Executive Director, Canal Place Preservation & Development Auth. Program Manager III

Introduction

The Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority is a state agency managing the Passages of the Western Potomac Heritage Area and Canal Place Heritage Park. The Park is located at the terminus of the C&O Canal Towpath & the GAP trail.

The Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority is seeking an Executive Director.

This is a Special Appointment position and serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority.

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13 Canal Street Cumberland, Maryland 21502

The Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority (CPPDA) seeks a strategic, collaborative Executive Director to lead the Passages of the Western Potomac Canal Place Heritage Area (PWPHA), whose administrative office is located in Cumberland, Maryland.

This position is not eligible for telework.

The Executive Director is responsible for day-to-day administration, heritage tourism development, partner engagement, fiscal stewardship, grant administration, tenant and facility oversight, and implementation of the Authority's plans, programs, and public-facing initiatives. The successful candidate will strengthen PWPHA as a welcoming heritage destination, economic-development asset, and community gathering place for residents and visitors to Western Maryland.

PWPHA will be expanding its service area to include all of Allegany County, creating the opportunity to lead this vision and elevate awareness of the County’s historical significance. PWPHA/CPPDA is a principal partner in the renaissance of the county seat, Cumberland, and is the managing entity of the historic Western Maryland Railway Station, the shops at Canal Place and the development of the River Park at Canal Place, which envisions family friendly access to the Potomac River.

• Lead implementation of the Authority's strategic, operational, and heritage-area plans, including short- and long-range initiatives approved by the Board of Directors.
• Develop and administer the Authority's annual budget; monitor revenues and expenditures; recommend fiscally responsible policies and practices.
• Identify, pursue, administer, and report on grants, sponsor ships, and other external funding opportunities supporting heritage tourism, preservation, interpretation, public programming, capital improvements, and economic development.
• Serve as the Authority's primary liaison with the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, Maryland Historical Trust, local, state and Federal government, tourism partners, community organizations, businesses, tenants, and the public.
• Promote Canal Place attractions, events, programming, and partnerships through coordinated marketing, community relations, and destination-development efforts.
• Oversee leasing, tenant relations, facility management, vendor coordination, event use, and maintenance needs for Canal Place properties and public spaces.
• Supervise Authority staff and contractors; assign work, evaluate performance, support professional development, and maintain effective office operations.
• Prepare agendas, reports, recommendations, and supporting materials for Authority meetings and committee work.
• Implement Board directives and maintain appropriate records.
• Ensure compliance with applicable State of Maryland requirements, Authority policies, grant conditions, procurement and reporting obligations, and public-sector accountability standards.
• Perform related duties as assigned by the Authority Board.

The incumbent for this position will be required to work occasional evenings, weekends, and special events as needed.

Education: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Five years of progressively responsible administrative, management, or leadership experience in heritage tourism, historic preservation, economic development, public administration, nonprofit management, community development, or a closely related field. Including two years of experience with grant writing, grant administration, budget development, financial monitoring, or program reporting.

Additional professional experience in heritage tourism, historic preservation, economic development, public administration, nonprofit management, community development, or a closely related field may be substituted on a year to year basis, for up to four years, for the education.

• Experience serving as an executive director, senior administrator, or comparable leader for a public agency, nonprofit organization, heritage area, tourism entity, cultural institution, or economic-development organization.
• Familiarity with Maryland Heritage Areas, State of Maryland administrative procedures, public-sector reporting requirements, procurement or contract administration, and public meeting practices.
• Experience with facility leasing, tenant relations, event management, marketing, fundraising, capital projects, or historic or cultural-resource interpretation.
• Ability to build productive working…