JOB SUMMARY

The Senior Manager, Public Programs & Interpretation is a full-time senior staff position that leads efforts in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a new mission-driven public programs department that integrates the two sites into a single visitor experience. The Senior Manager interacts with guests, community members, and other stakeholders in meaningful ways that connect them to the site and the collection of objects, archives, architecture, archaeology, landscape, and natural resources. This position manages strategic partnerships with Arcadia and other partner organizations to co-create relevant programs for diverse audiences. Crucial to this work will be collaboration with other National Trust staff -- including the Director of Interpretation & Education -- plus communities of people whose ancestors’ history has been traditionally under-represented at the site, and surrounding community individuals and organizations.

This position is grant funded for a period of one year from the date of hire, with potential to become an ongoing position based on performance and increased revenues, and subject to the availability of continued funding.

ABOUT WOODLAWN AND THE POPE-LEIGHEY HOUSE

Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House (WPL) are two historic sites situated on the ancestral lands of the Algonkian speaking Doeg people in current-day Alexandria, VA. At the intersection of three distinct communities, WPL’s neighborhood is comprised of: Mt. Vernon, an established, affluent, majority white community; Fort Belvoir, an Army post with a highly transient population of military personnel and their families; and Woodlawn, with a large immigrant population, where 53% of households speak a language other than English. WPL’s community includes those whose ancestors once resided at or had an association with the historic Woodlawn Plantation and later iterations, but who no longer reside nearby.

Woodlawn historic site is comprised of three distinct historic eras. The first is the era of enslavement when it was George Washington’s Dogue Run Farm, later named Woodlawn Plantation after he gifted it to his step grand-daughter Eleanor Custis and Lawrence Lewis. The antislavery era began in the 1840s when Quakers purchased the property, subdivided it, and sold lots to free Blacks and other activists to create an antislavery colony of small and medium sized farms that thrived with agricultural reforms and without enslaved labor. The preservation era dawned with the new century and continued to the 1950s. What remained of the property was purchased by a succession of preservationists who sought to recreate the grandeur of antebellum Woodlawn.

Pope-Leighey House Historic Site was created when Woodlawn was selected for the relocation of Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Pope-Leighey House” in the 1960s. The Usonian home, designed for the Pope family in 1940 is an expression of Wright’s radical vision for beautiful, affordable, and more economically inclusive middle-class housing. Today it is interpreted as the residence and as an expression of Wright’s architectural philosophy that sought to reintegrate people into the natural landscape.

Today WPL is undergoing a transformation that includes a commitment to advancing its mission by developing new support, new audiences, and a new message through community engagement, telling a complete and transparent history, and turning the site into a community resource. Highest priority is placed on the ethical interpretation of history by acknowledging and uplifting the submerged histories of enslaved people, free Blacks, and anti-slavery Quakers and Baptists in collaboration with people descended from those communities. In 2022, WPL joined the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience because of its commitment to educating about the history of race-based slavery and its legacies. It is envisioned that WPL will be a place for communing, learning, reflecting, growing, and healing. Its 126 acres includes nearly 100-acres of forested lands and open spaces that are natural places for rejuvenation and healing of mind, body, and spirit. It is also the location of a 27 acre-farm operated by the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture (Arcadia) that is committed to healthy, equitable, and sustainable food systems.

It is the mission of Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House to engage with our community to preserve history and care for nature at this former site of enslavement. Our programs, events, and interpretation foster racial justice, promote sustainable practices, nurture wellbeing, and contribute to community repair.

DUTIES

Program Development

• Collaborate with the Executive Director, senior site staff, the National Trust’s Director of Interpretation & Education, and the Senior Vice President of Historic Sites to:
  • Develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive interpretive plan that advances the organization’s mission of telling the full American story and that reflects the needs and interests of the local community.
  • Plan, implement and evaluate interpretive programs and products. This includes, but is not limited to, on-site and remote programs, activities, demonstrations, tours, events, community engagement opportunities, social media, web-based digital projects, brochures, maps, etc.
• Plan and manage public programs and activities for adults and children that foster social justice, sustainability, and wellbeing in ways that connect them to the site’s natural and historical resources in relevant and meaningful ways.
• Build trust and foster ongoing relationships with local community groups and organizations.
• Determine and develop programming.
• Collaborate with community members in the development and delivery of interpretation at the site.
• Position the site to integrate Justice, Equity, Diversity, Access, and Inclusion measures site wide as it relates to public programs and interpretation, and ensure metrics are tracked, targets are reached, and timely maturation of the site in these practices.
• Through interpretation and public programs, grow visitation, engage new and repeat visitors, analyze, and evolve experiences.

