Job Openings

Careers at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy are rewarding in more ways than one. While working at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, including at Fallingwater, you’ll experience an unusually deep sense of accomplishment, pride and camaraderie with other like-minded professionals.

Senior Director of Operations and Sustainability for Fallingwater

Fallingwater (Mill Run, PA)

Fallingwater, a property entrusted to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, designated as a National Historic Landmark and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is seeking a full time Senior Director of Operations and Sustainability.

The Senior Director of Operations and Sustainability works closely with the Vice President and Director of Fallingwater to manage the site’s day-to-day operations and improve efficiency and performance across programs. Ensuring exceptional customer service for a dynamic museum and site on the UNESCO World Heritage List, this position oversees the visitor services, security, maintenance, volunteer, and landscape departments to meet the needs of guests from around the world with diverse backgrounds and abilities. In addition, the Senior Director oversees internal operations, policies, and services to create a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive working environment for employees. Along with Fallingwater, the site consists of an extensive managed landscape and over 20 ancillary buildings, and the Senior Director provides strategic oversight for sitewide cyclical and corrective maintenance. Inherent to all operations is a commitment to sustainability, both environmental and fiscal, and the Senior Director works to enhance and implement sustainability initiatives related to public-facing services, facilities management, maintenance practices, and capital improvements.

A leadership role on Fallingwater’s management team, the Senior Director for Operations and Sustainability oversees a broad range of responsibilities in managing and maintaining sitewide facilities and services. As such, the Conservancy encourages applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds. Applicable past experience for this position may include management at historic sites, public gardens, land trusts, museum facilities, parks, or other related cultural institutions.

Job Duties

  • Maintains operational oversight to ensure that Fallingwater procedures are upheld in areas of operation related to maintenance, visitor services, security, landscape, volunteers and sustainability.
  • Responsible for facilities management oversight for the Fallingwater campus, which includes twenty buildings supporting the site’s educational programs as well as the Barn at Fallingwater, a multipurpose office, event, and meeting facility.
  • Supervises the Director of Maintenance and oversees the Maintenance department to ensure efficiency, exceptional quality, and sustainability in all maintenance activities related to the buildings and grounds. Works closely with the Senior Director of Preservation and Collections regarding any maintenance of historic buildings and the artifact storage building.
  • Oversees all construction or remodeling projects involving ancillary buildings at Fallingwater as well as any capital improvements. Manages the RFP process and coordinates project management from start to finish. Attends weekly meetings with the Director of Fallingwater, Director of Maintenance, and Senior Director of Preservation and Collections to ensure sitewide coordination for projects.
  • Supervises the Horticulturist and leads the management of Fallingwater’s landscape, including maintenance of the landscape, implementation of horticultural plans, and tree management on the Fallingwater property.
  • Supervises the Director of Visitor Services and oversees the Visitor Services department to ensure exceptional front-line operations and customer service for an international audience. Working closely with the Director of Visitor Services, approves ticketing and admissions policies and procedures and budgeting.
  • Supervises the Director of Safety and Security, oversees the Security Department, and is responsible for maintaining a security program designed to protect the buildings, fine and decorative art, grounds, as well as ensuring the safety of all visitors and museum personnel. Working with the Director of Security and Safety, approves safety and security procedures and policies, policy changes, and budget.
  • Oversees the Volunteer Coordinator and ensures Fallingwater maintains a robust volunteer program that engages volunteers with meaningful, fulfilling opportunities that help accomplish sitewide goals.
  • Leads the Fallingwater Sustainability Committee and works with employees across the organization to develop and achieve sustainability goals.
  • Participates in the Bear Run Nature Reserve (BRNR) management committee, a 5100-acre reserve, and assists with Land Conservation initiatives that impact the BRNR and Fallingwater.
  • Carries out management responsibilities in accordance with the Conservancy’s policies, programs, and procedures.  Responsibilities include development and administration of budgetary information; development and administration of contracts with the guidance of finance and legal; recommending and/or approving staff changes or actions; ensuring appropriate training and staff development; providing advice and guidance on the more complex aspects of the job; and resolving complaints or related divisional issues.
  • Represents Fallingwater at appropriate meetings and conferences.
  • Participates in formulating and administering policies and developing long range goals and objectives.
  • Reviews analyses of activities, costs, operations, and forecast data to determine division progress toward stated goals and objectives.
  • Maintains an effective system of communication throughout the division and organization.
  • Serves as member of various management committees.
  • Performs additional duties and responsibilities as required.

Physical Requirements

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • Requires stooping, kneeling, crawling, bending, turning, and reaching.
  • Physical stamina and the ability to stand for long periods – 6-7 hours per day.
  • Physical stamina for working outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.
  • Utilizing keyboarding and fine motor skills.
  • Gross manipulation such as seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with hand(s).
  • Utilizing gross motor skills to operate tools and equipment.
  • Ability to operate standard office equipment.
  • Pushing, pulling, lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds.
  • Bending, twisting, stooping, crouching, kneeling, and crawling.
  • Reaching overhead, at eye level, and below shoulder level.
  • Climbing up and down stairways and ladders.
  • Sitting/standing/walking for periods in excess of 2 hours.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

  • At least five years successful experience in museum management is required, with an emphasis in museum operations; or comparable management experience that may substitute.
  • Excellent communications skills with emphasis on writing and public speaking capabilities is required.
  • Must be able to work well independently, in teams and with all levels of staff and volunteers. Excellent interpersonal skills are required.
  • Must have proven management and leadership skills.
  • Must possess good planning and organizational skills and be able to manage multiple priorities and diverse activities.
  • Must be able to work well under pressure and meet deadlines.
  • Must be flexible with work hours and schedule. The job often requires the ability to work long hours and weekends.
  • Excellent computer skills are needed.
  • To be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Location

This position's primary location(s): Fallingwater (Mill Run, PA)

Position Duration

This is a full-time opportunity which includes a robust benefits package.

Additional Details

We offer a robust and competitive benefits package which includes paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance/AD&D, short-term disability, long-term disability, 403(a) and 403(b) retirement plans including generous employer match, EAP, and more!

Pay

$97,900 – $118,800 annually

Application Process

Please send a cover letter, resume, salary expectations, and referral source to wpcjobs@paconserve.org and list Senior Director of Operations and Sustainability, Fallingwater” in the subject line.

Application Deadline

Until filled

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The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer – Minority / Female / Disability / Veteran / Gender Identity / Sexual Orientation / Age.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is fully committed to diversity and inclusion. We seek contributors from all backgrounds to join our team. Read our equal opportunity employer statement.