Historic Site and Program Manager

Davidson College seeks a dynamic individual to serve as the Program and Site Manager for the Beaver Dam Plantation research and educational initiative. Reporting directly to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and working closely with campus collaborators, including E.H. Little Library’s Archives, Special Collections, & Community team, the James B. Duke Professor of Africana Studies, and other colleagues, the Program and Site Manager will lead and implement a program for the management and preservation of the historic Beaver Dam Plantation house and grounds, and will help educate the public on its history, including the history of enslavement at the site and in the region.

Building upon the work of Davidson’s Commission on Race and Slavery, the Program and Site Manager will assist the community in building a comprehensive understanding of Beaver Dam plantation and its historical relationships with Davidson’s African American communities. Working with staff, faculty, and community advisory partners, they will implement strategies for interpretive context and delivery of this history through the coordination of outreach programs and public events and the creation of educational exhibits; they will also collaborate with campus and community partners on the preservation and interpretation of other historic Davidson buildings and spaces, making particular connections to Beaver Dam. The person in this position will manage the site to ensure efficient operations, historically accurate interpretation, appropriate preservation, and community understanding of the history and legacies of slavery at Davidson through the lens of Beaver Dam Plantation.

We seek a thoughtful colleague who joins us in embracing a special set of responsibilities as we articulate the college’s relationship to the past, confront our present moment, and chart a hopeful future. Read more about Davidson College’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion here: https://www.davidson.edu/diversity-equity-inclusion 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with staff, faculty, and community advisory partners to develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive program with short- and long-term goals for the management, care, and preservation of the Beaver Dam house, grounds, and artifacts;
• Serve on the Historic Site Advisory Committee [committee name pending] and partner with members of the committee on the preservation and interpretation of other historic Davidson buildings and spaces; 
• Manage the day to day operations of the Beaver Dam Plantation site; 
• Supervise the creation and preparation of historically accurate physical and digital exhibits and other interpretive materials in collaboration with colleagues in the Archives & Special Collections and the James B. Duke Professor of Africana Studies; 
• Plan and coordinate interpretative educational programs and community engagement events having to do with Beaver Dam and the history and legacies of slavery at Davidson, in collaboration with faculty, students, and staff; 
• Meet and build relationships with descendants of enslaved persons and other community members;
• Deliver engaging tours of Beaver Dam to campus and community groups; 
• Partner with the Director of Facilities and Engineering and Physical Plant staff to ensure the maintenance and preservation of the Beaver Dam buildings and grounds;
• Recommend operations, maintenance, and development items for the budget and write grants for the preservation and interpretation of Beaver Dam, in collaboration with college development partners; and
• Monitor national trends, current developments, and best practices in historic site interpretation and management and develop professionally through service in professional associations, presentations at conferences, and collaborations with other educational and historical institutions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Public History, Historic Preservation, Museum Studies, Library and Information Science, or a related field; 
• At least 3-5 years of experience in historic site management;
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills; 
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with partners and model an attitude of flexibility; 
• Commitment to working with diverse groups and underrepresented communities; and
• A valid driver’s license or the ability to acquire one. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Exceptional knowledge of African American and Southern history, particularly the 19th century;
• Experience discussing race, racism, and the legacy of slavery with a variety of audiences; 
• Knowledge of regulations for the National Register for Historic Places and federal and local preservation laws; and
• Familiarity with grant writing and management.

If that describes your experience and abilities, please apply online at https://employment.davidson.edu and attach a cover letter and resume.

At Davidson College, we believe the college grows stronger by recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty and staff committed to building an inclusive community. In order to achieve and sustain educational excellence, we seek to hire talented faculty and staff across the intersections of diverse races, ethnicities, religions and worldviews, sexual orientations, gender identities, ages, socio-economic backgrounds, political perspectives, abilities, veteran status, cultures, and national origins.