Visitor Services Manager (Historian II)

Visitor Services Manager (Historian II)

Salary

$63,732.03 - $111,531.06 Annually

Location

FRYING PAN PARK, 2709 WEST OX ROAD, HERNDON (DF04), VA

Job Type

FT Salary W BN

Job Number

26-01390

Department

Park Authority

Opening Date

09/12/2026

Closing Date

9/25/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Pay Grade

S22

Posting Type

Open to General Public

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Announcement

Join the Park Authority and our nationally recognized team of professionals! This position works as a part of one of the most highly regarded park systems in the country. With more than 25,000 acres of parkland, nine Recenters, eight golf courses, three lakefront parks, and more, FCPA is an exciting organization to be a part of and there are many opportunities for staff to make a difference at every level. Frying Pan Farm Park, a very active, 135-acre park with diverse facilities including a working 1920s-1950's farm, equestrian center, historic buildings, visitor center and more. The park has over 750,000 visitors each year. The site hosts a multitude of large events each year, including one which is a large 4-day event.

This position leads long term planning for and directs daily operations of visitor services including managing the sites interpretation, exhibit/display care and creation, camps, volunteer program, training, managing large events, and retail store operations. Also manages the historic artifact collections onsite, including monitoring condition of historic buildings and operations for the park. Assists with natural and cultural and resource projects, managing all sales and ticketing, rentals, and financial transactions, preparing administrative reports and plans, regular budget exercises and record keeping, office management, management of weekend and volunteer program staff, safety/security training and inspections, human resource functions, and assisting with outreach and advertising. Position will require weekend work as well as some evenings during events/programs. This position is one of the Park Authoritys emergency personnel positions and is on call for alarms. Serves as assistant site manager taking on site manager duties in the absence of the site manager.

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.)

• Directs all aspects of visitor programs and activities including staffing, facility use, security, safety, resource protection, visitor control, operating procedures and hours of operation, and procurement of supplies, equipment and services;
• Assists site manager in the research, writing, implementation and evaluation of the site's annual operational plan, project plans, prospectus and interpretive plan, including goals and objectives for delivering programs and services;
• Plans, develops, and executes site programming and interpretation including the planning, development and evaluation of site events, tours, exhibits, museum education, and outreach programs;
• Manages site historic artifact collections ensuring compliance with guidelines for interpretation, security, and maintenance procedures;
• Investigates and responds to citizen complaints and concerns;
• Assists in the development of, and accounting for, the site annual budget, including donated funds;
• Supervises submission of cash reports and required reporting of management indicators such as visitation, program numbers, and project accounting;
• Disburses site petty cash funds;
• Recruits, interviews, selects, trains, supervises, sets priorities and work schedules, assigns projects, and evaluates paid and volunteer staff;
• Coordinates historic collections activity in areas of conservation, documentation, and interpretation;
• Develops and implements a division-wide publications and promotions program including a quarterly division publication to enhance understanding of the resource management division's mission, functions, and operations;
• Develops and implements division and/or site promotional, advertising and marketing tools, utilizing appropriate media to reach targeted audiences.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Knowledge of American and regional history;
• Knowledge of historical research procedures;
• Knowledge of the principles of historic education and interpretation;
• Knowledge of the principles, methods and practices of historical park or museum management;
• Knowledge of curatorial practices and procedures;
• Ability to conduct comprehensive historical research and prepare factual reports on historical issues;
• Ability to provide technical resource and program leadership to historian staff;
• Ability to perform effective administrative work including budgeting, human resource management, purchasing, and the development of short- and long-range operational plans;
• Ability to manage and operate interpretation/conservation programs at a site;
• Ability to program and coordinate major special activities;
• Ability to supervise paid and volunteer staff engaged in professional historian and technical support positions;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Ability to deal effectively with citizen inquiries and complaints;
• Ability to develop and maintain working relationships with staff and the general public.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in American history, American studies, archaeology, museum education, or a closely related field; plus, two years of progressively responsible experience in museum or historical site interpretation, collections, education and/or research, or closely related field.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

Drivers license (required)

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of local natural and cultural history.
• Experience in planning, coordinating, and conducting natural and/or cultural history interpretive programs.
• Experience writing interpretative exhibits, blogs and/or brochures.
• Knowledge of or experience in caring for historical buildings and artifacts.
• Experience operating a visitor center/nature center.
• Experience with financial management, analysis, and budgets.
• Experience supervising paid and/or volunteer staff.
• Ability to work well with the public and colleagues.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Professional NAI certification.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to communicate, see, and hear and climb stairs. Ability to lift 35 lbs. Ability to stand, sit, walk on rough, uneven terrain on park trails. Ability to work in varying weather conditions. All duties may be performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

Panel interview; may include exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.

