Position Opening: Camp Santanoni Historic Site Manager

Position Available – Full-time, non-exempt annual contract renewable upon continued grant funding

Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH) seeks a full-time Camp Santanoni Historic Site Manager to join our team as the fifth full-time staff member. The Camp Santanoni Historic Site Manager is funded through a grant to strengthen our management and interpretation of Camp Santanoni. The role will include working with NYS DEC on projects within the 32-acre Camp Santanoni Historic Area, reporting to the AARCH Executive Director. This can be a hybrid position with regular days in our Keeseville office and travel to Newcomb multiple days/week between June and October. Local accommodation may be available when in Newcomb upon discussion and approval with the Executive Director.

About AARCH

AARCH is the regional, nonprofit, historic preservation organization for New York State’s Adirondack region, with a mission to further public understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of the Adirondacks’ unique and diverse architectural heritage. AARCH works to preserve the region’s architecture and communities through education, action, and advocacy, partnering with individuals, organizations, businesses, and local governments across the region and beyond. Our office is in a restored mid-19th century stone building in the Keeseville National Register Historic District, overlooking the Ausable River in Keeseville. Keeseville is about 20 minutes south of Plattsburgh in New York’s Champlain Valley and Adirondack Park.

About Great Camp Santanoni

Camp Santanoni is a National Historic Landmark, located in the Adirondack Forest Preserve and in the Essex County town of Newcomb. AARCH manages interpretation and restoration projects at Camp Santanoni in partnership with the site owner, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), and with significant support from the Town of Newcomb.

In 2000, New York State created the 32-acre Camp Santanoni Historic Area, committing to use the site for public educational and recreational purposes. This Historic Area sits within the larger 12,900-acre Santanoni Preserve that is part of the NYS Adirondack Forest Preserve. The 32-acre Historic Area consists of: a Main Camp complex, a collection of rustic buildings situated on secluded Newcomb Lake; a Gate Lodge complex at the entrance to the preserve; and an early 20th century model farm. These complexes are connected by the 4½-mile Newcomb Lake Road, closed to motorized vehicles. Building of this great camp began in 1892 for Robert and Anna Pruyn of Albany. After New York State acquired the site in 1972 and added it to the Adirondack Forest Preserve, Santanoni sat vacant for more than 20 years with an uncertain fate.

Adirondack Architectural Heritage was founded, in part, to preserve and protect Camp Santanoni and has supported its preservation through education, action, and advocacy since 1990. For over 30 years, AARCH has hosted summer staff at Camp Santanoni, funded by the Town of Newcomb, who provide public interpretation through daily tours and complete hands-on preservation projects. AARCH has also created the volunteer Friends of Santanoni, who engage in hands-on volunteer projects at the site, help with different specialized tours and programs, and support the site through contributions and advocacy. Since creation of the Camp Santanoni Historic Area, a Unit Management Plan, and National Historic Landmark designation, almost $3 million in conservation work has been completed and thousands visit the site throughout the year. Learn more about Camp Santanoni at www.greatcampsantanoni.com and www.aarch.org/santanoni.

Primary Objectives

• Grow our outreach and constituency for Camp Santanoni
• Research and record the site’s history to share with the public
• Advance capital restoration projects
• Provide on-site leadership, training, and assistance to summer staff
• Develop and coordinate a group of volunteers who can assist with hands-on or interpretive needs

Responsibilities

Interpretation and Research

• Work with Santanoni Interpretive Coordinator on developing new tours and interpretive themes, especially focusing on expanding representation to tell a complete history of the site
  • Develop and deliver special and regular tours as needed
  • Research these themes for on-site materials (signage)
• Develop and maintain Camp Santanoni Stories oral history website
• Provide support for special events, including outreach and publicity

Capital Projects

• Engage in small hands-on maintenance projects as needed
• Manage capital restoration and maintenance in coordination with the Executive Director and Santanoni Partners (AARCH, Town of Newcomb, NYS DEC)

Intern and Volunteer Coordination

• Hire, train and supervise seasonal interns in coordination with the Executive Director
  • Maintain regular presence on site and serve as a resource to seasonal interns
• Work with the Santanoni Interpretive Coordinator and Santanoni Committee Chair to manage the Friends of Camp Santanoni volunteer group

Outreach

• Engage in public outreach and site marketing, in particular growing regional connections with partners such as the Adirondack Ecological Center at SUNY ESF, Newcomb Historical Museum, Adirondack Experience, along with outreach in service of the seasonal staff program
• Communicate externally through the AARCH and Great Camp Santanoni websites, email newsletters, and social media
• Update and produce printed materials for the site as needed

Qualifications

Qualified applicants will demonstrate educational background and professional experience working in museums, historic sites, and/or historic preservation. The competitive candidate will enjoy regular interactions with the public, be self-motivated and well organized with strong time management skills, an excellent communicator in writing and public speaking, comfortable with social media, proficient in digital photography and Microsoft Office with a willingness to learn new computer programs, comfortable working independently and in a rural community. A valid driver’s license and personal vehicle is required (travel reimbursement at federal rates).

Physical position requirements include the ability to travel in all weather, 4½ miles each way by foot or bicycle on a hilly dirt and gravel carriage path into the Santanoni main camp.

Compensation

This position runs on an annual contract, renewable upon continued funding. The budgeted salary Is $48,000, with an available hybrid work schedule that includes at least half-time on-site between June and October. AARCH provides full individual health care benefit coverage, including vision and dental, and a 403b retirement plan with a contribution match up to 3% of salary. We also offer 2 weeks of vacation after 6 months (rising to 3 weeks after one year of employment), 12 sick days and 13 paid holidays per year.

To Apply

Please submit the following to Erin Tobin, Executive Director, via email erin@aarch.org, by Friday, January 10, 2025, with the subject line “Camp Santanoni Historic Site Manager Application” and the following:

•            Cover letter responding to this position description
•            Resume
•            Three professional references (confidential pending applicant interview)

Adirondack Architectural Heritage is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. AARCH encourages applications from all qualified individuals, in particular racial and ethnic minorities under-represented in our profession, and will consider all applications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Preferred start date by March 1, 2025.