Deputy Director of Historic Preservation - City of Boston, MA : Job Details

Overview

The City of Boston is seeking an individual who is passionate about the role preservation plays both in shaping the character of great cities and in fostering a deeper understanding of a community's history.

THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION

The City of Boston's Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) was created in 2022 to protect and promote the cultural history of the city. Located within the Environment, Energy, and Open Space Cabinet, Historic Preservation houses the Boston Landmarks Commission, the City Archaeology Program, and the Commemoration Commission. Together, our teams raise awareness about the environmental, social, and economic benefits of Boston's historic resources and the stories that can be told through cultural resources.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Reporting to the Director of the Office of Historic Preservation, the Deputy Director helps lead the office and oversees the staff of the Boston Landmarks Commission and the Commemoration Commission & Director of Design Review. Within the office and across these commissions, the Deputy Director advances a set of City priorities that aim to make Boston a welcoming home for everybody, prioritizing equity, transparency, and engagement through the work.

Boston Landmarks Commission

The Landmarks Commission staff supports the Boston Landmarks Commission as well as the ten local historic district commissions. The staff and the Commissioners focus on identifying and encouraging the protection of the historic structures, districts, landscapes, places, settings, and objects that give the city its cherished character and help us understand the lives of the people who came before us, and the events that have shaped the city.

The staff provides the Commissioners and the public with information and assistance concerning the regulatory process, historic preservation planning and protection, and technical assistance for Boston's historic buildings, places, and neighborhoods.

There are more than 8,000 properties either designated as individual Boston landmarks or located within the local historic districts. With the support of staff, the Commissions identify and guide proposed changes to these resources. The Deputy Director leads a staff of eight to do this critical work. In this role and as part of this job's responsibilities, the Deputy Director may also serve as the Executive Director of the Boston Landmarks Commission.

The Boston Commemoration Commission

The Commemoration Commission will lead the city's efforts to mark upcoming historical anniversaries, including the United States' 250th in 2026, the 400th anniversary of the founding of the City of Boston in 2030, and other significant historical anniversaries for all our local communities. Through this work, the Commission will tell the full range of our history, including the struggles and accomplishments of Boston's communities, who are too often left out of the official narrative.

The Office of Historic Preservation has a Commemoration Commission manager who staffs the volunteer Commission. The Deputy Director will support this staff and the Commissioners, helping to lead this portfolio of time-sensitive and high-profile work.

Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership

* Develop and coordinate with the Commission and the city administration strategies to integrate the city's broad goals and imperatives for historic preservation with goals for housing, resilience, sustainability, and social equity.

* Establish and maintain a standard of integrity, high energy, clear vision, sound decision-making, and responsiveness.

* Demonstrate the ability to organize priorities and develop strategies to evaluate and reconcile competing priorities.

* Contribute to the development and implementation of policies, programs, processes, and workplan items for preservation planning that supports historic preservation, and incorporates historic preservation policy into planning initiatives citywide.

* Foster an organizational environment that supports the selection and development of a staff that is motivated and inspired to perform at the highest level.

Operational Management

* Oversees the team that supports the Boston Landmarks Commission and the local district commissions. The team includes the History and Survey team, consisting of an Assistant Survey Director, an Architectural Historian, an Assistant Architectural Historian, and the Director of Design Review, who has a staff of four with plans to expand. This role will also oversee the manager of the Boston Commemoration Commission.

* Participate in the hiring and supervision of direct report staff.

* Develop an annual work plan for direct reports.

* Maintain a culture of collaboration, appreciation, and mutual respect across the organization.

* Manage the process for adding new individual landmarks or landmark districts, including the prioritization of study reports and designations.

* Prepare Boston Landmarks Commission meeting agendas in coordination with the Director, staff, and the BLC chair.

* Collaborate with the Director of OHP, Director of Finance, and others as appropriate in the procurement, review, and closeout of external contracts.

* Supervise registration of Boston's designated resources by the Massachusetts Historical Commission.

* Represent the Director of OHP, when necessary, at meetings or events.

Policy Development

* Develop a comprehensive strategic plan for a multi-year citywide historic and cultural resources survey.

* In relation to the landmarking process, contribute to the examination of relevant statutes, regulations, by-laws, and district guidelines to ensure compliance and to propose and present amendments that may better align the tools that support historic preservation with the city's strategic priority of comprehensive planning reform.

* Contribute to the formulation of recommendations for citywide planning initiatives that incorporate historic preservation policy into the policies and procedures of other city agencies and departments.

Communication - Internally and Externally

* Serve as the public face of the Boston Landmarks Commission, representing the city in national, state, and local preservation advocacy efforts.

* Encourage staff to represent the city by writing and presenting at professional conferences about historic preservation in Boston.

* Demonstrate exceptional verbal and written communication skills and the ability to connect with diverse audiences.

* Collaborate and communicate regularly with the Director of OHP, Landmarks Commission, and District Commissioners and contribute to the development and implementation of policies and processes to ensure that Commissioners are trained, informed, consulted, and able to fulfill their duties.

* In relation to the landmarking process, collaborate/coordinate with internal departments; Inspectional Services Department (ISD), Boston Planning Department, Legal, Community Preservation Act (CPA), Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), Environment, and other internal departments.

* Foster relationships with external organizations, including Massachusetts Historical Commission, National Parks Service, PreservationMass, Boston Preservation Alliance, and neighborhood historical societies.

* Be accessible to members of the public and respond to constituent inquiries with empathy, active listening, and emotional intelligence.

* Performs related work as required.

Minimum Entrance Qualifications

* Minimum of five (5) years experience in historic preservation, two (2) to three (3) years of which should be in a substantially similar role is preferred.

* Bachelor's degree in Architectural History, Historic Preservation, Architecture, or Cultural Resource Management preferred.

* Excellent oral and written communication and organizational skills.

* Proficiency with Microsoft applications and Google Suite.

* Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on detail as required by the job.

* Prior success in leading or supporting a landmarks commission or similar preservation agency in alignment with best governance practices.

* Experience in public advocacy, with skills in navigating legislative, administrative, and other public and private decision-making processes.

* Experience in managing public regulatory processes, with skills in ensuring transparency and rigor of processes.

* Experience in supervising, coaching, hiring, and evaluating staff, and in managing staff and skilled in conflict resolution.

* Experience conducting historical research and supervising the production of or authoring architectural and historical resources reports, including project descriptions, statements of significance, character-defining features, and recommendations for preservation planning.

* Demonstrate strong verbal and writing skills, including the ability to clearly and effectively communicate policy, data, procedures, and vision with diverse audiences.

* Demonstrate strong organizational skills, including management or oversight of complex databases.

* Understand legislative, administrative, and other public and private decision-making processes and regulations.

* Possess knowledge of and deep curiosity about a broad range of issues related to historic preservation, including integration of preservation goals with other policy goals such as diversity, affordability, climate resilience, and sustainability.

BOSTON RESIDENCY REQUIRED

Terms:

Union/Salary Plan/Grade: Non-Union/MO-14

Hours Per Week: 35