability to work successfully near others are required. When working off site, the ability to work effectively in a remote environment, maintaining productivity and communications to meet deadlines and goals, is required. Strong organizational skills. Excellent attention to detail.
- Proven ability to continually develop skills related to use of rapidly changing technology and communications best practices. ? Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel required. Familiarity with other software, including databases, a plus.
- Regular and reliable attendance on-site is required.
PAY & BENEFITS This is a full-time, exempt level position, eligible for full benefits, including health, dental and life insurance, retirement benefits, and 3+ weeks of vacation, plus sick time and holidays.
Hiring Range: $123,000 - 133,000 per year
The National Trust for Historic Preservation an equal opportunity organization and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability. The National Trust for Historic Preservation actively seeks opportunities to include members of these groups in its programs and activities.
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