Program Management

• Manage display and use of site collections and archives in collaboration with the Collections Coordinator and the John & Neville Bryan Senior Director of Museum Collections and the Executive Director.
• Plan and manage the implementation and evaluation of civics education programming for adults.
• Plan and manage the implementation and evaluation of a pilot K-12 curriculum-based education program that correlates to the site’s history, initially focused on civics education.
• Collaborate with Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture to integrate the visitor experience between the site and their Hilltop farm.
• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise volunteers, guides, interpreters, and educators. Develop workplans, organize workflow and delegate assignments; monitor employee productivity and performance, provide constructive feedback and coaching, and conduct annual performance reviews; work with management, direct reports and Office of Human Resources as needed to identify, respond to, and resolve problems or performance issues as they arise. Monitor and approve timekeeping and related budget for direct reports.
• Develop policies and procedures for interpretation, including a staff training manual and program and group tour program. Develop, deliver, and maintain up-to-date interpretive training modules and resources.
• Oversee the program and scheduling of group and educational tours.
• Collaborate with Nelly’s Needlers to produce and present the annual Needlework Show and develop complementary programs.
• Research site history and share findings with site staff.

Marketing

• Collaborate with the Executive Director, other site staff and headquarters staff in helping to obtain financial support through grants and other means, marketing, and communications about public programs and interpretation. Support donor stewardship and engagement by providing donor tours as necessary.
• Work with Marketing to ensure language and descriptions reflect the site’s interpretive values.
• Along with the Executive Director, act as a spokesperson for the site and ensure interpretive alignment with National Trust brand and messaging.

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 6 years of relevant experience in the field of history interpretation and/or informal education at historic sites, museums, or related organization, including at least 3 years of supervisory experience.
• Certified National Association for Interpretation Guide, Trainer and/or Planner preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of US and Virginia history, particularly as it pertains to local indigenous people, colonialism, the African diaspora, slavery, free Blacks, abolitionist and anti-slavery movements, Reconstruction, Jim Crow era, Civil Rights, and efforts to achieve justice and equity for people of color since the 1970s. Familiarity with the “Lost Cause” narrative and its impacts on people’s understanding of history.
• Knowledge of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakerism); Frank Lloyd Wright, his philosophies, and his architecture, particularly Usonian homes; the US Historic Preservation movement; United States and Virginia civics; ecological systems, climate change and its impact on natural and human communities strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with the fundamentals and key practices of interpretation, including site interpretation for both adult and child audiences. Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with public history, history, museum studies or equivalent work experience.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, including issue identification and prioritization.
• Advanced project-management skills, including project budgeting, staffing and planning. Ability to achieve results with general supervision.
• Effective presentation skills. Excellent writing, spelling, grammar, and proofreading skills, as well as strong verbal communication and customer service skills. Strong organizational skills. Excellent attention to detail.
• Experience successfully managing key stakeholders and relationships. Proven ability to collaborate across departments to implement processes and achieve results. Track record of building and maintaining productive relationships with multiple stakeholders. When working onsite, public contact and ability to work successfully in close proximity to others required. When working off site, ability to work effectively in a remote environment, maintaining productivity and communications to meet deadlines and goals, is required.
• Demonstrated success in engaging culturally diverse colleagues and stakeholders. Bi-lingual language skills a plus. Ties to culturally diverse affinity groups, professional organizations, or related associations are a plus. Able to talk effectively about identities such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, ability, or gender in plain, specific terms as they relate to the workplace and cultural heritage.
• 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. Ability to work effectively with frequent interruptions required. Able to handle frequently changing and/or unscheduled tasks with accuracy.
• Entrepreneurial spirit and skill set a plus.
• 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.
• Regular and reliable attendance is required.
• Some travel required.