Museum Site Manager, Fort Vasquez Trading Post

Department Information

If you are considering a career opportunity with the goal of making a difference, consider joining the dedicated people at History Colorado. Our professionals inspire generations to find wonder and meaning in our past and to engage in creating a better Colorado. The Fort Vasquez Museum is located on US Route 85 next to Platteville, Colorado. The museum is a reconstruction of the adobe trading post established by the trappers Louis Vasquez and Andrew Sublette. They built the fort in 1835 after obtaining a fur trading license in St. Louis, Missouri, from William Clark, the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, now it runs as a museum to display exhibits of the fur-trade era. Please see below a list of some of the benefits we offer:

• Your choice of one of two strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or the PERA Defined Contribution Plan
• Medical and dental health plans
• Paid life insurance plan plus additional optional coverage
• Free short-term disability coverage plus optional long term disability
• 10 paid holidays per year plus paid opportunities to volunteer in the community
• Generous paid vacation and sick leave benefits
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training opportunities, and more.

HISTORY COLORADO has a strong commitment to diversity and cultural competence. We welcome responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

Description of Job

This position serves as the chief administrator of Fort Vazquez Museum which is one of properties held by History Colorado outside of the History Colorado Center. This position manages the programs, systems and services provided by the museum property and serves as primary liaison between History Colorado and the communities served by the facility; the position is a key participant in long-term planning for the facility.

Primary Duties:

Planning and operations

• Assess community needs and works with History Colorado colleagues to develop programs, systems and services that address those needs, align with mission, and are sustainable.
• Participate in the planning, development and implementation of exhibitions, educational programs and collections use.
• Develop annual goals, implementation strategies, budgets and metrics to measure achievement.
• Monitor budgets and progress toward goals. Prepares and submits monthly progress reports and participate in regularly scheduled meetings with History Colorado staff, including fellow community museum property managers.
• Manage and monitor museum gift shop sales and inventory.

Tourism Operations

• Recruit, foster, and nurture volunteer staff to expand hours to accommodate tourist/ traveler traffic.
• Follow tourist industry trends and stay connected to the Colorado Tourism Office.
• Ensure site is tourist/traveler friendly with up-to-date information.
• Coordinate with History Colorado leadership on tourist collaboration that impacts northeastern Colorado.

Facilities Management

• Manages the safe, efficient operation of the facility. Under the leadership of the Division of Facilities, plans capital construction and maintenance projects and ensures all on-site work meets the Secretary of State Standard for Preservation as a National Register or National Landmark property.
• Works with the Collections Division to plan use of collections materials for exhibition or educational purposes and oversees stewardship of collections materials on the property.

Community Relations

• Develop a thorough understanding of the district in which the property resides by participating in community organizations, forging strategic partnerships and developing relationships.
• Represent History Colorado to the community and works with History Colorado’s Communications Division to develop marketing and public relations plans.
• Work with the Development Division to identify and develop relationships with donor prospects, participates in proposal development and manages restricted and unrestricted gifts.
• Develop public events with History Colorado staff and community partners when appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

• Bachelor’s degree in history, historic preservation, museum studies or related field. Education background requirement is critical due to the nature of the building and the artifacts they house.
• Excellent communications skills and public service experience.
• Experience in working with volunteers.
• Successful candidate must pass a criminal history background check prior to hire.