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Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Contributory Retirement Plan
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees Child Care Center
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click here for a summary of our benefits.

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program: Public Service Loan Forgiveness | Federal Student Aid

For additional details please visit the Countys benefits webpage.

Non-Merit Positions

• Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage

• Flexible Spending Program

• Deferred Compensation

• Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.

• No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associates degree
• Bachelors degree
• Masters degree
• Doctorate degree

02

If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03

Please indicate the major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.

• American history
• American studies
• Archaeology
• Museum education
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not applicable

04

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".

05

Do you currently possess a valid drivers license?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have NAI Certification?

• Yes
• No

07

How many years of full-time equivalent progressively responsible experience do you have in museum or historical site interpretation, collections, education and/or research, or closely related field? (Progressively responsible experience: Refers to tasks, job duties, or roles that demonstrate growth and/or advancement in complexity, difficulty, or level of responsibility.)

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six or more years

08

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have in interpretation/programming, environmental or historical education, or a closely related field?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

09

What knowledge do you have of local and regional resources? Check the one that best describes your understanding.

• Little understanding of agriculture, animal husbandry, and cultural resources
• Some understanding of local agriculture, animal husbandry, and cultural resources
• Significant knowledge and understanding of local agriculture, animal husbandry, and cultural resources
• None of the above

10

How many years of full-time equivalent customer service experience do you have?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four or less than five years
• Five or more years

11

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have supervising volunteer or paid staff?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

12

For which functions have you had responsibility in your present or previous positions? Check all that apply.

• Developed a new interpretive program
• Written interpretative natural and cultural history exhibits, blogs, brochures, or other publications for the public Developed event fliers or brochures
• Created programing or an event (s) that generated revenue $1500 or more
• Developed and managed an annual program plan that generates $25,000 or more each year
• Developed and managed an expense and revenue budget for programming, events, retail store
• Manage care for historic buildings, collections, and artifacts
• Develops and leads agricultural and animal husbandry related activities
• Developed and managed an annual budget
• Responsible for operations of a natural area, nature center, or historic site
• None of the above

13

For which functions have you had responsibility in your present or previous positions? Check all that apply.

• Assist in the development of an annual interpretive plan.
• Assist in the development of an annual operations plan
• Writing an event operations and business plan
• Serving as a liaison with community groups and associations
• Managing revenue generating programs
• Working with individual and/groups of volunteers
• Submitting an award nominations or recognition for staff or volunteers
• Obtaining grant funding
• Coordinating a large special event
• Overseeing contract services
• Developing new client sales
• Overseeing and directing summer camp programs
• None of the above

14

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have planning and executing large events?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

15

This position will require weekend and some evenings shifts. Can you work this shift?

• Yes
• No

16

Are you proficient in any of the following Microsoft Office Suite applications? Check all that apply.

• Outlook (Composing email messages; sending and receiving email messages; organizing email messages into folders; managing contacts; scheduling appointments & meetings, managing tasks)
• Word (Knowledge of common functions such as creating a title; using, modifying, and creating styles; indenting paragraphs; using tabs and tables; inserting a hard page break; using page numbering; creating headers and footers; inserting graphics; adding comments and tracking changes)
• PowerPoint (Creating a template and working with a design template; working with graphics, animation and multimedia; building interactive presentations using hyperlinks)
• Excel (Basic knowledge of creating a worksheet; performing calculations in a worksheet; modifying and formatting a worksheet; printing workbook contents; creating and modifying pivot tables; using formulas and links to other cells/worksheets)
• Teams (Creating and editing Teams channel posts; adding members to channels; knowledge of meeting controls such as recording, breakout rooms, screen sharing; understanding teams and SharePoint relationship; manage shared files and permissions)
• None of the above

Required Question

Employer Fairfax County

Address 12000 Government Center Pkwy. Suite 270

Fairfax, Virginia, 22035

Phone 703-324-3311

Website http://agency.governmentjobs.com/fairfaxcounty/default.cfm