Director of Education & Visitor Services

Tudor Place Historic House & Garden seeks a creative and energetic individual with a passion for serving the public in mission-driven work to serve as Director of Education & Visitor Services. This leadership role advances the Tudor Place mission by coordinating all offerings to the public and supervising the team that delivers a variety of memory-making visitor experiences. This position is pivotal to interpreting the complex history of the site and works collaboratively with all departments to provide content-rich tours, programs and resources. The ideal candidate will be a consensus-builder with a demonstrated ability to think strategically about programming and audience development, a passion for customer service and a keen appreciation of intersectionality to interpret and share history. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Education

• Research tour and program content on all aspects of the historic house, collection and archive, garden and the people who lived, worked and were enslaved at Tudor Place; develop tours and programs that interpret difficult and complex topics with sensitivity and understanding, working closely with Curator and Collections Department
• Deliver engaging tours and programs; engage diverse audiences throughout the year with varied types of offerings
• Develop and implement educational school programs that focus on local curriculum standards
• Work with other staff members to produce informative and high-quality brochures, signage and interpretive materials
• Develop methods for regular evaluation of programming

Visitor Services

• Ensure the visitor experience is of outstanding quality by providing excellent customer service and exceptional interpretation Manage all aspects of Visitor Center/Museum Shop operations, including staffing, purchasing and visual merchandising Schedule volunteers and staff to meet visitor needs Recruit, train, manage and evaluate staff and volunteer docents to ensure the delivery of dynamic and informative tours Provide ongoing training and resources to staff and volunteers Ensure all public areas are clean, safe and ready to welcome visitors, program participants or clients Supervise all private events and group tour contracting, including review of liability issues, pricing structure and guidelines Develop methods for acquiring, monitoring and tracking visitor feedback Coordinate closely with communications staff to promote the site, the Museum Shop and private events

Departmental Administration

• Supervise activities and projects of departmental staff, including time reporting, performance evaluation, and coordination of professional development
• Track department spending and create annual budget
• Prepare quarterly progress reports for Trustee and Committee meetings
• Serve as a member of the leadership team, participating in meetings and forums, as requested by the Executive Director Serve on the design review team to promote Style Guide adherence
• Serve as one of the administrators for the Altru database

EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

• Advanced degree in museum education, education, museum studies, public history, American history, American studies or related field
• Five or more years of museum, education or visitor services experience with increasing levels of responsibility at a museum or historic site
• Supervisory experience required

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Desire to work in a historic setting and respect for the preservation of a historic estate and its collections
• Enthusiasm for working collaboratively with a diverse group of colleagues and volunteers, including members of the Board of Trustees
• Knowledge of learning styles, museum education theory and practice and the ability to apply them creatively to programming and interpretation
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and with the public; public speaking experience desired
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs

• Knowledge of American history, architecture, decorative arts, horticulture or Washington, DC history desired Understanding of retail in a museum setting Excellent organizational and time management skills Knowledge of Blackbaud software, specifically Altru, a plus The physical requirements of this position are classified as medium work (exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects) This position requires climbing (stairs, ladders), stooping, kneeling, reaching, standing or walking for extended periods, lifting, grasping, visual acuity, keen spatial awareness and the ability to move within constricted spaces Ability to work in a range of environmental conditions