Supervisor of Evening Programs

Who We Are

Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.

Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 89 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library.

Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today’s evolved tastes. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.

About The Position

The Supervisor of Evening Programs provides leadership support for the department's overall operations. Regularly monitors and adjusts program ticket inventories and works directly with the scheduling department to ensure adequate coverage for all night programming. Provides staff coaching and constructive feedback to ensure staff are consistently delivering world-class guest experiences and impeccable hospitality while maintaining a healthy and positive work environment for all employees. May also work with the Manager to develop, direct, and manage assigned programs as needed. The work schedule requires flexibility and includes weekends, holidays, and evenings.

Main Duties:

• Directly supervises and oversees day-to-day operations of all Evening Programs and staff to ensure the consistent delivery of excellent guest experiences through high-quality programming and performances
• Communicate regularly and effectively with Evening Programs staff
• Ensure compliance and consistent application of the Foundation’s policies.
• Work with the Manager and Scheduling Department to create and manage monthly staff schedules in a timely fashion to ensure proper coverage of all necessary shifts
• Coordinate new employee onboarding training, rehearsals, and costume fittings
• Manage evening programs ticket inventory to achieve the most efficient and effective use of staff, venues, and demand with sensitive capacities, and coordinate with Group Sales, Concierge Staff, Visitor Center, and other point of sales outlets.
• Collaborate with the Special Events team by providing staffing and leadership support for Historic Area events and special programs.
• Take appropriate action to ensure the safety and comfort of our guests, staff, and historic assets.
• Model appropriate behavior for the team, demonstrating exceptional communication and treating every member of their team fairly and consistently.
• Oversee all required paperwork, including program reports, time records, work-related accident reports, etc., in a neat, accurate, and timely manner.
• Handle last-minute program and staffing changes to provide the best possible experience for our guests.
• Ensure overall tour and program quality control by regularly monitoring staff performance
• Monitor and enforce compliance with all safety policies, and procedures for handling “open flames” (e.g. candles, cressets, bonfires, guns, cannons, etc.)
• Use knowledge of and ensure compliance with the Foundation’s Conservation and Collections policies to protect artifacts, sites, buildings, and other historic assets.
• Ensure costuming guidelines are maintained, and if a costume is not required, then ensure that staff are to be neatly groomed and professionally attired.
• Document all employee performance issues, both positive and corrective.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Theatrical experience in stage management, directing, and/or production management
• Experience developing and performing interpretations in character.
• Working knowledge of MS Office and Tessitura
• Significant leadership experience in museum theatre training and coaching interpreters
  
  

Key Skills / Competencies:

• Significant knowledge of American colonial history and society, with focus on 18th century Virginia and Williamsburg.
• Awareness of the practices and trends in the public history field and appreciation of contemporary issues and trends in modem American Society.
• Proven leadership skills, including the ability to establish and communicate goals which support the mission of the organization, to develop strategies to support the goals, and to gain confidence and support of a diverse workforce to achieve those goals.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor, model and lead a cohesive team of diverse individuals, focusing on a common goal and mission.
• Demonstrates excellent verbal, written and public speaking skills.
• Communicates with confidence and is disciplined, persuasive, diplomatic and principled with negotiating skills when building consensus.
• Knowledge of key project management skills, including change facilitation, collaboration, critical and strategic thinking, organization acumen, and planning and resource management, all accomplished with an orientation to serve multiple stakeholders.
• Knowledge of museum operations, including experience with interpretation, program planning and management, and effective use of resources.
• Proven ability to identify problems and solutions. Ability to develop, research, plan, organize, implement and complete projects.
• Proven ability to solicit feedback, facilitate teamwork, practice open two-way communication and work effectively as a team member with all staff at different levels of the division and Foundation.
  
  

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Up to 50 lbs occasionally, up to 100 lbs with assistance.
• Prolonged periods walking or on your feet in all weather and climates.
  
  

Typical Work Schedule: Full-time position with flexible hours including evening hours. Typically, shifts may be 2 pm - 10 pm,

including weekends and holidays

This is a non-exempt position, eligible to receive overtime in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This position may be subject to overtime during high peak times, etc. as directed and approved by the supervisor.