Opportunities

Employment Opportunities

Director, National Fund

Overview

Partners for Sacred Places (PSP) seeks candidates for the full-time position of Director of the National Fund for Sacred Places to oversee day-to-day management and promotion of a national training, technical assistance and grant program for historic churches managed by Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP). This program, supported by the Lilly Endowment, has served over 50 sacred places to date; the Endowment has recently provided grant support to serve another 50 sacred places over the next five years.

Key Responsibilities

Overall Fund management

• Work closely with Partners’ President and Executive Vice President to provide overall leadership and planning for the Fund, including key activities such as application review, congregational training, site visits, consultation with congregations, and ongoing conferring with Advisory Committee members.

Field all Fund inquiries

• Work with Grants & Client Manager to respond to potential applicants. Refer those that do not meet Fund criteria to other PSP programs and services or online resources.

Review Fund applications

• Work with Grants & Client Manager to review initial applications (LOIs).
• For those that meet base criteria, review with other PSP senior and executive staff to recommend for full applications.
• Review full applications and create dossiers for most eligible candidates, based on rating criteria.

Coordinate data gathering & site visits by staff, advisors, and volunteers

• Coordinate provision of group training and customized consulting services to grantees.
• Work with PSP consulting and training staff to develop customized packages of services.

Oversee and participate in training and consulting services to congregations

• Attend and help deliver training sessions.
• Learn Partners’ approach to consulting — including asset-mapping and community engagement, discovery studies, and space-planning — and participate in delivery of consulting services.
• Coordinate consulting by PSP staff and outside consultants.

Oversee provision of planning seed grants

• Collaborate with Grants & Client Manager to administer planning seed grants to congregations.
• Help connect congregations to appropriate consulting service of architects, planners, etc.

Liaison with national Advisory Committee to help vet applications

• Work with PSP executive staff to coordinate communication with Fund Advisory Committee.
• Plan and manage conference calls, virtual meetings, and occasional in-person meetings.

Promote and Grow the Fund

• Speak at conferences, workshops, and in small group meetings about the Fund.
• Speak to press regarding the Fund and Fund recipients.
• Write about the Fund for PSP publications, website, social media, etc.
• Work with Partners’ executive and development staff, and NTHP staff, to plan and execute a strategy to raise additional funds to support the Fund over the longer term

Liaison with National Trust for Historic Preservation

• Handle regular tactical or logistical communications with NTHP staff.
• With Partners’ Executive staff, help coordinate communication with senior NTHP leadership.

Education and Experience

Should be able to:

• Write and speak clearly and persuasively.
• Work both independently and in a variety of small and large group contexts. Manage staff and consultants; work under the supervision of executive staff, and work collaboratively with a range of staff across Partners’ three offices.
• Think in a creative and entrepreneurial manner.
• Manage time well and handle a variety of tasks and deadlines. See the big picture, and pay attention to detail.
• Work with lay, clergy and middle judicatory leaders, preferably across a range of denominations and faith traditions, as well as architects, preservationists, and leaders from a range of sectors.
• Design and conduct group training and education programs, and facilitate small group meetings and one-on-one conversations.
• Be experienced in public presentation. Use a variety of electronic, presentation, and social media.

Requirements

• Reside in, or willingness to move to, Philadelphia
• Bachelor’s degree; Preference for a Master’s degree in Historic Preservation, Divinity, Nonprofit management, or related field.
• At least ten (10) years work experience.
• Experience working in a small to mid-size non-profit organization.
• Need to travel across the nation with occasional weekends and evenings. to promote the Fund and deliver Fund-related services

Preference

• Experience in delivering training and/or consulting services, especially to religious congregations.
• Experience in managing grant and technical assistance programs.

To Apply:

Partners for Sacred Places offers a dynamic and demanding work environment with a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. To apply for this position, please send a cover letter and resume to operations@sacredplaces.org.
No phone calls, please. EOE.

About Partners:

Partners for Sacred Places, founded in 1989, is the only national, non-sectarian, nonprofit organization focused on building the capacity of congregations of historic sacred places to better serve their communities as anchor institutions, nurturing transformation, and shaping vibrant, creative communities. Places of worship play vital roles in their neighborhoods and the broader community. They are significant landmarks, places where people access programs and community services, and a focus of neighborhood physical
and social identity.

Partners builds the capability of congregational leadership to enact building care, shared-use partnerships, and capital fundraising through training programs, fundraising assistance, and organizational and facility assessments. With a national presence and offices in Philadelphia, Chicago, and Fort Worth, Partners has served thousands of congregations and other local organizations over the past twenty-five years and represents the needs and concerns of over 100,000 older, community-serving sacred places across America.