I am posting this announcement for a colleague.  If you have questions, refer them to the Burwell School Historic Site, (919) 732-7451.

Position Available:  Executive Director, Burwell School Historic Site, Hillsborough, NC

Opening Date:  April 8, 2005

Closing Date:  April 25, 2005

 

The Burwell School Historic Site is one of many important historic sites in Hillsborough, NC.  The Site offers a year-round calendar of educational, interpretive, community outreach, and cultural arts programming, sometimes in coordination with other organizations promoting the history and heritage of the town. These activities include: daily site tours, exhibits, lectures, living history events, concerts, community gatherings, and literary programs.  The Burwell School is also available for private party rentals.    

The Burwell School’s primary period of interpretation is from 1835-1857 when it was home to the family of Robert and Anna Burwell, the enslaved people in the Burwell household, and the students at the female academy, one of the earliest in NC, operated by Burwells.   An important component in the Burwell School’s interpretation of slavery is Elizabeth Hobbs Keckly, who was enslaved in the Burwell household as a teenager (from 1835-1842) and went on to become a successful businesswoman, author, activist, educator, and confidante of Mary Todd Lincoln.  The two-acre Burwell School property contains three early 19^th century buildings and the Carrie Waitt Spurgeon Garden.  The Burwell School is listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places and is home to a state highway marker commemorating the life and work of Elizabeth Hobbes Keckly.  It has been owned and operated by the private, non-profit Historic Hillsborough Commission since 1965.   The Commission is formed of volunteer community members, appointed by the Governor, to whom the Executive Director reports.

 

Job Summary

         The position of Executive Director is a challenging and rewarding job that provides the incumbent with a broad range of experiences and opportunities for professional growth.  The Executive Directors develops and implements a wide variety of interpretive, educational, community outreach, and cultural arts programs.  The ED also promotes all programming and earned income activities by updating a website, editing a newsletter (electronic and print), writing press releases, designing flyers and postcards, and speaking to educators, community groups, and the media. The ED is charged with identifying potential sources of funds, authoring operational grant proposals, and directing two annual operational fundraising drives.  The ED also hires, trains, and supervises a part time staff of four.  The ED works with the Historic Hillsborough Commission to develop an annual budget, host an annual fundraising auction, and preserve the historic buildings and landscape of the Burwell School.  (Beginning in the summer of 2005, the Historic Hillsborough Commission expects to begin a major restoration project on the Burwell Residence, ca. 1821,46)  The  ED also provide tours of the Burwell School at least one day each week, oversees all site rentals for private events, and provide administrative support to the Historic Hillsborough Commission.  Some evening and weekend work required.  The position is PT/FT, flexible hours, with a salary in the mid to upper $20’s.

Qualifications

Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) and proficiency in computer software programs

(MS Word, Excel, Publisher, and Outlook) and general Internet research skills are required.  Proficiency in website maintenance and Quick Books Pro a plus.  Degree or coursework in public history, historic preservation, or museum studies and/or supervisory or management experience is highly-desired.  Must be comfortable working with school groups (background check required).

To apply for this position, please send a resume to:

 

The Historic Hillsborough Commission

PO Box 922

Hillsborough, NC 27278

Or email: [log in to unmask]  (If applying by email, please reference job title in the subject line.)