Regrettably, the Board of Trustees announces that Dr. Megan Cullen Tewell will be leaving her role as Executive Director of the Heritage Alliance effective March 29, 2024. Dr. Tewell has received an exciting new opportunity at another institution, allowing her to spend more time with her family. Although we are saddened by this loss, we wish her the best with this new chapter, and part on good terms.

Dr. Tewell previously worked as Programming Coordinator at the Heritage Alliance from October 2019 to March 2023, and has served as Executive Director since January 2024, following Mrs. Anne G’Fellers-Mason. She will continue with the Heritage Alliance in a limited capacity through April 2024, as the organization searches for a new Executive Director. That search will begin in April 2024; we are confident that we will recruit the right candidate to lead our organization into the future.

The Heritage Alliance would also like to announce that Mr. Gordon Edwards has been appointed President of the Board of Trustees, effective March 2024, replacing Mr. Fred Counts, who remains a board member in good standing. Mr. Edwards has served on the Board, and as President, prior. He has been recognized for his continued commitment to the organization since 2011, and the Heritage Alliance welcomes his experience and leadership. Mr. Edwards will serveas the new point of contact for Heritage Alliance partners and stakeholders, as well as the public, until a new Executive Director has been selected.

Although this is a time of change, the Heritage Alliance remains strong and viable, offering important services and resources to the community. Our organization will continue operations as usual; as ever, we are committed to our mission and to our partnerships. We welcome questions and are glad to provide additional information upon request. Exciting things are truly ahead!

Sincerely,
Gordon M. Edwards, President
The Heritage Alliance Board of Trustee

SCOPE OF WORK:

Under the supervision of the Executive Director, the Site Manager is responsible for all aspects of running the Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum (CISHSM). Such responsibilities include visitor relations, volunteer training, collections management, exhibit development, and program administration. The Site Manager is responsible for managing the collections, maintaining proper collections record keeping, and accessing, cataloging, inventorying, and monitoring additions to those collections. Additionally, the Site Manager is responsible for researching, planning, and developing regular, rotating exhibits on pertinent historical topics. Coordinating with the Executive Director and relevant museum personnel, the Site Manager will participate in concepting, developing, and initiating educational and outreach programs for the museum, including traveling exhibits. The Site Manager shall inform and advise the Executive Director and the Board of Trustees on the current state of the collection and historical site, including conservation needs, environmental conditions, storage, feasibility of exhibition or collections movement, and direct care of the artifacts. The Site Manager will provide appropriate training for volunteer docents and manage scheduling. The Site Manager will also be responsible for regularly cleaning the museum and for preparing the space to participate in Town of Jonesborough events. Furthermore, the Site Manager will create educational programs and materials based around the artifacts in the museum, for school groups and general visitors. K-12 programs and materials will be appropriate for various grade levels and align with state and local history education standards, as well as museum best practices.

Please note, this job involves weekend working hours and working hours that extend after 5:00 pm. Regarding physical demands, this position requires regular standing, walking, sitting, talking, and hearing while performing the duties of this job. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Work is seasonal with 20 hours a week from January to February, 25 hours a week from March to April and from November to December, and 28 hours a week from May to October. Compensation begins at $11.50 per hour, with the possibility of additional future compensation based on performance and the organization’s budget.

SITE MANAGER RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Responsible for collections management and care;
2. Responsible for security and maintenance of the historic site;
3. Responsible for training volunteer docents;
4. Responsible for coordinating with volunteer docents to create a monthly; calendar/schedule for the Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum;
5. Responsible for appropriately cleaning artifacts on display, as well as the museum’s public spaces;
6. Responsible for working with school groups, visitors, and the general public;
7. Responsible for collaborating with other organizations and institutions.

INTERPRETATION

3. Plan and implement all permanent and temporary exhibits, as well as interpretative programs, in alignment with the Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum’s mission;
4. Responsible for research activities;
5. Provide tours of Chester Inn Museum and, when possible, the town of Jonesborough;
6. Write articles pertaining to exhibits and events at the Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum for the Heritage Alliance’s quarterly newsletter, The Link, and website;
7. Write press releases and other materials for new exhibits and programs;
8. Create and share appropriate written content for the museum’s Facebook page;
9. Create and promote appropriate videos for the museum’s YouTube channel.

QUALIFICATIONS

An advanced degree or course work in museum studies, history, heritage tourism, and /or Public History is desirable. Work experience should include museum employment and familiarity with standard museum operation procedures, as well as exhibit development, interpretive principles, material culture principles, and collections care. The ideal candidate will be self-motivated and creative, able to maintain existing programs as well as conceive, develop, and execute new ones.  We seek a creative, outgoing candidate who possesses strong writing and people skills. It is essential that the Site Manager have experience and skill interacting with the general public, as they are often the first face that many people interact with when visiting Jonesborough, TN.

HOW TO APPLY

Send your resume, cover letter, and two letters of reference to Mr. Fred Counts, Board President, at info@heritageall.org. Application materials are due by 5:00 pm EST on Thursday, February 17, 2024. For more information, you may call the office of the Heritage Alliance at 423-753-9580 or visit our website at www.heritageall.org.

Link to PDF application here.

The Heritage Alliance is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.