Job Listing
 🔗Executive Director

  • Full Time
  • Ithaca, NY
  • $70,500 -$75,500/- USD / Year
  • Job Qualifications:
    • Leadership experience in an organization similar to ours with the ability to inspire and support a team, set clear goals, and make thoughtful decisions.
    • Nonprofit financial management, including budgeting and making the most of resources to support sustainable growth.
    • Demonstrated fundraising success—cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners.
    • Strong writing and public speaking skills, and a clear, respectful communication style.
    • Comfort representing the organization and building positive relationships with community members, partners, and the media.
    • A steady, solutions-oriented approach—able to navigate unexpected situations, identify root causes, and collaborate on practical improvements.
    • Enthusiasm for diverse histories and cultures, preservation, sustainability, and lifelong learning.
    • A college degree in management or a related field is helpful; equivalent professional or lived experience is also valued.
    • Experience and/or interest in one or more of the following areas is strongly desired: historic preservation, architecture, city planning, building trades, community and/or economic development, and retail sales.
  • How to Apply:

    Prepare a brief cover letter, resume, and writing sample (e.g., fundraising letter, advocacy position paper, press release).

    Submit by email (PDFs) to info@historicithaca.org with subject “Executive Director,” or by mail to Human Resources, Historic Ithaca, 210 Center Street, Ithaca, NY 14850.

    No phone calls, please. Qualified candidates will be contacted within five business days for an initial interview.

  • Job benefits: 10 paid holidays, 3 paid floating holidays, paid vacation and sick/personal days, health insurance paid via a stipend, opportunity to participate in non-matched 401(k) plan
  • Physical Demands / Work Environment: Work is performed primarily onsite at 210 Center Street, Ithaca. Typical hours are 9 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday with occasional weekend or evening work to support special programming. Work is primarily office-based with occasional lifting/moving up to 30 pounds (and heavier with assistance), and some local travel.
  • Application Address: 210 Center Street Ithaca NY 14850 USA
  • Ithaca, NY, USA

Website Historic Ithaca, Inc.

Historic Ithaca is the leading voice for historic preservation across Tompkins County and the Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York—and our approach goes far beyond traditional brick and mortar. From our Southside Ithaca community hub, we operate a unique, multi-faceted ecosystem that connects heritage advocacy, sustainability, and workforce development. Our headquarters includes Significant Elements, a 10,000-square-foot architectural salvage social enterprise that keeps historic materials in circulation, and Work Preserve, an adjacent workshop providing hands-on trade skills training and retail experience for marginalized youth.

Historic Ithaca is seeking an inspiring, visionary Executive Director to lead our team, expand our community impact, and guide the next era of historic preservation in Tompkins County and throughout New York’s Finger Lakes Region.

Key responsibilities include:

Leadership & Governance

  • Provide day-to-day leadership for a small, high-impact nonprofit—ensuring smooth operations, strong internal systems, and excellent service to the community.
  • Partner with the Board of Directors to set organizational priorities and implement a strategic plan that advances the mission and defines clear goals and direction.

People & Culture

  • Recruit, hire, coach, and manage a team of up to six staff, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture grounded in learning, service, and quality.
  • Create and sustain a safe, respectful, and welcoming workplace that supports accessibility and values people from diverse backgrounds.

Finance, Operations & Infrastructure

  • Oversee the organization’s financial health, including budget development and monitoring, cash-flow awareness, and strong internal controls.
  • Ensure that staff have the technology, tools, and specialized third-party support needed to deliver programs and services effectively and efficiently.
  • Ensure compliance with applicable laws and ethical standards; manage organizational risk; and oversee facility and property maintenance to protect Historic Ithaca’s assets and reputation.

Fundraising

  • Design and deliver a comprehensive fundraising program consisting of individual giving, corporate sponsorship, and grants to support operations and special projects.
  • Partner with Board and committee members to coordinate timely, high-impact personal outreach.
  • Oversee grant operations—building sustainable reporting frameworks and the systems needed for accurate progress tracking and compliance.

Communications & Community Relations

  • Serve as Historic Ithaca’s public representative—building partnerships with community stakeholders and using communications channels (e.g., website, e-newsletter, social media, media outreach, direct mail) to strengthen visibility and support.

