Preservation Coordinator

IMDiversity Inc.; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 61,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Alexandria's Office of Historic Alexandria seeks a Preservation Coordinator to manage maintenance, restoration and long-term preservation of historic buildings and landscapes.

You will work with General Services and Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities to budget, prioritize, and implement improvements, write scopes of work and supervise procurement for sites and collections. A four-year degree is required; evenings/weekends and lifting duties may be needed.

Qualifications

• Four-year degree in History or related field and preservation experience.
• Experience with facilities projects and documentation is preferred.
• Ability to coordinate with contractors and City staff.

Responsibilities

• Oversee maintenance, restoration, and long-term preservation of OHA buildings and landscapes.
• Budget, prioritize, and implement site maintenance and preservation improvements.
• Write scopes of work and participate in procurement for sites and collections.
• Administer facilities budget and monitor expenditures, setting priorities.
• Serve as point of contact for maintenance and preservation issues at OHA sites.
• Assess security, disaster preparedness, and public safety across properties.
• Collaborate with curatorial and archival staff on collections issues.
• Respond to alarms or preservation emergencies, including after-hours.
• Perform related work as required.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Preservation know-how

Historical research

Education

Bachelor's in History or related field

Two years preservation/collections experience

Job description

Preservation Coordinator

Salary
$61,241.96 - $82,035.98 Annually

Location
Alexandria, VA

Job Type
Full-Time

Job Number
2027-00554

Department
Office of Historic Alexandria

Division
ADMIN & OP

Bargaining Unit
N/A

Preservation Coordinator

The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 156,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. About one-quarter of the city’s square miles have been designated as a national or local historic district. We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the endless opportunities that lie ahead. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Historic Preservation Coordinator position in the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA).

An Overview

OHA manages and oversees fifteen historic sites, properties, and museums throughout the City. Ranging from historic structures to cultural landscapes to modern buildings, these sites draw over 200,000 visitors collectively per year. This position manages maintenance, restoration, Capital projects, and long-term preservation of these buildings, sites and historic collections by working closely with other City agencies, including General Services and Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities. The Historic Preservation Coordinator works collaboratively across the department and with preservation specialists and vendors to ensure and protect the historic integrity of the City’s cultural resources, including enforcing preservation standards and terms of easements. The Historic Preservation Coordinator must be available to work some evenings and weekends and be able to respond to after-hours emergencies [i.e., pipe breaks or HVAC failures]. A commitment to diversity, accessibility, inclusion, and public service is at the core of this position and the department.

This position reports to the Director of the Division of Collections & Exhibitions but works collaboratively with other divisions across the department.

What You Should Bring

To be considered an ideal candidate, applicants must have an extensive background in Architectural History, Historic Preservation, American History, and related fields. It is helpful to have facilities experience related to electrical, plumbing, HVAC, security systems, fire systems, and general carpentry. The ideal candidate must possess excellent communication and problem-solving skills and be able to give clear directions to contractors and City staff. They must be detail-oriented and possess excellent project management and documentation skills. They should have and maintain a working knowledge of preservation standards and current best practices, as well as skills in the professional handling, documentation and exhibition of historical objects in museum collections. The ideal candidate must be able to work well independently and collaboratively with a small team. The ability to operate a vehicle to monitor and attend to multiple historic sites is essential to this position.

The Opportunity: Examples of Work

• Oversee projects and tasks related to the maintenance, restoration, and long-term preservation of OHA’s buildings and cultural landscapes.
• Work closely with OHA staff, General Services, and Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities to budget, prioritize, and implement site maintenance and preservation improvements for OHA’s buildings and cultural landscapes.
• Write scopes of work and actively participate in the procurement and contracting process for OHA buildings and cultural landscapes, collaborating with City staff and outside preservation-centered contractors.
• In coordination with OHA staff, prepare, justify and administer the OHA facilities budget and implement a maintenance schedule. Monitor expenditures, conduct cost-benefit analyses on a regular basis for individual properties, and set priorities for facilities management.
• Serve as a point of contact and resource for maintenance and preservation issues within OHA and provide building and site condition updates as needed to OHA staff.
• Evaluate issues of security, disaster preparedness, and public safety at all OHA buildings and sites, and ensure that measures are in place and implemented.
• Collaborate with OHA curatorial and archival staff on collections management issues, including collections documentation, conservation and storage projects.
• Respond to alarms or preservation emergencies, including after-hours.
• Perform related work as required.

About the Department

The Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) enhances the quality of life for City residents and visitors by preserving and interpreting Alexandria’s historic properties, archaeological sites, cultural resources, artifact collections, objects, archives, records, and personal stories, and by encouraging audiences to recognize Alexandria’s diverse historic heritage and its place within the broader context of American history.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

Four-year college degree in History, African American History, Public History, Art History, Museum Studies, Archaeology, Museum Education, American History and/or other closely related field. Two (2) years preservation and/or collections management experience; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

An M.A. in Historic Preservation, American History, Architecture, American Studies, Museum Studies, or related field is preferred. A minimum of five (5) years of experience working with the maintenance and preservation of historic buildings, cultural resources and collections is preferred, including demonstrated experience in coordinating projects with curatorial and facilities management staff and contractors. Ability to work nights and weekends as needed, as well as lift 35 pounds to move equipment and supplies.

Notes

The ability to operate a vehicle to monitor and attend to multiple historic sites is essential to this position.

The City of Alexandria is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, military status, or disability.