As a leader in heritage tourism, Historic Columbia provides house museum tours, walking tours and guided bus tours of Columbia's cultural and historical assets. Additionally, the organization hosts annual programs and events such as the Gardening Symposium and the Jubilee: Festival of Black History & Culture. As an advocate for the preservation of Columbia and Richland County's built history, Historic Columbia works closely with city and county officials to ensure proper protection is provided to structures with cultural and historical importance.
Our mission is to share the complex history of Columbia and Richland County through historic preservation advocacy, innovative educational programs, and strategic partnerships.
Historic Columbia is an equal opportunity employer committed to advancement opportunities for all individuals based on merit, qualifications and abilities. Historic Columbia does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Current Openings:
Director of Grounds
Historic Columbia (HC) seeks a Director of Grounds to oversee and implement the short- and long-term planning, interpretation, maintenance, and upkeep of living collections and historic landscapes spread out over six properties and 14 acres. The successful candidate will ensure day-to-day activities complement organizational activities and mission. The Director of Grounds will also be responsible for interfacing with the public and staff about the technical and cultural aspects of Historic Columbia’s living collections.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Create plans for garden maintenance and upkeep. Establish priorities, timelines, and detailed budgets. Oversee the implementation and day-to-day activities of plans.
- Work with grounds staff and volunteers to ensure the highest level of horticultural standards are maintained. Perform horticultural duties in the field.
- Manage all aspects of new garden implementation, renovations, and capital improvements, including oversight of outside contractors.
- Use expertise and knowledge of botany to ensure plantings and interpretation are historically and regionally accurate. Assist staff and the public with related inquiries.
- Oversee and work with horticulture staff on the management of the greenhouse and nursery to support the maintenance of living collections and bi-annual plant sales.
- Maintain database, labels, and general information of gardens and plant materials within.
- Work with grounds staff to ensure that all garden/landscape systems and equipment, including hand tools and gas-powered equipment, are in good working order. Facilitate repairs and/or replacement.
- Work with HC staff to develop and implement garden-related programming, including plant sales, tours, workshops, and presentations.
- Work with HC staff, including but not limited to the Director of Outreach and Engagement and the Rentals Coordinator, to ensure that the use of the grounds for public programs, special events, and rentals complements the weekly maintenance and long-term care of the grounds.
- Represent HC through media appearances, public programs, and resource development. Help identify and cultivate donors, grants, in-kind donations, and other sources of funding.
- Work with local, regional, and national colleagues to both collect and disseminate culturally significant living collections.
- Adhere to Historic Columbia’s Ethics and Human Resources policies.
- Other duties as assigned.
ORGANIZATIONAL BENEFITS AND PERKS:
We work hard to embrace diversity and inclusion and encourage everyone at Historic Columbia to bring their authentic selves to work every day. We offer a variety of growth and professional development opportunities, a welcoming environment, and family-friendly benefits for our team members.
- Generous paid time off
- Medical insurance
- Retirement planning
- Competitive compensation
- Parental leave
- Support for community involvement
- Paid holidays
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree or greater in horticulture or related field with at least five years of paid, full-time experience in the horticulture field. Supervisory experience is required.
- Experience in a public garden or museum environment is preferred.
- Excellent organizational, supervisory, communication, and leadership skills.
- Knowledge of systematic botany, including but not limited to the planting and care of woody shrubs and trees, as well as annuals and perennials, and the appropriate control measures for their major pests and diseases. Experience with historic and rare plant materials in the Southeast is preferred.
- Working knowledge of methods, materials, techniques, tools, and equipment used in a wide variety of landscape maintenance activities. Expertise with irrigation and plant propagation is a plus.
- Proficient in the use of computers, MS Office applications, and plant records database programs, such as FileMaker Pro or BG-Base.
- Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds. Position requires strenuous activity outdoors with exposure to a variety of conditions ranging from hot and humid to cold and wet.
Job Details: salary range of $48,000 to $60,000 per year based on qualifications / full-time / on-site in Columbia, SC
Historic Columbia is an Equal Opportunity Employer and maintains compliance with all federal, state, and local laws.
Please send a cover letter and resume with three references, at least one of which should be a past supervisor, to jobs@historiccolumbia.org. The title of the email should be the position for which you are applying. The position will remain open until filled.
