Property Manager, Fruitlands Museum and The Old Manse

Who We Are:

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is the nation’s premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees’ preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website, www.thetrustees.org.

Posting Information:

Annual Salary: $60,000 - $75,000  

Hours per week: 40  

Job Classification: Exempt, Full-Time, Year-round  

Job Type: Onsite 

Location: Fruitlands Museum, Harvard, MA and The Old Manse, Concord, MA

What You’ll Do:

Your Impact:

The Property Manager at Fruitlands Museum and The Old Manse is the public face of two beloved historic museums.  You will exude enthusiasm for the properties, lead a team of interpreters responsible for public tours, have management responsibility for a museum gift shop and curated bookstore and be a trusted partner to engagement, education, stewardship and curatorial team professionals.  You are recognized for problem solving skills, a calm and kind demeanor and your ability to partner with community stakeholders, including municipal government staff. Your impact on The Trustees properties will be respected for years to come. 

The Role:

As the Property Manager at Fruitlands Museum and The Old Manse, you will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of two historic Trustees properties, which include more than 120 acres of land with stunning views and miles of walking trails, historic and national landmark museums with rich political, social, and literary history, and a diverse collection of art and historical collections. Ensuring the team delivers a safe, consistently excellent visitor experience and welcomes all is the key function of this role.  

Being able to manage staff across multiple disciplines and departments will be essential to delivering overall goals. An understanding of and ability to work with the larger Trustees organization will also be required as you access resources provided by central teams. As a representative of the Trustees at two of its most visited sites, you will often be required to publicly represent The Trustees and advocate for its mission by connecting with local government, building community relationships and partnering with other organizations in the area. 

Importantly, you will have an eye for detail and the ability to identify and deliver on what makes a visitor experience extra special. Your enthusiasm and respect for history and historic sites is infectious and inspiring.  You have a penchant for problem solving and overcoming obstacles with elegant creative solutions.  

Specifically, you’ll:

Operations  

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of Fruitlands & The Old Manse. Including managing the events calendar in partnership with the Sr. Regional Engagement Manager, managing the schedule for interpretive staff, managing the retail store offerings and coordinating stewardship projects/needs with the Sr. Regional Stewardship Manager.  

• Build documentation that formalizes processes and procedures for the two properties. 

• Identify and communicate the resources needed for delivery (both financial and human).   

• Communicate the opportunities and challenges to key staff, volunteers, and internal and external stakeholders.   

• Lead, inspire, motivate and mentor a diverse team of historical interpreters by creating an inclusive team environment, which fosters individual commitment, enthusiasm, and confidence and ensures effective teamwork, collaboration and communication.   

• Create an engaging visitor experience and audience engagement plans that grow the involvement of members and visitors, including collaborating on programs, events, and tours.   

• Ensure excellent recruitment, training, management, and recognition of staff and volunteers.   

• Act as property liaison for cross-functional property improvement initiatives and investments.  

Business and Financial Performance Management  

• Set and achieve financial revenue targets for property admissions and retail sales revenue, manage expenses against revenue to achieve net profit.   

• Ensure that operational plans are developed, approved, and implemented in a timely fashion and reflect cost effective deployment of resources.   

• Realize existing and create new opportunities for enterprise growth to generate income, including expanding visitor amenities and ensuring the optimum use of all assets.   

Community Building  

• Develop a systematic approach and processes for ongoing, proactive community engagement in coordination with regional leadership and statewide marketing & communications teams. 

• Foster authentic and proactive community relations and local partnerships to deepen engagement and support from the community   

• Create and steward partnerships within the Metrowest to community to expand access, develop new audiences and continue to create an accessible, welcoming space for all   

Stewardship of Cultural and Natural Resources  

• Collaborate with stewardship teams to support execution of stewardship plans that ensure The Trustees’ resources are conserved, preserved, and stewarded for the future (landscapes, ecology, trails and woodlands and buildings), in line with the statewide stewardship standards.  

• Collaborate with the curatorial team to support care of the historic collections and foster respect for the curatorial function by interpretive staff.  

• Manage operational risk by working closely with entire property teams. 

This is a full-time, exempt position working 40 hours/week reporting directly to Regional Vice President, MetroWest . 

What You’ll Need:

Skills and Experience:

• 3-5 years of relevant experience  

• 3+ years of management experience  

• Proven track record of strong management skills and the ability to hire and lead a team 

• Strong communicator – written and oral presentation 

• Excellent organizational skills   

• Experience managing budgets & financial goals 

• Experience in a leadership public facing role  

• Experience acting as a representative to outside groups  

• Bachelor's Degree preferred  

Eligibility Criteria:

• This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship and candidates must have work authorization now and in the future.  
• A valid driver’s license, as well as a satisfactory driving record as outlined in The Trustees’ driving policy.  
• A satisfactory criminal background (CORI) check.  
• Ability to work some nights and weekends as events/programs are scheduled. 
• Comfortable being on call in case of emergency. 

Don’t quite have all the skills and experience listed above? We still want to hear from you! Research shows that historically marginalized groups are less likely to apply if they do not meet every single requirement. We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage you to apply even if you are missing some of the skills and experience above.

Questions? Contact our People team at people@thetrustees.org

Your Benefits:

• Sick time: 80 hours

• Vacation time: 15 days per year.

• Early release time: 36 hours per year.

• Floating holidays/personal days: 15 Floating Holidays (13 observed holidays; 2 floating).

• Health insurance: You are eligible to participate in the Trustees health insurance benefit via Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). BCBS also offers additional benefits, such as fitness reimbursement and rewards for healthy habits.

• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance.

• Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave.

• Life Insurance.

• 401k with 5% match after 1 year of employment.

• Employee Assistance Program: Free access to a confidential service that helps employees and their communities with personal and work-related issues, such as mental health support, counseling, and financial advice.

• Reciprocity: Employees have access to free and discounted admission and membership to more than 50 nearby museums and cultural institutions.

• Discounts: Enjoy free entry to all Trustees properties, discount event tickets, and discounted merchandise at our stores and on stays at our inns. 

• Day of Wonder: Spend one workday per year to exploring a Trustees property.

• Day of Service: Spend one workday per year to helping with a project at a Trustees property.

Equal Opportunity and Diversity:

The Trustees is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status including, but not limited to, age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual preferences, nation of origin, religion, or disability status and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with varying abilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission.

The Trustees’ commitment to advancing the organization’s vision for this work may be found here: Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. To request reasonable accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact us at people@thetrustees.org.