HISTORIC PRESERVATION SPECIALIST

Historic Preservation Program Manager

Accountable for initiating, leading, and management of all aspects of the development, operation, and implementation of historic preservation related programs. Coordinates resources through partnerships; leverages private, state, and federal funding; and provides technical assistance to historic preservation programs and projects, heritage tourism projects, and HUD projects requiring Section 106 review. Provides expert professional assistance to County departments, regional agencies, education institutions and local units of government in areas of responsibility; performs related work as assigned.

Essential Duties:

• Works with the Historic District Commission, County departments, boards, and commissions, independent agencies and nonprofit organizations, municipalities, universities, business, industry, environmental and civic groups, the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, and all other interested parties to encourage historic preservation and heritage tourism in Washtenaw County.
• Receives and coordinates Certificate of Appropriateness applications and related correspondence.
• Communicates with commissioners, administers local historic districts, schedules meetings, makes agendas and packets, takes meeting minutes, and works with any members of the public who wish to present to the commission.
• Develops and implements programs and projects that further historic preservation and heritage tourism in Washtenaw County.
• Conducts surveys of historic properties as needed in the County.
• Program and project management tasks that involve identifying and management of project teams, including community leaders and project managers, the development of detailed work scopes and action strategies, metrics, communication of status and results and effectively managing budgets, contracts, and communications with applicable projects and programs.
• Research, write, and submits grants to support the development, design, and implementation of historic preservation projects identified by the Department and Washtenaw County. Manages obtained grants and contracts.
• Clearly communicates programs and projects to multiple audiences, through concise reports, public presentations, digital media such as websites, and traditional press releases.
• Prepares Section 106 Applications for HUD-funded projects as needed in coordination with Office of Community and Economic Development HUD project managers; and provides review of effect as allowed by a Programmatic Agreement between the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office and Washtenaw County.
• Prepares or directs the maintenance of records, contracts and the preparation of reports related to program and project activities. Prepares correspondence and other written materials.
• Performs semi-regular visits to Washtenaw County historic districts to document changes over time and maintain relationships with property owners.
• Assists in hiring and managing interns to further project and program goals.
• May drive a County vehicle in the performance of the work.
• Performs other work duties as assigned.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of historic preservation related activities and compliance with federally defined qualifications under 36 CFR part 61.
• Understanding of basic GIS including Storymaps or proven ability to learn.
• Goal setting, program development, project scopes, identification of stakeholders, metric development, project management, reporting and project oversight.
• Principles and practices of historic preservation and heritage tourism, tools and applicable laws and regulations.
• Group facilitation techniques including consensus development and conflict resolution.
• Research, data analysis and report preparation techniques.
• Basic principles of public administration, including the functions of elected and policy-making Boards and Commissions.
• Demonstrated ability to show results through collaborative efforts with multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to perform a variety of professional-level program and project management work without close supervision and meet critical deadlines.
• Entering and retrieving information from a computer with sufficient speed and accuracy to perform the required work.

LICENCES/CERTIFICATIONS:

Possession of a valid driver's license.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Duties require sufficient mobility to work in a normal office setting and conduct basic outdoor survey in urban and rural environments; and use standard office equipment, including a computer, camera, vision to read printed materials and a computer screen, hearing and speech sufficient to communicate in person or over the telephone.

These requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodation.

EDUCATION:

Possession of a master's degree in historic preservation, history, archaeology, anthropology, or closely related field of study. Candidate may qualify with a possession of a bachelor's degree in architectural history, art history, historic preservation, or closely related field AND host substantial contribution through research and publication to the body of scholarly knowledge in the field of American architectural history.

EXPERIENCE:

At minimum two (2) years of full-time experience in research, writing, or teaching in American architectural history or restoration architecture with an academic institution, historical organization or agency, museum, or other professional institution.

This description intends to identify the major duties and requirements of the job and should not be interpreted as all inclusive. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related duties other than those outlined above and may be required to specific job-related knowledge for successful job performance.