Senior Manager of Historical Initiatives

Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks; Raquette Lake (NY); Hybrid; USD 54,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site lodging & meals

Health & retirement benefits

Paid time off and sick leave

Job summary

Great Camp Sagamore, operated by Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks, seeks a Senior Manager of Historical Initiatives to lead archival, research, and interpretation efforts on-site at Raquette Lake with seasonal remote work patterns. The role manages staff, develops programs, and partners with external organizations to advance Adirondack history.

The position requires a master’s degree or equivalent with relevant experience; strong leadership, communication, and project management skills are

Qualifications

• Excellent communication, writing, presentation, and project management skills.
• Experience coordinating programs and leading teams in a historical or educational setting.
• Background in archives, history, or related fields preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Sagamore’s history department programs and events.
• Train and supervise seasonal interpreters and guides.
• Develop and expand history programs and partnerships with external institutions.
• Coordinate scheduling, staffing, and cross-department collaboration.
• Support grant writing and fundraising activities for history initiatives.

Skills

Communication

Writing

Presentation

Project management

Education

Master’s degree or equivalent

Bachelor’s degree with substantial experience

Job description

Senior Manager of Historical Initiatives

Location: Raquette Lake, NY (May-October), Remote (November-May)
Job Type: Full-time, year-round, non-exempt
Salary & Benefits: Starting at $26 - $28 per hour. On-campus lodging & meals in season, health & retirement benefits, paid time off and sick leave.

Reports to: Senior Director, Historical Initiatives

This position is immediately available and remains open until filled.

About Great Camp Sagamore
Great Camp Sagamore is a 17-acre National Historic Landmark and is one of the first of the nationally
renowned Adirondack “Great Camps,” located in one of the most remote areas of the Adirondack Park.
Today, Great Camp Sagamore is owned, preserved, and operated by Sagamore Institute of the
Adirondacks. We are an educational, private, non-profit institution dedicated to stewarding Great Camp
Sagamore as a welcoming place for educational and recreational programs and fostering connections to
history, nature, and community.

Sagamore welcomes guests from late May through late October and on two separate days during the
winter. Guests come from around the world to take tours, participate in overnight and day experiences,
attend conferences, get married, host family reunions, and enjoy concerts.

Working at Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks
Sagamore employs a core group of year-round staff members and additional seasonal staff to support
our on-campus programs and activities. During the season, most staff members live on campus with
meals provided. We maintain a collaborative work environment where all staff members are expected to
lead by example, work closely together positively, and foster a safe, encouraging, and enjoyable
workplace.

The Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse, inclusive,
and equitable work environment that empowers all staff members to grow and be active within
decision-making spaces. We are committed to ensuring an anti-racist culture and a work environment
free from discrimination and harassment. Sagamore does not discriminate based on gender, gender
expression, sexual identity, sexual orientation, race, class, color, age, ethnicity, first language, religion or
belief, family, marital, parental, military, or veteran status. This policy applies to all aspects of
employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, discipline, termination, compensation, benefits,
training, and professional development.

At Great Camp Sagamore, all employees help to facilitate camp offerings. In addition to one’s job-specific
duties, other tasks may be assigned, as needed, to support camp operations for the employee’s
department or other camp departments.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Senior Manager, Historical Initiatives supports the history department at Great Camp Sagamore.
This position is responsible for the preservation and stewardship of Sagamore’s history; training and
managing seasonal historical interpreters; implementation and expansion of history programs and events
to support the organization’s vision, mission, and values; and serving as the administrative and
operational onsite lead for the history department under the guidance of the senior director.

HISTORY, ARCHIVES, AND INTERPRETATION
A. Sagamore Archives - Catalogue and organize existing and newly acquired archival materials;
plan, assign, and execute the organization of that archive; and create a physical storage space
that preserves the physical materials according to archival best practices as well as ease of use
and accessibility.

B. Historical Research & Content Development - Continuously identify new and relevant historical
documents and information related to Sagamore and its history for outward facing purposes,
including refinements to the history tour scripts; and identifying, cataloging, and making
accessible existing and new Sagamore oral histories.

PROGRAMS & PARTNERSHIPS
A. Program Management & Development - Under the guidance of the senior director, manage
existing tours, programs & events and identify opportunities for the expansion and
redefinition/repurposing of History programs and events to meet changing visitor interests and
demographics and in support Sagamore’s vision, mission and values.

B. Partnerships & Stakeholders - Develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships with peer
institutions and regional partners, serving as a liaison to identify opportunities for collaboration,
expand cooperative offerings, and advance shared organizational goals.

C. Program Evaluation & Optimization - Analyze and process existing data relating to History
tours, programs, and events to optimize future offerings and performance.

COMMUNICATION & COLLABORATION
A. Cross-Department Coordination - Partner, coordinate, and communicate with the programs,
operations, and marketing managers as well as other Sagamore leadership to ensure ideal
cross-departmental coordination, communication and partnership.

B. Marketing Support - Partner with the Marketing Manager to identify and advance history-specific
marketing and communications opportunities.

C. Grant Support - Support and collaborate with the senior director and executive director(s) on
grants, as identified.

OPERATION SYSTEMS
A. Platform & Scheduling Administration - Develop competency in Sagamore’s various customer
booking and communication platforms, coordinating with operations and marketing to routinely
schedule, update, edit, and maintain them.

SEASONAL MANAGEMENT
A. Hiring - Support and assist the senior director to hire/rehire 5-6 new and returning seasonal
history department staff.

B. Onboarding - Communicate and welcome incoming staff prior to arrival and meet with successful
candidates to discuss, assign and monitor projects, including establishing target dates for
completion, how you and/or the senior director can support the work, and discussions of any
other support needs.

C. Training - Support senior director in training, mentoring, and supporting seasonal interpreters in
delivering engaging, accurate, and consistent historic tours.

D. Scheduling - Develop and maintain weekly staff schedules, subject to senior director approval,
ensuring appropriate coverage for regular programming, special events, and cross-departmental
needs.

E. Project Supervision – Identify, supervise and coordinate History staff projects, giving feedback
and reviews as needed.

HISTORY MANAGEMENT SUPPORT
Generally, provide management, decision-making, and leadership when the senior director is not in
residence including serving as liaison between core leadership staff and seasonal staff, working on other
short-term collaborations that may arise, and supporting other departments on special events or
initiatives.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree or equivalent in History, Library/Archival sciences, or a related field, or a Bachelors’
  degree with substantial work experience in these fields.
• A minimum of 1-3 years of experience in a majority, or all, of the responsibilities identified.

RELEVANT SKILLS

• Excellent communication, writing, presentation, and project management skills.
  Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to guide and collaborate effectively with
  peers and staff, navigate unexpected challenges, and respond thoughtfully to emerging issues.
• Planning and project management experience, with the ability to organize and advance multiple
  priorities and projects.
• Demonstrated self-starter with a “figure it out” mindset and a willingness to learn new information,
  skills, software, applications, and processes.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Enthusiasm for sharing Adirondack history and engaging with guests, with the ability to make
  historical information accessible, interesting, and meaningful to diverse audiences.

Additional Perks
This position includes paid time off and sick leave and will be eligible for health benefits after 90 days
and retirement benefits after 1 year. All meals during the season are provided by Great Camp Sagamore
in the Dining Hall, and staff have full use of the camp’s amenities, including the Boathouse and the
open-air bowling alley. Staff members’ friends and family members may enjoy tours, meals, and
overnight accommodations at reduced costs.