Situated on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Manahoac and Piscataway, Oatlands is in Leesburg, Virginia. Constructed in 1810 as a plantation and site of enslavement, Oatlands initially encompassed 3,408 acres and produced wheat in addition to running grist and sawmills. Over 154 years of private ownership, the property was reduced in size and its mansion repurposed as a boarding house, a summer home and girls’ school.
Today, Oatlands consists of natural spaces, cultivated acreage, gardens and 28 buildings, spanning the 19th and 20th centuries. Oatlands is centered in its Land—its larger landscape open for the benefit of all, encouraging awareness of our shared world. It is grounded in History—valuing and lifting the voices of all who have shaped and been shaped by this historic site. And it is dedicated to Scholarship, for it is only in the active pursuit of knowledge that we can sustainably forward the significance and relevance of this important historic site.
JOB SUMMARY
The Executive Director (ED) will provide impactful leadership to Oatlands, a Stewardship Site that is owned and operated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP). The ED will lead in supporting Oatlands’ three pillars – Lands, Scholarship and History. The ED will ensure that Oatlands embodies best practices in historic preservation, interpretation, and education. 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 and plantation histories at the site, the broader community and in the region. Oatlands 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, and 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 also 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 Oatlands programming. 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, Oatlands Advisory Council, and greater community to create a new dynamic strategic plan for the site in alignment with the National Trust and manage the implementation.
- Model appropriate leadership for site staff that is aligned with National Trust values and best practices.
- 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).
- Identify, enhance, and expand revenue-generating activities that are aligned with telling the full American story.
- Forward appreciation and valuation of the site as a nuanced and intersectional space, made up of agricultural lands, 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.
Program Management
- 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.
- 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. This support will be done with the purpose of helping Oatlands to tell inclusive, nuanced, and contextualized stories of the site.
- Work closely with the Senior Manager of Programs and other staff to ensure appropriate training, coordination, and staffing of school tours and special student programs. Collaborate with or supervise collaborations with educators, school leaders and curriculum developers in order to ensure that Oatlands provides engaging, truthful and developmentally appropriate and relevant programming and tours for students of various ages and family groups.
- Work with and support the Senior Manager of Programs in developing public programs which engage the wider community in areas relevant to Oatlands’ history and identity.
Financial and Operations Management
- Develop, manage, and maintain a balanced operating budget, including tracking expenses and meeting revenue goals. 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.
- Work with National Trust’s Historic Sites SVP, direct reports and the Human Resources Department as needed to identify, respond to, and resolve performance issues as they arise. Monitor and approve timekeeping and related budget for direct reports.
- 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.
- Collaborate with the Sr. Manager of Operations in ensuring that programmatic and other site use that is revenue generating is both mission-aligned and revenue generating.
Collections Management
- Oversee collections management activities and manage loans and exhibition agreements in collaboration with the John & Neville Bryan Senior Director of Museum Collections and other staff and volunteers.
- Work with Sr. Manager of Programs and Sr. Manager of Operations to ensure that any and all collections activities are w/in the framework of AAM best practices.
- 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.
- Work with Sr. Manager of Programs and Sr. Manger of Operation to ensure that all programmatic or event activity has been predicated by the needs and security of the museum collections.
Fundraising and Marketing
- Oversee and lead the Manager of Outreach and Membership 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 Manger of Outreach and Membership 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.
- 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, PR, and Promotions
- 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.
- Ensure robust social media presence and updated informative website, keeping up with available technologies and current site interpretations.
- Work with Senior Manager of Programs and Manager of Outreach and Membership to effectively and consistently engage the Loudoun Community in the most dynamic way possible, identifying demographics, groups, and persons who are not currently being included and engaged by the Historic Site.
QUALIFICATIONS
- At least 8 years of professional level experience overall, including at least 5 years of experience in an executive capacity. Prior work in the cultural landscape/museum/historic sites field is preferred, with experience engaging stakeholders on and managing interpretation of issues relating to slavery, African American 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.
- 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 in engaging culturally diverse colleagues and stakeholders. Bi- lingual language skills a plus. Demonstrated success engaging historically underrepresented communities, constituents, and partners. Ties to culturally diverse affinity groups, professional organizations, or related associations are a plus.
- Ability to prioritize, multi-task efficiently and respond to a high volume of ongoing requests in a timely fashion. Ability to adapt and be flexible in a dynamic work environment. Ability to work effectively with frequent interruptions required. Able to handle frequently changing and/or unscheduled tasks with accuracy. Entrepreneurial spirit and skill set a plus.
- Entrepreneurial spirit and skill set, with business development experience and ability to be flexible in a dynamic work environment.
- Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, including issue identification and prioritization.
- Experience 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.
- 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 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: $120,000 - 130,000 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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