Note: We know that no candidate will bring every qualification. If you’re excited about our mission and feel you’d be a strong fit for this role, we encourage you to apply—even if your experience doesn’t match every item listed. If you are an entrepreneurial leader eager to run an organization where heritage preservation, youth mentorship, and sustainable social enterprise converge to shape a better future, we invite you to step into this extraordinary leadership role.

Benefits

All NCPE interns received an hourly stipend, the rate is listed at each position description. Additionally, interns receive paid time off (PTO), paid Federal holidays if working full-time, and access to NCPE's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for career and personal counseling, coaching, and referrals. Project sites may also offer a housing allowance and/or commuting stipend; this information is also listed in the description or offered during the interview.

Eligible NCPE interns who successfully complete their internships may count their position towards earning a Public Land Corps (PLC) Non-Competitive Hiring Authority certificate. To be eligible to earn a PLC certificate, an intern must be 30 years old or younger (or 35 if a veteran). Once earned, the PLC hiring authority certificate may be used to apply for eligible Federal temporary, term, or permanent positions. Successful completion of a NCPE internship does not guarantee Federal employment. Contact manager@preservenet.org for more details.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must be
*at least 18 years old;
*no older than 30 years of age (or 35 years if a Veteran) when beginning the internship; applicants who are 31 or older (or 36 or older if a Veteran) are not eligible;
*currently enrolled in a degree-seeking academic program at the college level (or recently graduated within the past 12 months)
*be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident.

Interns are not allowed to work more than 1200 hours total in the program; previous interns must stay within this overall limit. The length of an internship can vary from 10 to 30 weeks if full-time (40 hours per week) or longer if on a part-time schedule. If selected, the exact starting date will be determined by you and the NPS supervisor. The stipend rate is $17.00 per hour unless otherwise listed.

The successful candidate is responsible for finding and paying for travel to and housing at the internship location; some exceptions apply. The supervising office may be able to assist in locating housing but it is ultimately up to the individual accepting the internship to find accommodation.

The National Council requires all interns working in-person at Federal facilities and/or with Federal employees receive the Covid-19 vaccination. Please be advised that you may also be required to wear a mask, depending on the protocols adopted by your work site. Also be aware that, due to Government-wide security requirements, a background check will be required if you are selected for a position. This will include providing information about recent housing and employment history. The position supervisor will have more information about these requirements and procedures at the time of hiring. You may direct any questions to NCPE's Internship Program Director, Julee Johnson, at manager@preservenet.org.

Please note that interns are not NCPE or NPS employees. Stipends are academic awards and taxes are not withheld, nor are social security contributions made on your behalf. These funds may be taxable, however, so consult a tax preparation professional if you have questions.

How to Apply

You may review NCPE's internship opportunities anytime without registering. Use the search function to find listings by location, keyword, or area of interest/category. Once you identify one or more positions of interest, there is a 3-step application process.

Step 1: Click on the Apply for Job button, then select Universal Application. Click on Register to create a User Account, which requires a username and email. A link will be sent to you from manager@preservenet.org to create a password. We suggest that you add this email to your safe senders list so you don't miss receiving this important link. You will be instructed to Log In to Preservenet using your username or email and password, which will take you back to the Universal Application.

Step 2: The Universal Application is required to apply for all NCPE internships. You fill out this form only once. In addition to contact information, educational status, work history, and experience, it requires two attachments: (1) the 2 most recent years of academic transcripts. These may be unofficial transcripts if official versions are unavailable. A PDF is preferred, labeled Your Your Last Name_Your First Name_Transcript. (2) a resume or CV (curriculum vitae). Please limit to a maximum of 4 pages; 2 pages are preferred. A PDF is preferred but jpg, png, doc, or docx file types are accepted. Label Your Last Name_Your First Name_Resume. This form may be saved as a draft and completed later. Use the link provided to return to the form.

Step 3: Once you submit the Universal Application, you may browse and apply for NCPE internships using the link provided. Complete the application process by clicking on the Apply for job button found at each internship listing and upload the required Essay. Use the essay to explain why you are applying for an internship, including how your interest areas will benefit the National Park Service (NPS) and how the internship will further your studies and career goals. Be as specific as possible; there is a 400-word maximum length. Submit the essay to finish the application for that position. You may apply for a maximum of 6 internships during an application round; there is no limit at other times of the year. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!



Logging in with a Registered User Account and completing the Universal Application is required to apply for NCPE Internships. Please visit the Universal Application page to register for an account and complete the form. After logging in and completing the form, refreshing this listing will display the Job Application to apply online.