Director of Strategic Planning / Development – National Trust for Historic Preservation – Washington, DC

Background

The National Trust for Historic Preservation was chartered by Congress in 1949 to provide for the preservation of historic places with national significance and to facilitate public participation in historic preservation. Today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has a portfolio of 27 nationally-significant historic sites located across the United States, encompassing more than 280 buildings, 4,000 acres of land, and a collection of more than 60,000 objects that together tell important and diverse stories of American history. The National Trust owns 21 of these sites, with 11 sites operated by the National Trust and 10 sites operated by a c0-stewardship partner organization. The remaining 6 sites are neither owned nor operated by NTHP, but are part of the portfolio by virtue of a cooperative agreement. The strength of the National Trust’s portfolio lies in its diversity and each site models best practices in the preservation of historic structures, landscapes, and collections; serves their communities through creative and relevant public programming; and offers leadership and innovative models to the national community of historic sites and house museums.

In 2012, senior management of the National Trust, in close collaboration with the Board of Trustees, developed an innovative vision for National Trust Historic Sites that promotes and supports the ongoing transition from old assumptions and practices about historic sites and house museums to allow these institutions to provide expansive public benefit that is truly sustainable for the long term. The vision is designed to ensure clarity and collaboration between the National Trust and the stewardship, co-stewardship, and affiliated sites in focusing on achievements in five key areas: national significance and impact, local governance, financial self-sufficiency, alignment with the National Trust mission, and exploration and adaptation of new models of preservation. Implementation of this vision is underway across the portfolio, with a goal of full implementation in 10 years.

Job Summary

The Louise B. Potter Director of Strategic Planning and Development will play a key role in the implementation of the National Trust’s vision for its historic sites by working collaboratively with the executive directors, advisory councils, and boards of directors across the portfolio of 27 National Trust Historic Sites to support effective strategic planning, board and staff development, and the implementation of new ventures and initiatives. The position requires an ability to successfully facilitate public involvement in long-range planning efforts and the re-visioning of historic sites for long-term cultural and financial self-sufficiency. The Director of Strategic Planning and Development will also support the vision by providing targeted and effective support to the entire portfolio of the National Trust’s 27 historic sites by convening trainings and other meetings, and implementing mechanisms for cross-portfolio communications and information exchanges.

The Louise B. Potter Director of Strategic Planning and Development will report to the Vice President for Historic Sites and will work collaboratively with the technical services staff of the National Trust Sites Department. The Director of Strategic Planning and Development will also work closely with the staff and Advisory Council members of the stewardship sites of the National Trust for Historic Preservation—Chesterwood, Farnsworth House, The Gaylord Building, Lyndhurst, Philip Johnson’s Glass House, President Lincoln’s Cottage, The President Woodrow Wilson House, Shadows-on-the-Teche, Villa Finale, and Woodlawn/Pope-Leighey—to ensure that these sites are administered and operated to achieve financial self-sufficiency, further develop as places of national significance and impacts, and model a range of options for preservation.

Duties

Supervise the executive directors of five stewardship sites—Chesterwood, The Gaylord Building, The President Woodrow Wilson House, Shadows-on-the-Teche, and Villa Finale—and serve as the primary liaison between the National Trust and the Advisory Councils and other community partners at these sites.
Assess and actively provide strategic support for the organizational development of Advisory Councils and other potential partners at stewardship sites as they move toward local governance pursuant to the Historic Sites vision. Create and facilitate advisory council and board development workshops and other high level trainings across the portfolio of National Trust Historic Sites.
Work with the Vice President for Historic Sites, the Legal Division, and other senior staff at the National Trust to serve as principal Historic Sites department contact throughout the process of transitioning stewardship sites to local governance.
Participate in the development and implementation of strategic planning and re-visioning initiatives across the portfolio of National Trust Historic Sites. This may include stakeholder meetings with site staff, council and board members, community organizations and other individuals; identification and assessment of potential site partnerships; and related activities.
Provide strategic direction to the executive directors and sites in helping to ensure the National Trust effectively engage with larger, broader and more culturally diverse audiences and partners.
In consultation with Human Resources, develop and implement new tools to promote staff development and facilitate collaboration across the entire portfolio sites, identifying connections and capturing lessons learned from technical service projects and the re-visioning process.
Provide strategic support for the professional development of National Trust Site Directors and other staff members as a part of the implementation of the vision for National Trust Historic Sites. Develop bi-annual Site Directors meetings, web-based trainings, and information exchanges across the portfolio in collaboration with the Coordinator of Operational and Technical Services.
Create opportunities and content to highlight and amplify best practices at National Trust Historic Sites through National Trust blogs and other social media, conference presentations, other mechanisms.
Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with other departments and divisions of the National Trust to support the advancement of individual National Trust Historic Sites and the entire portfolio.
In consultation with the Director of Administration for Historic Sites and the Coordinator of Operational and Technical Services, direct preparation of the historic sites sections of the Preservation Division dashboard each month and provide additional materials as required for National Trust board meetings, advisory council and site board meetings, senior NTHP leadership requests, and other organizational information needs.
Facilitate the development of annual strategic plans and workplans for all stewardship site staff.

Qualifications

At least 12 years of professional level experience, including at least 5 years’ experience with budgeting, staffing, supervising professionals and leading teams to generate high quality results, preferably in a non-profit and/or historic site management setting.
At least 5 years of experience managing large, cross-functional projects and teams, preferably within a national level non-profit setting.
Demonstrated success in development and implementation of initiatives related to strategic planning, re-imaging institutions, organizational assessment and training, and board development.
Demonstrated success in building relationships with diverse constituencies, including boards/councils, site visitors and members, local stakeholders, and/or potential donors.
Advanced analytical and problem solving skills, including issue identification and prioritization.
Advanced project-management, team-management and client-management skills. Ability to achieve results with limited supervision.
Effective and inspiring team leadership skills, with a commitment to diversity, demonstrated by success in managing a varied staff with wide-ranging skill sets.
Experience supervising professional staff, particularly those in dispersed geographic locations. as well as successfully managing key internal and external stakeholders and relationships,
Proven ability to collaborate across divisions to implement processes and achieve results. Track record of building and maintaining productive relationships with multiple stakeholders.
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 Comfort with a fluid workplace that may involve utilization/lending of staff to/from other parts of the National Trust.
Demonstrated understanding and commitment to the values and mission of the National Trust and the organization’s vision for its historic sites.
Experience programmatically engaging culturally diverse audiences, constituents and partners.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including strong public speaking skills.
Entrepreneurial spirit and skill set essential.
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.
Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent years of experience) required. Master’s degree or equivalent experience required, preferably in non-profit management, history, historic preservation, or equivalent from an accredited institution.

How to apply

Please email cover letter and resume to 273514-CS-1105@nthp.hrmdirect.com

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