Director of Preservation and Facilities – Shelburne Museum
Listing Start Date: August 1, 2025Expires: October 1, 2025n
The Director of Preservation and Facilities plays a vital leadership role in the long-term stewardship and conservation of Shelburne Museum’s historic buildings, collections, and physical assets. This position is responsible for developing and implementing strategic plans, coordinating historic preservation and maintenance projects, and ensuring all work aligns with museum goals and historic preservation standards. The role requires collaboration across departments, with project teams, external contractors, regulatory bodies, and funding partners. Shelburne Museum stewards 40 structures over a 45-acre campus, all requiring ongoing maintenance and preservation.
Essential Job Functions:
- Develop and execute preservation plans for historic buildings, grounds, and physical assets in alignment with the organization’s mission and strategic goals.
- Assess the condition of structures and assets, to determine immediate and long-term preservation and maintenance needs.
- Manage all museum building and structure projects, including planning, bidding, contractor oversight, and documentation.
- Actively participate in and perform preservation work, including hands-on restoration and maintenance of historic structures and building systems.
- Prepare construction documents, solicit bids, oversee execution, and ensure timely and accurate project billing and reporting.
- Ensure compliance with historical regulations and processes, integrating best practice for historical preservation and restoration.
- Partner with the Development Department to assist with grant writing process and procurement of funding from various sources to support preservation projects and goals.
- Provide expertise and guidance on architectural preservation techniques, materials and methodologies to internal teams and external partners.
- Document preservation efforts, including assessments, plans, project progress and outcomes.
- Oversee and manage a team of buildings and museum services employees and volunteers.
- Generate, implement, and track fiscal budgets that take into account ongoing costs as well as grant initiatives and capital expenditures.
Supervisory Responsibility:
Directly supervises the following year-round staff: Museum Services team (3 employees), Buildings staff (5 employees), and the Systems Maintenance Technician (1 employee). Also responsible for overseeing seasonal staff and volunteers.
Benefits:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance & AD&D and Short/Long-Term Disability.
- Combined time off up to 160 hours per year, 8 hours for your birthday, and 8 hours for community service leave.
- Employees may contribute to the Museum’s Retirement plan, effective 1st of the month following their start date. After one year of service employees are eligible for a 2% Match and 3% Safe Harbor contribution, paid for by the Museum.
- Other benefits include free Museum access for immediate family members and an employee discount at the Museum store and café.
Requirements
Physical Requirements:
This position requires the ability to work in both indoor and outdoor environments, often in varying and sometimes inclement weather conditions. The Director of Preservation & Facilities must be capable of walking across the 45-acre campus, accessing historic structures that may have uneven flooring, narrow staircases, and limited accessibility. The position requires the ability to lift materials and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
Qualifications:
- Strong team leadership and management skills, with experience supervising a multi-disciplinary team.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal abilities, with experience collaborating across departments and with external partners.
- Demonstrated passion for and commitment to preserving historical buildings and assets.
- Hands-on experience in building restoration and construction practices.
- Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Comfortable with public speaking and presenting preservation work to stakeholders.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant tools or software.
To apply:
Please email our Human Resources department at HR@shelburnemuseum.org and provide a Cover Letter and an updated Resume (PDF format preferred). For more information, visit our careers page: https://shelburnemuseum.org/about/employment/. Please note that any offer of employment is contingent upon a clear background check.