Historic Curatorship Program Project Manager, Department of Conservation and Recreation, Boston MA
Posted April 22, 2014
Duties:
The Department of Conservation and Recreation manages one of the largest and most diverse state parks systems in the nation and protects and enhances natural resources and outdoor recreational opportunities throughout Massachusetts. The DCR system includes over 450,000 acres of parks, forests, water supply protection lands, beaches, lakes, ponds, playgrounds, swimming pools, golf courses, skating rinks, trails and parkways.
The Department of Conservation and Recreation seeks qualified applicants for the position Regional Planner III.
The Historic Curatorship Program Project Manager is responsible for carrying out assigned duties and responsibilities relative to DCR’s historic resource management activities including, but not limited to providing project management support for the Historic Curatorship Program, a leasing program of underutilized historic properties under the control of DCR. The program preserves state-owned but unused significant historic properties by seeking outside parties interested in exchanging skills and sweat equity for a long-term lease. The program has preserved 20 historic properties since 1994, representing an outside investment of over $16 million. Reuses must be compatible with the historic and natural character of the resource and the park and proposals are evaluated based on experience in rehabilitating historic properties, the feasibility of the proposed reuse, proof of sufficient resources and level of public benefit.
Act as Project Manager in the planning, implementation and monitoring of historic preservation projects including coordination of all policies, procedures and activities related to the Historic Curatorship Program; and participate in other assigned capital projects, management plans and other initiatives involving projects with a cultural resource component.
Assist the Program Manager in the prioritization and planning for projects related to properties eligible for the Historic Curatorship Program, with the overall goal of stabilizing threatened properties, or performing improvements which will make a property more marketable to a future Curatorship partner; review and comment on rehabilitation plans and projects to ensure compliance with historic preservation standards
Coordinate reviews with Office of Cultural Resource staff, including the DCR Archaeologist, DCR Engineering Staff, DCR Legal Staff, the Massachusetts Historical Commission, State Building Inspectors, MA Architectural Access Board, local historic commissions and any other pertinent regulatory authorities.
Conduct annual or biannual inspections of existing Historic Curatorship properties to ensure compliance with leases, specifically compliance with rehabilitation and maintenance requirements and adherence to historic preservation requirements including MGL Ch. 9, §26-27C and rehabilitation, as well as all other pertinent state and local regulation; document all Curator activity, including annual investment and update the progress of any rehabilitation and maintenance projects;
Prepare conditions assessments, and provide recommendations and cost estimates for eligible Historic Curatorship properties for use in the production of Requests for Proposals for new Curatorship solicitations.
Develop scopes and contract work related to the evaluation, stabilization, rehabilitation and maintenance of DCR historic properties; oversee solicitation, evaluation, selection, management and payment of contractors and consultants on evaluation, design and construction projects for Historic Curatorship Program properties and other historic properties, including partnership grant projects; research historic records, previous engineering reports and planning materials to aid in the development of stabilization and rehabilitation planning
Assist Program Manager in other program activities, including evaluating new properties for inclusion in the program, soliciting new properties for proposals and coordinating public benefit activities.
Provide support to the Resource Management Planning Staff in the preparation of the Cultural Resources section of the Resource management Plans; support includes documentation of cultural resources through research and on site GPS identification, writing narrative descriptive sections and providing management recommendations.
Work with Office of Cultural Resource staff to develop procedures, policies, training initiatives and best management practices for the documentation, preservation and management of cultural resources throughout DCR properties.
Provide technical preservation planning assistance to the Bureau of Planning and Resource Management and other divisions of DCR for planning initiatives concerning cultural resources and long term partnerships with outside parties.
Participate in public meetings, educational programs and presentations for DCR staff, special interest groups and the general public.
Respond to requests for information and prepare regular project updates, briefings and press releases.
Perform duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must have at least (A) four years of full-time, or equivalent part-time technical or professional experience in urban or regional planning, environmental planning, transportation planning or land use planning, and (B) of which at least two years must have been in a professional capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.
Substitutions:
I. A Bachelor’s degree with a major in urban or regional planning, environmental planning, urban studies, architecture, landscape architecture, civil, environmental, or transportation engineering or environmental sciences may be substituted for two years of the required (A) experience.*
II. A Graduate degree with a major in urban or regional planning, environmental planning, urban studies, architecture, landscape architecture, civil, environmental, or transportation engineering or environmental studies may be substituted for three years of the required (A)experience and one year of the required (B) experience.
*Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.
NOTE: Educational substitutions will only be permitted for a maximum of three years of the required experience. Substitutions will only be permitted for a maximum of one year of the required (B) experience.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Based on assignment, possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator’s License.
Preferred Qualifications:
Knowledge of the theories, methods and practices of historic rehabilitation, restoration and cultural resource management that enables professional judgments to be made about the identification, documentation, protection and treatment of properties under the care or control of DCR.
Coursework and/or training in Historic Preservation, Architecture, Construction Management referred.
Experience in the preparation of preservation planning and treatment documents, cultural resource inventories, adaptive reuse and historic review and compliance, specifically with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 9, sections 26-27C, is required. Experience in project management of construction, rehabilitation and maintenance projects, in both the design and construction phases, is required.
Strong organizational skills; excellent written and verbal communication skills; flexibility to perform a wide range of assignments and respond the changing deadlines; the ability to work in teams and independently; tact, and good judgment.
Strong working knowledge of computer skills, including word-processing, database management, spreadsheet applications, Powerpoint, Photoshop, Pagemaker, Adobe Acrobat, Illustrator and GIS applications. Experience in software and applications relevant to construction design and planning, such CAD and Google Sketchup is preferred.
Solid knowledge of land planning principles and practices, including the governing regulations, statues and agency policies.
Knowledge of the laws, rules and regulations related to grant and permit application processes.
Ability to interact with public officials .
Ability to interpret complex laws, rules, regulations, policies, and standards.
Ability to ascertain or project the impact of environmental and social planning and development.
Knowledge of state real estate and procurement laws and regulations.
Knowledge of state and municipal governmental process.
Outreach and training coordination.
Strong relationships with Curators, local municipalities, state agencies and inspectional authorities.
How To Apply:
Interested persons should respond in writing, accompanied by a resume, cover letter and a DCR application for employment, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date to:
Penny Carney, Director of Human Resources
Department of Conservation and Recreation
251 Causeway Street, Suite 600
Boston, MA 02114
Attn: Harry Pierre-Mike
An application must be completed and returned with a resume. Resumes will not be considered without an application. Applications are available on the DCR WEB site at www.mass.gov/dcr/ Once on our website, go to “Inside our Agency” and then “Employment”. Links to the various types of applications are there.