Location: Charleston, SC
Reports To: Chairman, Board of Commissioners
Starting Salary: Commensurate with experience ($90,000)
FLSA Status: Exempt
Closing Date:
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The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission seeks a dynamic, non-profit executive with significant experience in community engagement and resource development for the 12,000-square-mile Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, a National Heritage Area. Our mission is to collaborate with Gullah Geechee communities and partners to preserve, interpret and share the history, traditional cultural practices, heritage sites, and natural resources associated with Gullah Geechee people in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
POSITION:
The Executive Director has overall strategic and operational responsibility for implementing the Management Plan for the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor NHA and for managing staff, programs, and execution of the organization’s mission. A copy of our Management Plan can be downloaded at http://www.gullahgeecheecorridor.org/index.php/about-us/resources/management-plan.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Management: The director designs and supervises the organization’s operations to ensure the cost-effective implementation of the Management Plan and ensures that all requirements are met to remain in good standing as a federal National Heritage Area. Responsible for recruiting staff and partner organizations to realize the organization's mission. Currently the GGCHC employs one full-time Program Coordinator and a part-time Operations Manager.
Program: Provides leadership and direction needed to support a broad-range of community-driven cultural heritage programs and projects. The Executive Director:
- develops public, educational programs that recognize the important contributions made to American culture and history by Gullah Geechee people.
- Assists a wide range of federal, state and local governments and public and private entities in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida in interpreting and sharing the story of the Gullah Geechee people.
- collaborates with communities and other partners to assist in identifying and preserving sites, historical data, artifacts, and objects associated with Gullah Geechee people for the benefit and education of the public.
Financial: Executive Director guides the planning and operation of the organization’s annual budget. Oversees the adequacy and soundness of the organization’s financial structure, fiscal policies and performance. Works with staff to apply for grants and private funding to support the initiatives of the organization.
External Relationships: Executive Director acts as a spokesperson for the organization, and promotes the GGCHC and its mission to local, regional, national, and international constituencies. Responsible for creating innovative partnerships that contribute to the organizational mission.
Strategic Planning: Executive Director works with GGCHC Commission to review and measure progress toward long range and near-term goals and objectives in the Management Plan. Will also have responsibility for implementing new strategic plans relating to preserving Gullah Geechee land ownership and growing heritage tourism.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Three or more years of non-profit management experience.
- Ideal candidate will also have demonstrated knowledge of Gullah Geechee heritage, cultural and historic preservation, historic interpretation, and heritage tourism as it relates to the mission and work of the organization.
- Candidate must be proficient with financial management skills, including budget preparation and grants management.
- Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, including strong public speaking and social media skills.
- Position requires significant, regional and weekend travel.
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
This full-time position is based on Johns Island, South Carolina. Salary will be commensurate with experience and will start at $90,000 per year. Benefits include two-weeks paid leave, health insurance subsidy and full reimbursement for work-related, travel expenses.
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About the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission
The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission was designated by an act of Congress on October 12, 2006 through the National Heritage Areas Act of 2006. The Corridor is one of the country's 49 National Heritage Areas. The Corridor was created to:
- Recognize the important contributions made to American culture and history by African Americans known as Gullah Geechee who settled in the coastal counties of South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida.
- Assist state and local governments and public and private entities in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida in interpreting the story of the Gullah Geechee and preserving Gullah Geechee folklore, arts, crafts, and music.
- Assist in identifying and preserving sites, historical data, artifacts, and objects associated with the Gullah Geechee for the benefit and education of the public.
The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor extends from Pender County, NC, to St. Johns County, FL, and extends 30 miles inland. It covers more than 12,000 square miles and 27 counties and includes coastal communities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Throughout the Corridor today there are Gullah Geechee communities, made up of direct descendants of West and Central Africans who survived the Middle Passage across the Atlantic Ocean and were enslaved for almost two centuries to labor on coastal plantations in the Corridor.