POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Historic Preservation leads LHC's preservation practice - both LHC's grant-funded initiatives and ongoing preservation programs, new key projects, and is accountable for the technical rigor, ethical preservation practice, and community accountability of everything the organization produces under the Preservation Department. This leader sets preservation strategy, oversees historic preservation adopted strategic plan directives, preservation project planning, historic and cultural-landscape work, supervises a team of preservation professionals and consultants, and partners so that LHC’s preservation practice reinforce lived knowledge rather than displace it.

This is a senior preservation position at a national and growing organization. We are actively interested in candidates who have worked in the field, such as federal cultural-resources professionals who have been interrupted, and we will treat that experience as an asset.

You do not have to identify as Latino/a/x to see yourself at LHC. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds who bring the experience, humility, and commitment necessary to advance community-led preservation of Latinx places, histories, and cultural heritage.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supervise and manage Historic Preservation staff. Supervise and mentor project and ongoing preservation staff; set work plans, review standards, and development goals for each.

• Set and execute an integrated preservation strategy across documentation, cultural-landscape survey, evaluation, local, state and federal projects, education, and advocacy.

• Direct the technical quality, scope, schedule, and ethical practice of preservation deliverables produced by staff, fellows, consultants, and partners.

• Lead development of ethical planning, community-led strategies, defensible historic contexts, statements of significance, integrity analyses, and preservation and justice-oriented commemoration recommendations.

• Build durable relationships with Latinx communities, families and elders, community partners, national, federal, state and local partners and governments.

• Design participatory review points so community knowledge, oral testimony, and local priorities shape preservation conclusions and public products.

• Manage preservation budgets, consultant procurement inputs, deliverable schedules, and grant reporting content in partnership with the Director of Operations.

• Represent LHC in professional, agency, and public settings, and contribute to recruitment of qualified cultural-resources professionals.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A master's degree in historic preservation is required. Candidates with a master's degree in history, architectural history, historic architecture, architecture, or a closely related field, together with qualifications meeting the applicable Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards (36 CFR Part 61), will also be considered. Please identify in your application which degree and standard you meet.

• At least ten years of progressively responsible historic-preservation, cultural-resources, or cultural-landscape experience, including leadership of complex documentation or designation work. Managerial and supervisory experience is necessary — candidates without direct experience managing people and complex projects will not be considered.

• Demonstrated experience preparing, directing, or substantively reviewing National Register nominations, determinations of eligibility, historic contexts, cultural-landscape documentation, or comparable regulatory preservation products.

• Experience supervising staff and managing interdisciplinary consultant teams, work plans, departmental budgets, and deliverables.

• A record of community-based, participatory, or shared-authority practice in preservation, public history, or cultural-resources work.

• Sound judgment handling sensitive histories, community relationships, and emerging forms of documentation and evidence.

• Excellent writing, facilitation, and project-management skills.

• Authorization to work in the United States and the ability to travel as described below.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with Latinx communities, histories focused on public history, migration, Latinx, Chicano/a/x, or social-movement history and landscapes.

• Experience partnering with the National Park Service, State Historic Preservation Offices, Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, or community-based organizations.

• Experience with Section 106 review under the National Historic Preservation Act.

• Spanish-language ability preferred, but not mandatory.

• Experience with oral-history ethics, public interpretation, regranting, or philanthropic grant administration.

• Experience in federal cultural-resources roles or closely aligned public-sector preservation work.

• We recognize that strong candidates may not meet every preferred qualification. If you meet most of the required qualifications and believe your experience would help LHC thrive, we encourage you to apply.

COMPENSATION

The good-faith salary range for this position is $75,000–$85,000 annually. Final compensation will be set within this range based on relevant qualifications and experience, internal equity, and the approved organizational budget. LHC does not ask for or rely on salary history.

This is a salaried, exempt position. LHC will classify and administer the role in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local wage-and-hour requirements.

BENEFITS

LHC provides the following benefits through Justworks, our professional employer organization. Applicable plan documents, policies, and eligibility requirements govern these benefits.

• Health coverage: LHC pays 100% of employee medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums and contributes toward family medical, dental, and vision coverage. Coverage begins on the first day of the month following the employee's start date.

• Retirement: Access to a 401(k) retirement savings plan through Justworks, with employee payroll contributions and an employer contribution.

• Paid holidays: 12 paid holidays observed by LHC each year.

• Paid time off: Full-time employees receive up to 20 days of paid vacation annually, prorated during the first calendar year based on the employee's start date. Vacation accrual and use are governed by LHC policy and applicable state law.

• Additional leave: Paid sick time, paid bereavement leave, jury-duty and witness leave, voting leave, and access to applicable federal, state, and local leave programs.

• Remote-work support: LHC provides an equipment allocation and reimburses approved business expenses, including required travel. Employees are not expected to carry organizational travel or project expenses.

• Professional development: An annual professional-development allocation for training, conferences, and credentials relevant to the role, as well as attendance at LHC's national Congreso gathering.

FUNDING AND CONTINUITY

This position is supported by grant funding. Continued employment is contingent upon the availability and continuation of funding and does not constitute a promise of employment for a specific period. LHC is committed to communicating candidly with candidates and employees about the position's funding and long-term sustainability.

LOCATION AND TRAVEL

LHC is a fully remote organization. This position may be performed within the continental United States, subject to LHC's ability to employ personnel in the selected candidate's state of residence. Expect regular for partner and agency meetings, site visits, and preservation fieldwork, as well as LHC's Congreso gathering. Travel may include multi-day site visits and occasional evening or weekend community programs.

HOW TO APPLY

The position is open until filled, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. To apply, email a cover letter and résumé to info@latinoheritage.us with the subject line “Director of Historic Preservation.” Please include one writing sample demonstrating your own analysis or research; a report excerpt, nomination section, article, or chapter is appropriate. Finalists will be asked to provide three professional references. LHC will contact references only with the candidate's advance notice. LHC will acknowledge every application received and does not request salary history at any stage of the hiring process.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND ACCOMMODATIONS

LHC is an equal opportunity employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran or military status, marital or family status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

You do not have to identify as Latino/a/x to see yourself at LHC. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds who bring the experience, humility, and commitment necessary to advance community-led preservation of Latinx places, histories, and cultural heritage.

LHC provides reasonable accommodations during the application process and employment in accordance with applicable law. To request an accommodation during the application process, please let us know. Requests will be handled confidentially to the extent possible and will not affect consideration for employment.

Employment with LHC is at will to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Nothing in this posting creates a contract or guarantee of employment for a specific period.