Job Listing: Director of Historic Interpretation (The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)

Director of Historical Interpretation

About the Position

The Director of Historical Interpretation leads the Managers of Interpreters who specialize in third-person interpretive techniques, overseeing tours, interactive programs, and presentations across the Historic Area in support of CWF’s educational mission and interpretive plan. They are accountable for ownership of short to mid-term strategies (1-3 years) for interpretive strategy and operational direction of the department. The Director oversees training, performance management, financial management, and program production for the organization’s largest division; managing teams led by Managers and Supervisors. As a member of the Historic Area Leadership Team, the Director collaborates with Program Design, Historical Research, and other departments to produce performances that are central to the Foundation’s mission and vision.

***Must reside in or be ready to relocate to Virginia***

Main Duties:

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Directs leaders and staff delivering third-person interpretation at exhibition sites and through school, youth, family, and adult programs. Leads the largest interpretive unit at Colonial Williamsburg, supporting the CWF mission and interpretive plan, and regularly  communicates with managers, supervisors, and interpreters.
• Recruits, hires, and trains third-person interpretive staff for site-specific and program-specific needs. Cultivates a work culture that emphasizes job mastery, communication, teamwork, and guest focus, ensuring onboarding and training that set all staff up for success.
• Provides coaching and guidance to direct reports, facilitating feedback and counseling as needed in collaboration with appropriate CWF colleagues. Promotes collaboration and professionalism among team members. Supports managers in coaching and developing interpretive supervisors, establishing clear performance goals for managerial staff.
• Develops program schedules to meet guest demands and align with the Foundation Interpretive Plan, site interpretive plans, and program design briefs. Understands staffing and delivery requirements across up to eleven exhibition sites, activity stations, walking tours, and hands-on activities. Serves as Daily Program Manager (DPM) when necessary, overseeing and coordinating the work of supervisors and managers.
• Coordinates with managers and supervisors to develop department-specific training sequences aligned with site interpretive plans and program design briefs, ensuring all plans are reviewed and approved by the AVP before communication.
• Works with the AVP and HR to develop appropriate career progression paths for interpretive programs.
• Collaborates with Program Design and Historical Research teams on ideation, creation, development, production, and assessment of programs. Ensures proper processes and approvals for prop requests, use of Historic Area venues, and maintenance needs.
• Maintains records for all managers, supervisors, and interpreters in the department and develops an appropriate archive retention schedule.
• Provides sound fiscal management, demonstrating awareness of budgetary opportunities and constraints.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• Six or more years of management experience, including leading teams with varied skill levels and expertise within the professional discipline.
• Eight or more years of total experience directly related to the position, such as in historical interpretation or other relevant professional work.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10 years of progressive experience supervising interpretive staff and managing historic sites and/or resources.
• Advanced degree in a relevant field.
• Advanced proficiency in online scheduling and ticketing systems, SharePoint, and MS Power Automate.

Key Skills / Competencies:

• Subject Matter Expert: Extensive knowledge of American colonial history and society, with a focus on 18th-century Virginia and Williamsburg. Able to connect early American history to contemporary society and convey these connections to diverse audiences.
• Leadership: Proven ability to establish and communicate goals that support the organization’s mission, develop strategies to achieve them, and gain the confidence and support of a diverse workforce.
• Team Management: Demonstrated ability to mentor, model, and lead a cohesive, diverse team toward shared goals and mission.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal, written, and public speaking skills. Communicates confidently, persuasively, and diplomatically, with strong negotiation skills for building consensus.
• Project Management: Mastery of project management skills, including change facilitation, collaboration, strategic and critical thinking, planning, organization, and resource management, with the ability to serve multiple stakeholders.
• Museum Operations: Knowledge of museum operations, including interpretation, program management, and effective resource utilization.
• Organizational and Analytical Skills: Ability to identify problems and solutions; develop, , plan, organize, implement, and complete projects effectively.
• Collaboration: Skilled at soliciting feedback, facilitating teamwork, practicing open two-way communication, and working effectively with staff at all levels across the division and Foundation.

Budgetary Responsibility:  

• 3.5-4 million

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Direct supervision of 3 Managers of Historic Interpretation (VACANT hiring for actively as of November 2025)
• Supports: 9 supervisors, c. 130 interpreters (including the American Indian Initiative)

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Standing and walking frequently (up to 5 hours/shift)
• Frequently reaching with hands/arms (up to 5 hours/shift)
• Sit occasionally (up to 2 hours/shift)
• Talking and hearing constantly (up to 8 hours/shift)
• Holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with the hand(s) constantly (up to 8hours/shift)
• Touching, picking, pinching, or otherwise working primarily with fingers constantly (up to 8hours/shift)
• Occasionally lifting up to 25 lbs (up to 2 hours/shift)
• Occasionally work in wet, humid conditions (up to 2 hours/shift)

Typical Work Schedule:  Monday-Friday 8:30AM – 5PM (standard schedule and onsite other times as needed for business operations)

For More information and to apply, visit: Careers - Colonial Williamsburg