Job Summary

Working with and under the supervision of the Director of Preservation, the Historic Building & Grounds Technician will maintain the integrity and overall appearance of buildings and grounds at President Lincoln’s Cottage by carrying out routine maintenance and preservation tasks according to prescribed schedules, seasonal needs, and professional standards. 

President Lincoln's Cottage is a co-stewardship historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, operating as an independent 501(c)(3) with its own management and staff.  

Duties

• Ensure security of the site and safety for visitors and staff, through daily building and grounds checks.
• Perform routine maintenance and assist with preservation efforts to the interior and exterior of President Lincoln’s Cottage and the Visitor Education Center. This includes, but is not limited to, such tasks as carpentry, window and door restoration, painting, and historic hardware repair.
• Support routine and seasonal maintenance of the gardens, trees, and pathways. This includes such tasks as raking, leaf blowing, mulching, weeding, pruning, edging, planting, and maintenance of a site wide irrigation and exterior lighting system.
• Training will be provided to maintain a consistent record of preservation efforts. This includes project reports and photographs, historic and modern building materials research and documentation, and updates to the cyclical maintenance and important projects list.
• Training will be provided to assist in managing contractors hired to complete maintenance projects and keep photo record of work when necessary.     
• Attend and participate in weekly staff meetings and professional development opportunities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Experience in the preservation trades or landscape maintenance. A degree from a preservation trade school, landscape program or historic preservation is a plus.
• Good organizational skills with an ability to prioritize tasks and at the same time be flexible and able to adapt to meet site needs. 
• Basic problem-solving skills, including issue identification and prioritization. Ability to understand instructions and deadlines in English and execute tasks as assigned, with ability to learn and handle routine tasks without close supervision.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of staff, volunteers, and other stake holders ensuring cooperation as a site team member.
• Minimum physical requirements include but are not limited to:  ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. on a frequent basis and occasionally more; ability to push or pull up to 50 lbs. on a frequent basis and occasionally more; ability to climb stairs, ladders, and scaffolding; ability to bend, squat, kneel, twist/turn, and reach above the shoulder.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Availability for evening, weekend and holiday work required.

Annual Salary

$45,760 ($22/hr)

Working at President Lincoln’s Cottage (Culture & Benefits)

People are the heart of our work at President Lincoln’s Cottage. Our investment in the stories of the people who advanced freedom in the past is inherently connected to our investment in the people sharing those stories and advancing our mission today. We are committed to creating a workplace and organizational culture that reflects our core values.

• We are independent minded. This means we pay attention to what’s authentic to this place and we are not interested in doing anything just because others are doing it.
• We collaborate effectively. This means we work on interdisciplinary teams, support others’ projects, and avoid siloing.
• We are leaders in the field. We stay on top of research and best practices for historic house museums and national monuments. We support staff growth and create responsive programs.
• We’re curious about other perspectives. We make spaces for listening, and then we actually listen.
• We walk the talk. We operate ethically, transparently, and inclusively. Staff and the organization are engaged in activism on our core social justice issues.

Because people are the heart of our work, we provide our employees with benefits including paid time off, retirement contributions, and several kinds of insurance. Details of the benefits associated with this position are:

• Generous paid time off including 12 paid holidays each year, a vacation accrual program where new hires earn up to 3 weeks off in their first year, 3 days of PTO (paid time off) each calendar year, and a generous sick leave accrual program. Additionally, President Lincoln’s Cottage offers a leave donation program for the rare occasion when one of our team members requires additional leave beyond their own leave balance.
• All employees are eligible for a 401K account. After one year of employment, President Lincoln’s Cottage will match an employee’s contributions up to 4% of the employee’s paycheck.
• Health insurance plans where employee contributions will be no more than $158 per biweekly paycheck for an individual, but most employees pay much less. The deductible for an individual plan is $1,500 and there is a $3,000 deductible for the family plan. Additionally, President Lincoln’s Cottage offers Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, and a Health Savings Account. Flexible Spending Accounts are also available to all employees whether or not they enroll in other medical benefits.
• Life insurance, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance are also provided at no cost to the employee.
• An Employee Assistance Program which provides counseling services is available.
• Free onsite parking.
• Discounts in the Museum Shop.

Application

Please send a cover letter and resume (with three references) via email to Jeff Larry, Director of Preservation, at jlarry@lincolncottage.org. The application deadline is Friday, April 21. A decision will be made no later than Friday, May 5.

President Lincoln’s Cottage is interested in applicants from all backgrounds and past experiences. We encourage women, BIPOC, Veteran, and all other candidates to apply. If you don’t meet every qualification listed but are excited about our mission and the work described above, we still welcome your application. We’re most interested in building a creative and talented team of staff dedicated to our work. You may still be an excellent fit for this position even if you’re missing some of the above qualifications. If there is something we can do to make the application process more accessible to you, please let us know. We will do our best to provide reasonable accommodations as possible. 

About President Lincoln’s Cottage

President Lincoln’s Cottage is a historic site and museum located in Washington D.C. on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home, an active home for veterans founded in 1852.  The site opened to the public in February 2008, after an eight-year capital restoration project under the auspices of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. As of January 2016, President Lincoln's Cottage at the Soldiers' Home became an independent, 501(c)3 organization.  It is the only place the public can experience the history of Abraham Lincoln’s public and private life where he lived and worked for over a quarter of his presidency. While in residence at the Cottage, Lincoln visited with wounded soldiers, spent time with self-emancipated men, women, and children, and developed the Emancipation Proclamation. The human cost of the Civil War surrounded him, undoubtedly impacted his thinking, and strengthened his resolve to challenge the status quo. Through innovative guided tours, exhibits and programs, we use Lincoln’s example to inspire visitors to take their own path to greatness, and preserve this place as an authentic, tangible connection to the past and a beacon of hope for all who take up Lincoln’s unfinished work. www.lincolncottage.org