Visitor Center Manager

Visitor Center Manager

Description:

Our mission is to preserve the historic legacy of Freedmen’s Town, inspiring all through education and awareness of its unique story. The Conservancy was established in 2016 as a Mayoral Task Force and was formally designated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2018.

Position:

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Visitor Center Manager must manage long-term planning to create initiatives that further the organization’s overall facility management processes and protocols. S/he must be creative and enjoy working within an environment that is mission-driven, results-driven, and community-oriented. The ideal individual will have the ability to exercise good judgment in a variety of situations and will possess strong written and verbal communication, administrative, and organizational skills. The ability to maintain a realistic balance among multiple priorities is imperative. The Visitor Center Manager must be able to work under pressure at times to handle a wide variety of activities and confidential matters with discretion.

Responsibilities:

• Supervises Visitor Center support staff providing input to the Executive Director, i.e. hiring, firing, assigns duties, and promotion; and assist with evaluations

• Update and maintain the Visitor Center tourism website, and related social media websites

• Supervises and directs Visitor Center support staff

• Represents for arranging Visitor Center activities, events, demonstrations, displays, and monthly/annual Tourism Day events

• Oversees maintenance of Visitors Center buildings and arranging for building repairs

• Oversees maintenance appearance and maintenance of the Visitor Center; reports repairs and/or replacements needs of office equipment, furniture, computers, etc., to the Houston Public Library and Executive Director

• Updates and advises the Executive Director of personnel issues

• Manages and monitors needed supply orders within the authority purchasing guidelines

• Completes monthly reports, accident reports, emergency reports, and any other forms deemed necessary

• Assures the Visitor Center is well-stocked with travel publications and brochures

• Maintains a level of confidentiality regarding any/all financial and employee prospects, plans, initiatives, and benefits

• Researches and analyzes the best practices for financial and employee relations

• Arranges for rotating tourism exhibits

• Researches complex and sensitive incidents, complaints and concerns and works with staff and management at all levels of the organization, as well as stakeholders, to achieve solutions

• Supports HFTC financial projects and employee events during all project phases, including planning, project delivery, and operations affairs

• Prepares employee work schedules and approves leave requests and employees’ time sheets

• Communicates and implements safety rules, policies, and procedures in support of the HFTC’s safety, vision, and goals

• Provides day-to-day management and strategic direction to all staff

• Serves as a Travel information Counselor as needed for the traveling public by answering questions about the state’s tourist facilities and attractions, history, government, current events, and highway routing; is familiar with travel and historical brochures, maps, and Authority and State publications that contain information of interest to the state’s visitors

• Contributes to ensuring that Equal Opportunity policies and programs are carried out

• May be required to perform other related job duties as assigned

Education:

Master’s degree in Business Management/Administration, Political Science, HR, Public Policy, Public Administration, or a related field or over 6-10 years’ related experience.

Experience:

Six (6) years of relevant experience or three (3) years of relevant supervisory-level experience planning, implementing, and managing HR/Finance related projects for a government agency, large public works, or corporate/community projects.

Qualifications:

Preferred qualifications are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills and abilities as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are not intended to serve as minimum requirements for the positions. They will support selection decisions throughout the recruitment process. In addition, applicants who possess these preferred qualifications will not automatically be selected. The following are preferred qualifications. Experience creating, managing, and implementing facility processes, protocols, and training. Experience collaborating with local, federal, state agencies and other vendor relations regarding constituent interests in historical and tourism projects.

Ability:

• Comprehensive knowledge of methods, approaches, and procedures involved in travel and tourism promotion; supervisory interviewing skills, training and management

• Customer service, ability to reach road maps, communicate effectively, and deal tactfully and cordially with all types of people

• Thorough skills operating office equipment, hardware, and software

• Ability to direct and evaluate the work of others

• Ability to effectively manage a budget

• Ability to understand and apply Authority accounting practices in the maintenance of financial records

• Ability to express ideas clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with government officials, associates, visitors, industry partners and stakeholders, and the general public

Skills:

• Interpersonal Skills – must be able to effectively communicate with both ED, Management team, and staff to create and administer organizational compliances and policies

• Adaptability to respond quickly to a shifting reality and adjust initiatives and priorities accordingly

• Organizational skills and flexibility to priorities essential functions and projects

• Compose an overall solution on the “BIG” picture to assess company improvements and organizational dilemmas

• A thorough understanding of organizational processes, protocols, and principal factors that establish the core values of the strategic plan and phases

• Public speaking and presenting

• Developing and implementing communication strategies

• Designing, implementing, and managing to promote HFTC’s core values to employees

• Analyzing situations, identifying opportunities and problems, recommending appropriate actions and solutions, and evaluating outcomes

• Exercising sound judgment and creativity within established guidelines

• Researching and framing complex issues for communication to non-technical audiences

Knowledge:

• Conducting meaningful and appropriate outreach to support Tourism projects, events, and programs

• Effectively communicating complex technical information to diverse populations

• Works well with others across departments and agencies

• Represents HFTC before the public and elected officials

• Coordinate multiple projects and tasks and meets criteria deadlines

• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements

• Compile, analyze and interpret complex data

• Prepare clear and comprehensive reports and correspondence

• Supervise, train, and motivate assigned staff consultants

• Interpret technical documents

• Read, write, speak, and understand English

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.