Salary Range: $68,099.20 - $104,062.40 Annually
Position Information
Arlington County’s Community Planning, Housing & Development (CPHD) department is seeking a Historic Preservation Specialist for its Neighborhood Services Division (NSD) and the Historic Preservation Program (HPP). The HPP helps identify, document, and preserve Arlington’s historic resources and cultural heritage. The team enforces the Historic Preservation Ordinance, including supporting the functions, committees, and activities of the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB), while promoting historic preservation through a variety of special projects such as reviewing and approving Certificates of Appropriateness (CoAs) in the County’s 42 local historic districts.
Specific duties include:
Conducting regular monitoring and CoA-related inspections in all the County’s 42 local historic districts;
Maintaining a working knowledge of the design guidelines applicable to protected historic properties;
Creating, recording, and maintaining field data, correspondence, and documentation for CoA applications in progress, building permits issued, and CoA-related inspections and/or compliance issues;
Receiving and processing CoA-related complaints and working with the Historic Preservation Planner to assist customers pursuing compliance;
Leading civic engagement efforts for major projects of the HPP, such as the ongoing outreach for the recently approved Historic and Cultural Resources Plan (Download PDF reader), revisions to local historic district design guidelines, and inter-departmental initiatives involving historic preservation, cultural heritage, and/or heritage tourism;
Planning, developing, and implementing historic preservation-related outreach and educational activities/programming to a broad and diverse range of the community, such as via special events, the HPP’s e-newsletter, County website, historic markers, and other informational media;
Providing technical preservation guidance to various community and internal constituents, including property owners, residents, management companies, architects, contractors, the public, the HALRB, and other County staff;
Evaluating and approving various types of trade and building permits for historic properties; and
Helping maintain the HPP’s records collection and making those records more accessible to the public.
The ideal candidate will have strong oral and written communication skills to effectively convey preservation or land use laws, policies, and procedures to the public. They will also be able to read/interpret construction drawings, land use development maps, and have excellent organizational skills to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
Selection Criteria
Minimum:
Bachelor’s degree in Historic Preservation, Public History, Architecture, History, Urban Planning, or field directly related to program area; and
Some professional experience in a preservation- or urban planning-focused organization.
Substitution: Additional qualifying experience may substitute for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis. A Master’s degree or higher may be substituted for some of the experience requirement.
Desirable: Preference may be given to candidates with a Master’s degree in a related field and in possession of one or more of the following:
Experience enforcing zoning ordinances, land use policies, and/or historic district design guidelines;
Experience with historic preservation zoning ordinances and collaborating with a public board and/or commission on historic preservation projects and/or policies;
Experience planning and executing a range of educational/outreach events with a focus on historic preservation, architecture, and/or cultural heritage;
Experience managing large-scale and long-term projects; and/or
Ability to communicate in Spanish (oral and/or writing skills).
Special Requirements
Driver's License: This position will require travel around Arlington County for various meetings and field inspections. The applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver's license. The applicant must authorize Arlington County to obtain or provide a copy of their official driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant's driving record.
Background Check: A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.
Cover Letter: Please attach a cover letter or provide one in the respective supplemental questionnaire response to your online application addressing your interest in this position and detailing how your experience and accomplishments meet the selection criteria requirements.
Additional Information
Work Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with 2-3 days of telework per week available. Some evening and weekend work will be required to attend community meetings, HALRB meetings, and special events.
Your responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire are considered part of the selection process. Please do not enter "see resume" as a response to the questions.
Each section of the application must be completed. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for the completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The official title for this position is Management Specialist.
All Management Specialists are eligible for County government employee benefits that include health, dental, vacation and sick leave, commuter transportation subsidies, tuition reimbursement, as well as a generous retirement plan.
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