POSITION: DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL INITIATIVES

ABOUT PARTNERS FOR SACRED PLACES

Partners for Sacred Places (Partners) is the only national, non-sectarian, non-profit organization in the United States devoted to helping congregations and their communities sustain and actively use older and historic sacred places. Partners’ approach is consistently entrepreneurial and interdisciplinary, embracing a range of expertise and knowledge from historic preservation, community development, philanthropy, and faith. Founded in 1989, Partners is headquartered in Philadelphia with additional senior and project staff across the nation.

DESCRIPTION & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of Special Initiatives (DSI) is a senior member of Partners’ team who provides direction and leadership for a unique portfolio of programs and projects that deploy Partners’ tools and services in new ways and emerging contexts. The DSI works closely with Partners’ executive and senior organizational leadership to work with ongoing projects and explore new opportunities for grant-funded and fee-for-service projects that enlarge Partners’ reach, deepen existing relationships and collaborations with core audiences, and advance Partners’ approach to the stewardship, community value, and future of historic religious properties.

RESPONSIBILITES

The DSI reports to the Senior Director of Programs. On an ongoing basis the DSI will collaborate with staff to develop new ideas and manage and lead complex projects and staff teams nationally in efforts that represent growing edges of Partners’ market. These projects may include training, grant-making, and hands-on work with congregations and judicatories, individually or in cohorts. These projects may include both grant-funded programs and fee-for-service clients. Examples of current programs include:

Central Appalachia Program: funded by a grant from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, Partners’ staff work with cohorts of congregations whose properties represent examples of significant architecture or history in the region. The program includes training in assessing property issues and community engagement, re-grants for capital projects, and funding for folk art.

Playing and Preserving: a Philadelphia area program focused on significant pipe organs. The program involves surveying instruments in the city and their condition, re-grants for repair and preservation of the instruments, concerts featuring the organists and other musicians, and community engagement among neighbors to increase awareness of neighbors about local sacred places and their congregations.
New Dollars/New Partners: a core training program of Partners that builds the capacity of groups of congregations around communication, community engagement, fundraising, and property use.

QUALIFICATIONS
An advanced degree in the following is preferred: historic preservation, public history, or architecture.
Five to ten years of experience working in the field.
Significant knowledge of, and comfort working with, diverse faith communities.
Demonstrated capacity for leadership of a small staff team.
Demonstrated ability to work with individuals and small groups in different formats, including both in person and online, including experience in planning and conducting training.
Ability to set and meet project goals on schedule.
Experience and capacity to manage complex and multi-year projects.
Record and interest in developing program services, tools, projects, research, or other innovative growth areas.
Effective client/customer relations experience.
Excellent organizational skills, acute attention to detail.
Demonstrated strength and clarity in both written and oral communication.
Willingness to travel on a regular basis.
Willingness to relocate (if necessary) to Philadelphia.
Understanding of and commitment to the mission, vision, and values of Partners for Sacred Places

Compensation: $72-75,000 plus full benefits

Partners for Sacred Places provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Interested candidates please send a cover letter and resume to specialinitiativesdir@sacredplaces.org