Do you have a passion for history and the preservation of architectural and cultural resources? Are you a tenured museum or historic preservation professional? If so, your next job opportunity is waiting for you – come join us! The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, TN is actively recruiting a Chief Preservation Officer.

POSITION SUMMARY: Reporting to the CEO, the Chief Preservation Officer (CPO) is a vital part of the Foundation’s senior leadership team. The CPO will oversee these functional areas: preservation, advocacy and government relations, education and public programming, research and curatorial services, museum exhibitions, and collections management. These functions are active under the parent organization, Heritage Foundation, and some span the Foundation’s divisions including the History & Culture Center of Williamson County, The Franklin Theatre, and Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens (in development). The Chief Preservation Officer will work closely with shared services departments and will support additional staff hiring for needed roles, possibly including a Manager of Educational Programs.

This is a public-facing position that is accountable for the following outcomes:

• ·         Preserving the rich heritage, culture, built environment and greenspace of Williamson County, TN
• ·         Advancing the inclusive preservation policies and practices of the organization
• ·         Strengthening the community by connecting more people to historic places and associated stories

• ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job, an individual must perform each essential function satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. 
• ·         Direct project-based accountabilities for the near future include:
• o    Leading the organization’s advocacy and government relations efforts
• o    Managing the interpretive planning and museum exhibition development for the new History & Culture Center
• o    Managing the initial interpretive planning and museum infrastructure development for the new Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens (2023 – 2025)
• ·         Develops and manages annual strategic plans and budgets to support the organization’s goals and prioritize new and emerging challenges or opportunities that may impact the organization.
• ·         Oversees the development of strategies for the preservation of heritage, culture, historic structures, and greenspace.
• ·         Oversees the development, maintenance, renewal, and reimagination of onsite exhibitions, including the care and conservation of collections and loans, and design and production processes.
• ·         Promotes a culture of digital innovation and transformation that leverages interactive storytelling and digital technology to educate and inspire audiences.
• ·         Oversees the development and implementation of strategies for the Foundation’s education and public programming with clearly defined values, audiences, priorities, and metrics.
• ·         Cultivates and nurtures relationships with key museum and preservation partners like industry associations, academic institutions, other community organizations, national museums, other preservation societies, etc.
• ·         Serves as the liaison to the Preservation & Advocacy Committee, applicable subcommittees of the Franklin Grove Advisory Committee and other to-be-formed groups.
• ·         Leads and grows team members by providing professional development, regular performance reviews, and facilitating appropriate recognition. 
• ·         Supports and contributes to grant application processes for mission-focused projects.
• ·         Attend and participate in execution of key annual events and activities including but not limited to Main Street Festival (April), Heritage Ball (October), PumpkinFest (October) and Dickens of a Christmas (December).
• ·         Regular and reliable attendance.
• ·         Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and/or Experience:  Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s or Doctorate degree in historic preservation, museum studies, cultural/heritage resource management or public history preferred. 10+ years of applicable experience in historic preservation, interpretation, museum management, cultural resource management, or other related activity within a historic organization/nonprofit, government agency, academic institution, museum, or similar institution.

Other Qualifications: 

• ·         Ability to act as a brand ambassador of the Heritage Foundation and its divisions and demonstrate confidents in knowledge of the history, brand values, vision, and direction.
• ·         Senior leadership experience within a complex and multidisciplinary institution.
• ·         Model a leadership style that is open, supportive, collaborative, and respectful of all staff members.
• ·         Demonstrated understanding of museum practices and standards including new and contemporary approaches to collection, curation, and storytelling.

·         Interface and communicate effectively with colleagues at all levels.

·         Thrive in a highly collaborative and mission-driven culture.

• ·         Strong communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Benefits:

• ·         Pay range of $80,000-$90,000
• ·         Paid Time Off
• ·         Health Insurance
• ·         Dental Insurance
• ·         Vision Insurance

If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please send your resume and cover letter to lportzel@williamsonheritage.org. No phone calls, please.  

ABOUT THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY

Since 1967, the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County has been dedicated to preserving Williamson County’s architectural, geographic, and cultural heritage as well as promoting the ongoing revitalization of downtown Franklin in the context of historic preservation. Notable projects include The Franklin Theatre, Roper’s Knob, parts of the Franklin battlefield and the Old, Old Jail. The Foundation brings county history to about 3,000 school children each year through the Heritage Classroom program as well as walking tours of downtown Franklin. Events and festivals produced by the Heritage Foundation such as Main Street Festival, the Heritage Ball, Pumpkinfest and Dickens of a Christmas bring hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors to downtown Franklin each year. The Heritage Foundation is the parent organization of four divisions, The Franklin Theatre, the Downtown Franklin Association, the organization’s current adaptive reuse project, Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens, and its newest division, the History & Culture Center of Williamson County. For more information about the Heritage Foundation, visit www.williamsonheritage.org. The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, TN is located at 112 Bridge Street in downtown Franklin, TN.