Community Engagement Coordinator
Historic Columbia (HC) is looking for someone to oversee the conceptualization, planning, and implementation of HC programs that promote local history and historic preservation. The successful candidate will work with Outreach and Engagement team to create the annual calendar of programs that meets HC’s strategic goals, paying particular attention to balancing activities that reflect the organization’s commitment to education as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion. They will also evaluate existing interpretive content and create new tour scripts or run of shows as needed and serve as lead staff member for both cyclical and special programs, ensuring that they are effectively managed and meet audience expectations.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Work with the Outreach and Engagement, Preservation, and Development teams to create HC’s annual calendar of rotating programs, including behind-the-scenes tours of historic sites, walking and bus tours, community panels, and workshops.
- Work with HC staff to implement annual programming, including Jubilee Festival of Black History and Culture, holiday tours, and the SC Philharmonic’s Concert in the Garden Series.
- Work with Development staff and HC’s Palladium Board to implement the annual spring tour of homes and assist with quarterly Renovation Rodeos as needed.
- Evaluate existing interpretive content for programs, including tour scripts and run of shows, and propose and implement improvements. Work with the Director of Outreach and Engagement to explore new program opportunities and create related content.
- Serve as the lead staff member for several major programs, some of which occur on nights and weekends. As lead staff, coordinate with external partners and HC departments to ensure successful implementation.
- Develop and grow relationships with community organizations, neighborhood associations and leaders, site owners, and local non-profits.
- Serve as a public spokesperson for HC programs, including community presentations, on-camera interviews, and guided tours as needed.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Adhere to Historic Columbia’s Ethics and Human Resources policies.
ORGANIZATIONAL BENEFITS AND PERKS:
We work hard to embrace diversity and inclusion and encourage everyone at Historic Columbia to bring their authentic selves to work every day. We offer a variety of growth and professional development opportunities, a welcoming environment, and family-friendly benefits for our team members.
- Generous paid time off
- Medical insurance
- Retirement planning
- Competitive compensation
- Parental leave
- Support for community involvement
- Paid holidays
QUALIFICATIONS:
- M.A. in history, public history, or a related field is required.
- One to three years of post-graduate experience developing public programs, preferably within a historic preservation or local history context.
- Strong research and reasoning capacity. The successful candidate will have documented ability to turn primary and secondary-source research into engaging interpretive content.
- Experience working with diverse groups of community members and audiences.
- Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills. The successful candidate will have documented public speaking experience.
- Invoicing and reservation management are a plus.
Job Details: Salary range of $42,000 to $52,000 per year based on qualifications / full-time / on-site in Columbia, SC
Historic Columbia is an Equal Opportunity Employer and maintains compliance with all federal, state, and local laws.
Please send a cover letter and resume with three references, at least one of which should be a past supervisor, to jobs@historiccolumbia.org. The title of the email should be the position for which you are applying. The position will remain open until filled.
Rental Assistant
The Rental Assistant represents Historic Columbia as the staff on-site during events, such as weddings, rehearsals, rehearsal dinners, corporate functions, fundraisers, etc, and remains available to the rental client for the duration of the event. The Rental Assistant is responsible for ensuring the rules and regulations of Historic Columbia are followed by rental clients, for answering and solving any facility or property related questions and issues, and for responding to emergency situations in an appropriate manner.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Must have excellent communications skills, to interact with all vendors and rental clients during the event, as well as coordination through email and phone with Rental Coordinator for the requirements and details for the specific events to which the assistant is assigned.
- Must be able to maintain email and phone access to communicate with the Rental Coordinator during the week and during the events to which the assistant is assigned.
- Prior event/wedding experience or customer service experience required.
- Must have professional demeanor and appearance at all times.
- Must be flexible and accommodating, but assertive when necessary.
- Browse historiccolumbia.org to learn more about Historic Columbia, a non-profit dedicated to preserving Columbia and Richland County’s historic and cultural heritage.
Historic Columbia is an Equal Opportunity Employer and maintains compliance with all federal, state, and local laws.
Please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@historiccolumbia.org. The title of the email should be the position for which you are applying. The posting will remain open until the successful candidate is found.