Job Description

Executive Director for Preservation and Collections
Full-Time, Exempt

The Institution

Since the 1850s, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association (MVLA) has been a leader of historic preservation in the United States, maintaining the home and estate of George Washington to the highest standards and establishing the model for whole place preservation, while pioneering historic research, interpretation, and collections stewardship. Without their visionary efforts, the home of George Washington would not have been saved from ruin. Because of their initiative and ongoing leadership, the MVLA has welcomed nearly 90 million visitors since they acquired the property. Their example has influenced the development of historic preservation throughout the United States.Mount Vernon welcomes approximately 1 million annual visitors, which includes tens of thousands of school children, visitors from every state and from around the world.  Governed by an all-women Board of Vice Regents, the MVLA employs more than 600 full and part-time staff and supports approximately 230 volunteers with an annual operating budget of approximately $50 million. The mission of the MVLA is to preserve, restore, and manage the estate of George Washington to the highest standards and to educate visitors and people throughout the world about the life and legacies of George Washington, so that his example of character and leadership will continue to inform and inspire future generations. The MVLA is a private non-profit organization, and does not accept government funds. Preservation and Collections at Mount Vernon
With sixteen original eighteenth-century buildings including the iconic mansion house, plus another sixteen reconstructed or replica structures, and more than four hundred acres of original landscape, the historic property is one of the best preserved, complete, and most extensively documented of any eighteenth-century site in the world. In addition to the historic structures and grounds, Mount Vernon has an irreplaceable and world-renowned collection of fine and decorative art owned by or related to George and Martha Washington and their family, as well as period pieces similar to documented Mount Vernon objects.

Museum galleries, exhibition spaces throughout the historic property, conservation labs, and a fully staffed research library allow the preservation and collections teams to remain continually at the forefront of research and interpretation in the field.  As a core part of the mission of the MVLA, the Preservation and Collections department plays an integral role in fostering a comprehensive approach to historic preservation and interpretation at Mount Vernon, assuring that buildings and collections are professionally managed and integrated into the whole place effort to restore and interpret an eighteenth-century world for a contemporary visitor. The Preservation and Collections Department at Mount Vernon has become a model in the field for the integration of research and stewardship.

The Position
This is a compelling opportunity for a proven, visionary leader to guide the preservation mission at America’s most iconic historic site. Reporting to the President & CEO, the  Executive Director for Preservation and Collections oversees the preservation and research of Mount Vernon’s historic buildings and leads the research, acquisition, and interpretation of the MVLA’s fine and decorative arts collections. The Executive Director ensures the estate’s historical accuracy, prioritizing projects to safeguard Mount Vernon’s cultural resources for future generations while keeping them vibrant and engaging for all audiences.

Serving as a crucial member of the President & CEO’s executive team, the Executive Director collaborates with the Board’s Preservation and Collections committees to shape strategic direction and manage the operations of this storied site. Additionally, the Executive Director oversees a large, diverse team of specialists in architectural history and preservation, curatorial work, collections management, conservation, and public history. Through dynamic leadership, mentorship, and inspiration, the Executive Director unites this essential team around the MVLA’s mission, preserving George Washington’s legacy for decades to come.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Preservation Leadership: Oversee the preservation of Mount Vernon’s historic buildings ensuring the highest standards of authenticity, conservation, and restoration.
• Collections Stewardship: Direct the acquisition, research, and interpretation of the fine and decorative arts collections, establishing priorities that keep Mount Vernon’s collections dynamic, and relevant.
• Research Excellence: Initiate, mentor, and review rigorous historical research to maintain an accurate representation of George and Martha Washington’s material world.
• Exhibition Innovation: Guide the development of both permanent and temporary exhibitions—on and off the estate—that exemplify cutting-edge scholarship and align with the MVLA mission.
• Donor Cultivation & Fundraising: Partner with the President, Board, and staff to build strong relationships with donors, secure funding for preservation initiatives, acquire new collections, and support special projects.
• Collaborative Leadership: Serve on the executive team, working seamlessly with peers to develop and execute MVLA’s strategic vision while fostering a culture of respect, civility, and open communication.
• Budget & Project Oversight: Develop and manage departmental budgets, forecast long-term funding needs, and ensure responsible stewardship of endowments and restricted funds.
• Viewshed Preservation & Advocacy: Collaborate with internal committees, partner organizations, and community stakeholders to protect Mount Vernon’s historic viewshed for future generations.
• External Engagement: Represent Mount Vernon’s preservation mission to broad audiences through lectures, publications, fundraising events, and the media, building impactful relationships with leaders in the field.

Qualifications:

• The successful applicant should demonstrate leadership experience in one or more of the following disciplines: historic preservation, American decorative and fine arts, architectural history, or a related field with an MA or higher in an appropriate discipline.
• The candidate will have ten years of professional experience in the historic preservation or museum field, with strong supervisory or managerial experience and demonstrated research skills.
• The successful candidate must have a demonstrated ability to cultivate donor relationships, and steward supporters as well as manage complex budgets and projects.
• The ideal leader in this role will show a proven ability to recruit, retain, inspire, and mentor staff.
• The candidate must show a willingness to work collaboratively at the senior level to help formulate and execute the strategic vision of the leadership team, and represent the strong traditions and culture of respect and graciousness of the MVLA.

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