Division Director for Historic Sites Business Operations | Austin, TX

Job Description

THC - Division Director for Historic Sites Business Operations (Director III) (00056647)

Organization: TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
 
Primary Location: Texas-Austin
 
Work Locations: Rusk Bldg 208 E 10th Street 3rd Floor  Austin 78711
 
Job: Business and Financial Operations
 
Employee Status: Regular
 
Schedule: Full-time
 
Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00
 
Travel: Yes, 25 % of the Time
 
Salary (Pay Basis): 9,500.00 - 10,416.66 (Monthly)
 
Job Posting: Mar 4, 2026, 2:07:07 PM
 
Closing Date: Mar 18, 2026, 11:59:00 PM
 

Description

JOB OBJECTIVE:  The Division Director for Business Operations is a senior management position that reports directly to the Chief Historic Sites Officer within the Texas Historical Commission (THC). This role is responsible for comprehensive administration and management oversight for 42 historic properties across Texas. Key responsibilities include:

• Earned Revenue Activities: Developing and implementing strategies to increase revenue generation at historic sites, which may involve fostering entrepreneurial ventures, expanding commercial opportunities, and establishing an e-commerce presence to market site-related products and experiences.
• Capital Construction Projects: Overseeing the planning, execution, and completion of major construction and restoration projects at historic properties, ensuring compliance with preservation standards, budgetary constraints, and timelines.
• Community Planning Initiatives: Collaborating with local communities, stakeholders, and governmental agencies to integrate historic sites into broader heritage tourism and economic development efforts, thereby promoting community engagement and sustainable site stewardship.
• Routine Maintenance Operations: Managing ongoing maintenance and operational activities to preserve the integrity, safety, and accessibility of historic properties, including supervision of staff responsible for day-to-day site care.

This position requires a high level of organizational leadership, strategic planning, and business acumen to steward Texas’s historic sites successfully. The Division Director for Business Operations also serves as a key liaison with the Governor-appointed commission on matters related to state historic sites and plays an active role in shaping public awareness and engagement with Texas history.

1.       Provide comprehensive oversight and management of historic sites staff and business operations, including direct supervision of Capital Construction projects, Routine Maintenance operations, Community Engagement initiatives, Retail earned revenue activities, event planning for historic sites, and other operational functions.

2.       Lead and enhance communication and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of museum, cultural resource, and historic sites professionals, support, and maintenance personnel at both the Historic Sites Division Headquarters and field offices statewide.

3.       Inspire staff to effectively communicate, demonstrate creativity, and apply innovative approaches in their roles, particularly in the planning and executing construction, restoration, and maintenance projects that preserve the integrity and accessibility of historic properties.

4.       Oversee the planning, execution, and completion of major Capital Construction and restoration projects at historic properties, ensuring strict adherence to preservation standards, budgetary constraints, and established timelines.

5.       Manage ongoing Routine Maintenance operations to safeguard each site's safety, functionality, and historical value, including supervising personnel responsible for day-to-day site care.

6.       Provide leadership in developing, managing, and evaluating the division budget, including allocations for construction, maintenance, and community programming. Serve as the secondary liaison to the Governor-appointed Commission on all state historic site-related matters, communicating project progress, operational updates, and strategic initiatives.

7.       Develop and implement strategies to foster entrepreneurial and commercial ventures, grow Retail earned revenue—including establishing and managing an e-commerce presence—and oversee on-site retail outlets and merchandising activities. Work closely with the Communications Division to design and execute innovative marketing strategies that increase visitation, public awareness, and engagement with state historic sites through events, publications, and social media campaigns.

8.       Lead Community Engagement initiatives by collaborating with local communities, stakeholders, and governmental agencies to integrate historic sites into broader heritage tourism and economic development efforts. Support and encourage site staff participation in community activities and foster partnerships that enhance the visibility and impact of historic sites.

9.       Direct event planning and execution at state historic sites, ensuring that programming—including adult and youth educational events, tours, and special activities—effectively promotes Texas history and enriches the visitor experience.

