Director of Greenfield Village Operations

The Henry Ford is a nonprofit organization, an internationally recognized cultural destination, and a one-of-a-kind workplace. Our team is inspired daily by one another as well as the authentic stories of innovation that we share across our four venues. We want you to be part of this legacy and take it forward.

We are currently seeking a dynamic leader with a passion for leading, directing, and facilitating Greenfield Village daily operations, programming and guest experiences. The Director of Greenfield Village Operations works closely with programming leaders to ensure the planning and execution of the Greenfield Village daily, seasonal and event operations and activities are best in class. This Director is a key leader and advocate ensuring the continual development and improvement of the guest experience. As a member of the Senior Management Team and Venues leadership team, this position reports to the Vice President of Venues, Programs & Marketing.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the delivery of the daily operations, programs and special event teams to bring a quality guest experience. Regularly assesses the daily operations and programs and their delivery for best-in-class experiences and storytelling.
• Works with cross-functional teams to ensure the highest-quality program and experience delivery. Audits programs to ensure alignment to vision, mission, education, financial, and performance goals.
• Collaborates with Director of Greenfield Village, Curator of Historic Structures & Landscape, venue teams and other Curators to periodically review, update stories, work processes and programs for the Greenfield Village sites.
• Responsible for the development and maintenance of presenter training manuals and the proper training of Greenfield Village staff to ensure adherence to a quality program with historical integrity of stories and branding.
• Works with institutional leaders to develop goals, create experiences, programs, and operations in Greenfield Village to ensure alignment with Institutional strategies.
• Collaborates with the Director of Greenfield Village, Curator of Historic Structures, and others to guide the planning, creation and successful delivery of special and daily operational events.
• Ensures the hiring, training, coaching, and evaluation of diverse and inclusive staff is effective, fair and champions the development of individuals.
• Develops, communicates, and collaboratively executes events, programs and experiences and performance expectations.
• In collaboration with the Director of Greenfield Village & Curator of Historic Structures develops, the Head of Venues Administration and Business Operations and finance, monitors budgets, including on-going cost controls and the improvement of revenue generation.
• Performs other activities as assigned.

Your Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required. Master's degree preferred in American History, Education, or related discipline OR a combination of education and experience.
• Ten or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience and demonstrated success in business, museum, or attraction management, managing staff, budgets, and partnerships.
• Proven track record of program development and execution of project fulfilment with a working knowledge of informal educational practices.

Special Skills:

• Knowledge of museums, public history and business practices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including advanced public speaking skills, with the media, and to outside audiences.
• Proven ability to develop, communicate, and execute a strategic plan.
• People-oriented and enthusiastic leadership style to inspire and build strong relationships with a large and diverse team.
• Ability to interact effectively and build rapport with a wide range of people, internally and externally, with excellent guest service skills.
• Enthusiasm and passion for creating a vision to engage, mentor and develop a team.
• Able to strategize, plan, execute, and interact with discretion, and diplomacy.
• Understands industry standards and the ability to understand and uphold THF accreditation standards.

This job description is subject to change at any time.

It is the policy of The Henry Ford to prohibit discrimination in any employment, donor or volunteering opportunity (including but not limited to recruitment, hire, employment, program participation, promotion, salary, benefits, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment or service as a volunteer) based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, genetic information, pregnancy, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, physical/mental disability. Marital/domestic partner status, military and veteran status, height, weight or any other such characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. This Policy applies to all of our employees, donors and volunteers to ensure that they are treated without discrimination.