THE OPPORTUNITY
The Providence Preservation Society (PPS) is seeking an Executive Director to lead this iconic 67-year-old organization into its next chapter. The successful candidate will be a 21st-century preservationist and a thoughtful, creative leader who is a natural communicator with keen listening and relationship-building skills. The new PPS Executive Director will play a vital role in ensuring that this dynamic and vibrant city balances people-centered and inclusive preservation with its remarkable history and built environment.
THE POSITION
The Executive Director serves as the chief executive and primary spokesperson for the organization, doing the day-to-day management of the organization and working to implement strategic plans and innovative programs while overseeing the organization's finances, staff, and assets. The Executive Director is a passionate advocate, inspiring leader, growth-oriented executive, and skilled manager.
The successful candidate will embrace and direct an intentional expansion of the organization, attracting new supporters and building a financial model that allows PPS to develop and sustain new and continuing initiatives. The Executive Director will seek out varying perspectives to identify shared problems and opportunities, then organize the people and resources to seize those opportunities. The Executive Director will lead and inspire staff, board, advisory members, residents, and stakeholders throughout the City of Providence. This leader will strengthen partnerships with like-minded organizations, collaborating toward a shared mission of making preservation a catalyst for positive change that is thoughtful and inclusive.
- Advocate and be the spokesperson for preservation principles and practices that represent
PPS’s mission and goals.
- Fundraise successfully to strengthen the organization’s work.
- Build bridges between long-standing supporters and new constituents.
- Demonstrate preservation’s relevance across communities and to a wide range of urban issues.
- Identify and cultivate critical allies in the public, private, non-profit, and media sectors.
- Support progressive economic development and community growth within a preservation
framework.
- Be an active, engaged, and highly visible member of the community.
Leadership and Management
- Model a high level of excellence and professionalism.
- Establish an office culture that is forward-thinking, supports the work of the staff and Board, is open, accessible, and unbiased.
- Lead, coach, develop, and retain PPS’s staff with a commitment to excellence; oversee all HR functions.
- Work with staff to create and maintain an annual calendar of activities, develop and grow programming, and cultivate membership and partnership engagement to further meet PPS’s mission and strategic goals.
- Maintain existing partnerships and cultivate new collaborative opportunities with neighborhood. organizations, city planning, economic development, regulatory agencies, and institutional partners.
- Actively engage and energize PPS’ community, including board members, committees, volunteers, members, partnering organizations, and funders.
- Serve as chief advisor to the PPS Board, assuring its effectiveness in policy-making, fundraising, strategic planning, and evaluation.
Financial Management
- Identify, cultivate and pursue a broad range of funding sources including membership,
leadership donors, corporate, private and public sector partners, including existing and potential funding sources.
- Manage the day-to-day financial affairs of PPS; prepare the annual operating budget and plans for the annual financial audit or review.
- Ensure that appropriate systems, procedures, and financial controls are in place.
- Help to establish and implement a long-term financial sustainability plan that ensures the viability of PPS into the future; seek to diversify the organization’s funding streams to include innovative and entrepreneurial initiatives.
- Assure adequate care and upkeep of PPS’s historic property.
Programming and Communications
- Lead the development of creative and engaging programming for PPS members and the public that serves citywide audiences, attracts funding from an expanded base of supporters and enhances PPS’s organizational standing.
- Work with staff, outside experts, and the Board to identify topics and speakers capable of bringing regional and national perspectives to Providence.
- Formulate, implement, and assess an overall marketing, branding, and communications strategy that respects PPS’s established identity, effectively delivers strategic messaging, and assures consistency and excellence.
- Establish and maintain a prominent position in the national preservation community; earn personal and organizational respect for PPS from peer organizations and colleagues; and actively engage in national, regional, state, and local preservation dialogues and efforts, as appropriate.
QUALIFICATIONS
- A background in historic preservation or a related field (e.g. architecture, urban planning, community development) is preferred for this position.
- A track record of effectively leading and scaling an outcomes-based organization and staff.
- Proven ability to translate vision into action: prioritize and communicate key objectives and tactics to achieve organizational goals.
- A skilled mediator with strong listening skills and the ability to navigate complex relationships.
- A persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal skills and ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures.
- Ability to coach staff, manage, and develop high-performance teams.
- Commitment to quality programs and data-driven program evaluation.
- Successful management of budgets; having an innovative approach to business planning and budget development a plus.
- Past success working with a Board of Directors with the ability to cultivate existing Board member relationships.
- Strong marketing, public relations, and fundraising experience.
- Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, collaborative, positive, and passionate.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates should submit their resume along with a cover letter explaining their relevant experience and interest in the position to the Search Committee at EDSearch@ppsri.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.