Job Listing
🔗Executive Director, Chesterwood Historic Site
Website National Trust for Historic Preservation
Chesterwood is a National Historic Landmark and a historic site of the National Trust. Located in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, it is the summer home, studio, and gardens of America’s most distinguished sculptor of public monuments, Daniel Chester French (1850-1931). https://savingplaces.org/places/chesterwood The National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States protects significant places representing our diverse cultural experience by taking direct action and inspiring broad public support. We strive to tell the full American story. https://savingplaces.org/
JOB SUMMARY
The National Trust seeks an Executive Director to lead Chesterwood through the transformation from a typical house museum with a regional reputation to a historic site housing a dynamic artists-in-residency facility with a national reputation. The Executive Director ensures that Chesterwood embodies best practices in historic preservation, interpretation, education, and in making history relevant to today’s audience by exemplifying justice, diversity, equity, access, and inclusion in all aspects of its operations.
This position reports to the Senior Vice President for Historic Sites located at headquarters in Washington, DC, and works in collaboration with other headquarters staff, especially the Historic Sites Department’s technical support positions in collections, finance, interpretation, and architecture. This position also works with an advisory council to achieve the site’s financial self-sufficiency and strengthen and expand connections at the local and national levels.
As the rehabilitation of the residence continues, the Executive Director also guides the development of a strategic vision for the use of this building to include a sustainable multiple artists’ residency program as well as other revenue-generating opportunities.
Leadership
- Develops a strategic vision for the use of the site, including a sustainable artists’ residency program, Grows special property use and develops other earned revenue sources.
- Acts as spokesperson for the site, monitors site brand and messaging, and ensures alignment with National Trust brand and messaging.
- Models leadership for site staff, aligned with National Trust values and best practices.
- Leads the site to integrate Justice, Equity, Diversity, Access, Inclusion (JEDAI) measures site-wide and ensure metrics are tracked, targets are reached, and ensure timely maturation of the site in JEDAI practices.
- Continues to develop the site advisory council, including identification of needs, capacities, and recruitment materials. Lead ongoing council meetings, communications, events, and philanthropy by individual members.
- Works with the National Trust’s Historic Sites SVP and management team, site staff, advisory council and greater community to create the Site’s strategic plan and oversee implementation.
Program Management
- Recruits, retains and supervises well-qualified and culturally diverse staff. Monitors direct reports’ productivity and performance, provides constructive feedback and coaching, and conducts annual performance reviews.
- Works closely with the Director of Interpretation & Education at headquarters on updating tour scripts, exhibitions, and interpretive planning for Chesterwood to tell a more inclusive, nuanced, contextualized stories of the site and reach new audiences to help them see the humanity in one another.
- Works closely with site staff to develop collateral materials, maintain the website, and develop and implement communications, sales, outreach, booking, budgets, and marketing plans.
Operations Management
- Works with and continues development of an advisory council to achieve financial self-sufficiency and strengthen and broaden connections at the local and national levels.
- Builds visitation, engages new and repeat visitors, and expands revenue-generating activities.
- Develops and maintains a balanced operating budget, including tracking expenses and meeting revenue goals. Ensures that monthly and annual financial reports are completed in a timely and accurate manner, working with Senior Director of Sites Administration at headquarters.
- Works with the Office of Human Resources as needed to identify, respond to, and resolve performance issues as they arise. Monitors and approves timekeeping and related budget for direct reports.
- Oversees collections management activities in collaboration with the John & Nevill Bryan Senior Director of Museum Collections.
- Ensures agreements and contracts are reviewed and approved in accordance with the procurement policies in the Employee Handbook.
Fundraising and Marketing
- Directs fundraising to support ongoing operations and expansion of the site’s long-term financial reserves. Works with headquarters’s Development staff to ensure development efforts are aligned.
- Develops and implements a plan to promote site programming at the local, national, and international levels through social media, group tour outreach, tourism bureaus, and new partnerships. Works with headquarters’s Marketing staff on major initiatives to ensure development efforts are aligned.
- Ensures robust social media presence and updated informative website, keeping up with available technologies and current site interpretations.
Site Management
- Works closely with the Senior Director of Preservation Architecture (Graham Gund Architect) to develop and monitor major repair or capital projects and ensure the maintenance staff’s work program is aligned with preservation standards.
- During emergency events, takes appropriate measures to protect the property, staff, and patrons, and communicates to appropriate local emergency and HQ staff.
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NCPE Internships: Eligibility & How to Apply
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.
As an organization operating under Public Land Corps Act (PLC) authority, many NCPE positions qualify the intern for Federal Hiring Preference if (1) they complete a minimum of 640 hours at one or more qualifying conservation project(s); (2) are between the ages of 16 and 30 years (35 if a veteran); and (3) apply for a Federal position at USAJOBS with PLC noted in the announcement within two years of completing the internship. Find out more about this hiring preference during the interview or contact manager@preservenet.org for details.
Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must be currently enrolled in a degree-seeking academic program or recently graduated (within the past 12 months) and be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident. Interns are not eligible 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 during the Summer and Winter application rounds 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 user name 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. PDF only, labeled Your Last Name_Your First Name_Transcript. (2) a resume or CV (curriculum vitae). Please limit to a maximum of 4 pages; 2 pages preferred. May be .doc, .docx or PDF. 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 this application round. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!
Once the deadline for submission has passed, NPS supervisors will review the applications and may contact candidates for a phone interview. Candidates who are not selected will be notified. Please allow about 4 weeks after the deadline before inquiring about the status of your application.
Quick Tips on How to Apply
#1 If you feel you need to bolster your resume or expand your knowledge base in a certain area, consider offering research assistance to an authority at your university and/or design a 1-credit reading course with an eminent scholar or practitioner.
#2 "Experience" is more than paid work. It is any activity that gives you the knowledge and ability to do something well. So include in the Universal Application all relevant research projects, academic extracurricular activities, and volunteer interests to show your initiative, leadership, and competency.
#3 Proofread everything. The qualification most sought after for any job or internship is strong communication skills so start off on the right foot with no spelling or grammatical errors in your application.
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.