Job Listing
🔗Director of Operations and Development
Website Preservation Action
Preservation Action is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., created in 1974 to serve as the national grassroots lobby for historic preservation. Preservation Action seeks to make historic preservation a national priority by advocating to all branches of the federal government for sound preservation policy and programs through a grassroots constituency empowered with information and training and through direct contact with elected representatives. In 2024, the organization formed the Preservation Action Political Action Committee (PAC), the only federal PAC in preservation. The Preservation Action Foundation, founded in 1998 as the Center for Preservation Initiatives, is a registered 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit organization founded in 1998. Preservation Action Foundation is the vehicle through which the Preservation Action fulfills its educational and charitable mission.
Employment: Part-time employee, approximately 20 hours/week
Location: Remote (Washington D.C. Area/Commuting Distance)
ABOUT THE POSITION
The Director of Operations and Development serves as a key organizational leader for Preservation Action and the Preservation Action Foundation, overseeing financial and administrative operations, board relations, fund development, and Washington, D.C.-based advocacy coordination and representation. Key programs this role contributes to include National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week, Preservation Action Foundation Auction, Preservation Roundtable, Bruce MacDougal Advocacy Scholars, and Congressional Briefing. The ideal candidate will independently manage multiple organizational functions, build relationships with board members and donors, and represent the organizations effectively with preservation partners and federal policymakers. This position reports to the Preservation Action Board Chair, and collaborates with the Associate Director, Honorary President, contractors, boards and committee chairs. This role is employed by Preservation Action and also has certain cost-share roles and responsibilities for the Preservation Action Foundation and the Preservation Action Political Action Committee. Preservation Action is a fully remote operation however partner meetings, Congressional visits, and P.O. Box are located in Washington, D.C. Candidates must be able to routinely commute to Washington, D.C. for these functions and occasionally be available for outside travel.
The Director will work closely with Preservation Action’s staff, board, members, supporters, and partners to advance our mission of strengthening federal policies that protect and preserve America’s historic resources.
DUTIES
Operations
● Serves as the main point of contact for Preservation Action, responsible for general operations.
● Manages all financial matters for Preservation Action, Preservation Action Foundation, and Preservation Action Political Action Committee in collaboration with contracted
accountants, lawyers, staff, and board.
● Manages governing documents, including bylaws and operational policies, and coordinates with board committees to develop updates.
Representation and Coordination
● Leads the coordination of Preservation Action, Preservation Action Foundation, and the Preservation Action Political Action Committee’s Washington D.C.-based activities,
particularly in regard to collaborating with partner organizations and presence on Capitol Hill to promote preservation-friendly federal policies.
● Represents the organizations at Washington D.C.-based meetings/conferences, in coordination with Chair, Honorary President, and Associate Director.
● Promotes opportunities for interaction with other organizations/agencies/individuals to utilize the grassroots organizational strengths of Preservation Action.
Communications
● Coordinates with consultants, advocacy partners, and Associate Director to implement communications strategies to align with the organization’s mission and voice.
● Contributes to and reviews marketing/advocacy materials, website, and social media.
Board Relations
● Manages board relations, governance, communication, and training.
● Creates agendas for board meetings and assembles detailed staff presentations in coordination with the Board Chair to ensure advancement of organization’s mission and strategic interests.
Development
● Sets fund development goals aligned with annual budget and strategic plan in coordination with Board Chair and Development Committee; serves as primary contact and steward for major donors and foundations; identifies grant funding opportunities and prepares grant proposals.
● Presents quarterly financial reports to boards and keeps boards informed of fundraising activities and needs.
● Co-manages the member and donor database (Donorsnap) with the Associate Director.
Other tasks as mutually agreed upon and assigned.
Interested? Review the full position description and application instructions at https://preservationaction.org/careers/.
To Apply:
Please submit a cover letter accompanying your resume/CV via email to chair@preservationaction.org.
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.