Director, Historic Trades & Skills — Heritage Leadership

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation; Williamsburg (VA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation seeks a Director, Historic Trades to lead the Department of Historic Trades and Skills. You will set strategic direction, oversee managers, and ensure safety, quality interpretation, and guest engagement across sites.

You will collaborate across divisions, cultivate external partnerships, and uphold high standards of historical accuracy and craftsmanship in a living-history environment.

Qualifications

• Four-year degree in American history or related discipline.
• 10 years of living history museum experience as an interpreter, teacher, or related historical presentation role.
• 5-7 years of leadership or supervisory responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction for the department with long- and short-term priorities for personnel, operations, financial management, training and curriculum, and initiatives.
• Direct departmental operations with focus on problem-solving, decision-making, and accountability while balancing staff and guest needs.
• Lead and develop the management team; oversee hiring, training, retention, performance management, and succession planning with HR.
• Ensure safe, effective, and consistent operations including safety policies and historic practices.
• Develop and administer the annual budget in collaboration with the AVP; identify investment opportunities.
• Maintain high standards for interpretation and guest experience; evaluate educational quality and accessibility.
• Guide training and curriculum development reflecting current scholarship and effective teaching methods.
• Foster partnerships across departments to advance shared goals and advocate for HTS resources.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Staff development

Budget management

Guest engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in American history or related discipline

10 years of living history museum experience

Master’s degree in public history / museum studies / nonprofit studies (preferred)

Job description

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation seeks a Director, Historic Trades to lead the Department of Historic Trades and Skills. You will set strategic direction, oversee managers, and ensure safety, quality interpretation, and guest engagement across sites.

You will collaborate across divisions, cultivate external partnerships, and uphold high standards of historical accuracy and craftsmanship in a living-history environment.