10.   Ensure exemplary communication and coordination between the Austin office and field offices to achieve excellence and consistency in the execution of cultural resource management standards and policies, aligning operations with Commission directives and business objectives. Motivate staff to continually improve their performance and communication, maintain a productive and team-oriented work environment, and address performance issues promptly and effectively.

11.   Support and guide historic sites operational directors in developing and meeting strategic operational plans, addressing programmatic challenges, and solving problems using sound judgment and analytical skills. Communicate regularly and effectively with the Deputy Executive Director of Historic Sites, keeping them informed of issues affecting the division and its operations, and involving them in matters sensitive to external stakeholders or policy questions.

12.   Manage special assignments related to state agencies and partner organizations, report regularly to the Deputy Executive Director on these assignments and recommend improvements for cooperation and interaction. Advise on changes in the allocation of funds and personnel to meet long-term program needs, address evolving business strategies, and implement priorities set by the Executive Director and Commission.

13.   Assist in presenting division updates at quarterly commission meetings, develop and implement the agency’s strategic plan—including the State Historic Preservation plan—and support recruiting, hiring, training, and performance evaluations for the division. Adhere to established work schedules, maintain regular attendance, and follow all THC safety guidelines, procedures, and ethics requirements.

14.   Assist with recruiting, hiring, training, and performance evaluations for the division.

15.   Adhere to the established work schedule with regular attendance.

16.   Follow all THC safety guidelines/procedures and ethics requirements.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

17.   Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS (The application must specifically state how each of the following qualifications are met):

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in strategic or operational management, cultural/heritage resource management or planning, public or non-profit business administration, or closely related field;
• Minimum eight years’ professional experience in management, strategic business planning, organizational change, business success in market/earned revenue growth, and personnel goal setting, restructuring, and oversight at a senior management level;
• Work experience in supervising or leading a team to successfully achieve results;
• Experience conducting employee coaching and counseling, and managing operational and employee performance and change management, addressing performance issues;
• Demonstrated success in business growth in expanding operational structures, markets, and earned revenue;
• Effective experience in staff management and organization restructuring;
• Experience making presentations to groups, communities, and executive-level staff;
• Ability to work with people at all levels of professional expertise in the agency’s programs (including architects, archeologists, historians, interpretive specialists, curators, grounds keepers, etc.);
• Knowledge of Texas history and of cultural institutions and resource management principles regarding museum and cultural/heritage business operations;
• Ability to maintain the security or integrity of the critical infrastructure;
• Valid Texas driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and ability to drive a state vehicle; and
• Required to travel up to 20% of the work period.

PREFER:

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a master’s degree or higher in strategic or operational management, business, planning, business administration, public or non-profit business administration, cultural/heritage resource management or a closely related field with a minimum five years of professional senior management experience in management of complex business structures and organizations with large staff with diverse backgrounds;
• Experience with public agency administrative practices, including Human Resources, procurement, and risk management;
• Demonstrated interest in Texas history and knowledge in cultural/heritage organizational management and standards.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Thorough knowledge of financial management principles and procedures;
• Knowledge of preservation standards/ethics and museum management practices and methodologies;
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, including pronouncements that apply to not-for-profit organizations and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board;
• Knowledge detailing project management skills and strategies;
• Excellent leadership, management, team building, and strategic planning skills;
• Effective verbal and written communication, human relations, and organizational skills;
• Skill in providing customer service excellence to both internal and external customers;
• Skill in operating a personal computer with word processing, database, and spreadsheet software;
• Effective critical thinking skills;
• Ability to manage short and long-term financial planning;
• Ability to analyze problems, evaluate alternatives and recommend effective solutions;
• Ability to process information in logical manner and to assess validity;
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet strict deadlines while maintaining extreme attention to detail;
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment;
• Ability to adapt successfully and quickly to change and deliver quality results in a timely manner;  
• Ability to plan, organize and work independently, as well as within a team environment;
• Ability to work in a setting requiring self-motivation/cooperative decision-making and to work effectively with diverse groups of people;
• Ability to establish goals and objectives and to devise solutions to problems;
• Ability to organize information and provide clear audit trails for documentation;
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion; and
• Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.

Learn more & apply: https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/808/jobdetail.ftl?job=00056647&tz=GMT-06%3A00&tzname=America%2FChicago