History Museums Supervisor

The City of Virginia Beach Cultural Affairs Department seeks a detail-oriented museums professional with demonstrated commitment to and expertise in historic sites, to lead its History Museums Division.

This position is responsible for the management, preservation and historical interpretation of four of the region’s most significant historic sites and museums: Francis Land House, Lynnhaven House and Colonial Education Center, Thoroughgood House and Education Center and the Princess Anne County Training School/Union Kempsville High School Museum at the Renaissance Museum. These sites are collectively known as the Virginia Beach History Museums (VBHM).

With the 2023 Virginia Beach Historic Houses Interpretive Plan as a guide, the selected candidate will lead a small team of museums professionals, working together to engage stakeholders, historians, educators, and the general public to ensure the museums and grounds are treasured and visited by people of all ages for generations to come.  

This position is a member of the Cultural Affairs Department leadership team, and is supervised by the department deputy director. The selected candidate will also work closely with the department director, various city departments, citizen stakeholders, and leaders of key partner organizations.

Essential Functions of the Job:

·        Create a welcoming, friendly and professional environment, and serve as an advocate for and representative of VBHM and the Cultural Affairs Department in the community while promoting the department’s mission, programs and services.

·        Consistently engage with the 2023 Virginia Beach Historic Houses Interpretive Plan to evaluate timeline for priorities, oversee implementation of recommendations, and identify any potential modifications to the plan.

·        Prepare, administer and monitor division’s operating and capital budgets, inclusive of revenue and expense forecasting. Prepare operating and analytical financial reports, performance measures and recommendations to establish long- and short-range goals and objectives. Maintain detailed financial records.

·        Recommend, hire, train, direct, supervise, monitor and evaluate staff; oversee and lead work of staff in operations, education and collections, and work closely and collaboratively with all members of program and events team.

·        With a goal of increasing revenue and use of the sites, work with members of programming and events team to collectively develop annual plan for revenue generating events on the sites, which is then presented to department director for final approval.

·        Review and evaluate all associated school and public on-site and off-site programs and activities, as well as all tour scripts.

·        Work in conjunction with the Public Works Department to develop and manage all capital projects associated with seven City-owned historic properties, including the three VBHM houses, as well as Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum at deWitt Cottage, Ferry Plantation, Virginia Beach Surf and Rescue Museums and Whitehurst-Buffington House.

·        Research, document and interpret the department’s historic houses and museums, grounds, and associated building and their collections and furnishings.

·        Represent the museums, the department and the city to the media and external constituencies, as well as through daily work with other city departments.

·        Effectively establish relationships with and ongoing connection to community organizations, such as the Friends of the Virginia Beach Historic Houses, Council of Garden Clubs, Historic Preservation Commission, Virginia Beach Beautification Commission, Virginia Beach Historic Houses Foundation, Princess Anne County Training School-Union Kempsville High School Alumni and Friends Association, area garden clubs, civic leagues and historic organizations to strengthen and enhance the history museums and mission through collaboration and partnerships.

·        Exhibit an extraordinary level of customer service by understanding the mission, programs and operations of both the museums and the department, and display willingness to assist clients, colleagues and stakeholders.