Job Listing: Vice President, Site Operations & Visitor Engagement

Name of Organization – Stratford Hall Historic Preserve 

Closes – Until Filled

Title – Vice President, Site Operations & Visitor Engagement 

Compensation – Stratford Hall offers a generous benefits package and pays competitive salary for the non-profit sector. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an inclusive and collaborative culture among our staff, which we believe is critical to advancing our mission. Prospects interested in helping to ensure Stratford Hall remains relevant for future generations and in making a difference at our historic site, in our field, and to our community are encouraged to apply. For more information about our organization please visit www.stratfordhall.org 

Apply – If you are ready to make history at Stratford Hall, we invite you to apply and become a vital part of its next chapter. Please send a resume and cover letter with salary requirements to the attention of Karen L Daly at presidentsoffice@stratfordhall.org with “Stratford Hall VP Historic Preserve” in the subject line. The position will remain open until filled. 

Summary – Stratford Hall Historic Preserve, a National Historic Landmark and one of America’s most significant historic sites, seeks a strategic and action-oriented Vice President, Site Operations & Visitor Engagement. This role is an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of a site offering visitors an inspiring, immersive experience of life in America’s formative years. 

Reporting directly to the President, the VP Site Operations & Visitor Engagement will be responsible for ensuring operational excellence across Stratford Hall’s 1,800-acre site, including its historic structures, grounds, trails, educational offerings, and hospitality facilities. This role requires a dynamic manager with deep expertise in driving visitation, historic preservation, cultural resource management, visitor engagement, and operational strategy, who will help us steward this extraordinary place into the future, growing audiences and ensuring our layered history continues to educate, inspire, and influence Americans for generations to come.

Responsibilities –

Strategic Leadership & Institutional Growth

• Lead and manage site operations, ensuring the highest standards of visitor experience.
• Develop and implement plans for attendance growth, in collaboration with the leadership team and aligned with Stratford Hall’s vision, mission, and strategic plan
• Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing team of historic site professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and customer service.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, such as educators and schools, lineage societies, governmental agencies, and the regional community to enhance Stratford Hall’s impact and reach.

Operations, Facilities, & Preservation

• Oversee the preservation and stewardship of Stratford Hall’s historic buildings, landscapes, and infrastructure, ensuring that all efforts adhere to the highest standards of historic preservation and land stewardship values.
• Oversee capital improvement projects, renovations, and maintenance initiatives, working closely with architects, engineers, and contractors.
• Ensure Stratford Hall’s facilities and operational systems function at peak efficiency, providing a safe, accessible, and welcoming environment for visitors, staff, and researchers.
• Oversee sitewide security and emergency preparedness, serving as a first responder in crisis situations and ensuring the safety of all people and assets.

Visitor Experience & Public Engagement

• Lead Stratford Hall’s visitor services, education, public programming, and interpretive initiatives, in close collaboration with the VP Collections & Research, to create an exceptional, engaging, and inclusive experience for diverse audiences,. 
• Oversee front-line operations, including admissions, festivals, private events, and hospitality (lodging & retail) services, ensuring world-class customer service.
• Strengthen community engagement by fostering partnerships with peer institutions, cultural organizations, educational institutions, and regional stakeholders.

Financial & Resource Management

• Develop and manage million-dollar departmental budgets, including significant capital projects and grant-funded efforts, ensuring responsible resource allocation. 
• Identify and implement innovative revenue-generating opportunities to grow visitation and support the financial health of the institution.
• Drive data-driven decision-making, utilizing metrics and analytics to optimize operations, financial outcomes, and the visitor experience.

Qualifications –

A deep commitment to public history, preservation, community engagement, and education.

• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in staff management, historic sites, museums, cultural institutions, or parks.
• Demonstrated expertise in operations, facilities management, community engagement, public programming, and budget oversight, with documented experience growing visitation and revenue.
• A strong ability to inspire and lead teams, fostering a collaborative and innovative workplace culture.
• Exceptional project management skills, with experience leading large-scale projects.
• A Bachelor's degree (Master’s preferred) in business administration, historic preservation, museum studies, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and relationship-building skills

About – Stratford Hall is a National Historic Landmark located in Westmoreland County, VA nestled along the Potomac River. A publicly accessible museum and historic site for over ninety years and home to the only two brothers to have signed the Declaration of Independence, Stratford Hall will leverage the upcoming 250th Anniversary of our nation to reintroduce our broad and diverse stories to our communities and stakeholders. A model of historic preservation and land conservation, Stratford Hall contributes actively to the Northern Neck community and encourages applications from strategic thinkers committed to joining this collaborative and dynamic leadership team as we implement transformative strategic and campus master plans for the 1,800-acre historic preserve.