Executive Director

Overview

Friends of Moorefields seeks a collaborative, creative leader with nonprofit experience to serve as its next Executive Director.  The Executive Director will be an effective manager with excellent management and organizational skills and keen enthusiasm for historic preservation, natural resource protection, and community building.  The individual will excel at building strong partnerships with the Board of Directors, donors, and volunteers, as well as historic preservation, conservation, and arts organizations, and will work in partnership with the Board to expand Moorefields’ engagement with the community. 

 The Executive Director reports to the President and is supported by a 10-member volunteer Board of Directors and by focused Board committees.  The ED is encouraged to implement recruitment of volunteers to support the mission of the organization.

 The position is part-time consisting of an average of 20 hours per week, with compensation commensurate with qualifications and experience, and reflective of salary levels in area nonprofit organizations.

 About Moorefields

 The 70-acre Moorefields site, located three miles from downtown Hillsborough, includes the summer home of Alfred Moore: Revolutionary War hero, NC Attorney General, US Supreme Court Justice, and a founder of the University of North Carolina.  The 1785 house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is protected by conservation easements held by the State of North Carolina, Orange County, and the Eno River Association.  The property is owned and managed by the tax-exempt Friends of Moorefields. 

Moorefields has a rich tradition of honoring its history, celebrating the arts, and protecting essential natural areas and wildlife habitats.  The vision of the Friends of Moorefields is to share these qualities by maintaining and preserving the Moorefields historic house and grounds; serving as a valuable resource for research and education, and investigating and sharing with the public the cultural history of all those who lived and worked at Moorefields; fostering appreciation of the arts by engaging diverse audiences in events, programs and educational opportunities; protecting the site’s waterways and natural habitats; and connecting people with nature and history through public engagement, including hosting a segment of the NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail.  Learn more about Moorefields at Moorefields.org.

Education, Skills, and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in history, historic preservation, non-profit management or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Effective writing and communication skills, including fluency with social media, essential.
• Ability to listen and engage with others.
• Proactive about making connections, attending events, and networking with individuals and groups to strengthen and expand strong collaborative relationships with other historic preservation, conservation, and arts organizations.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills.
• Non-profit management competencies including financial management preferred.
• Ability to work with Board and Board committees to oversee management of the historic building, gardens, and agricultural fields.
• Emotional maturity, energy, creativity, confidence, and a sense of humor.
• Ability to work weekend hours to staff Moorefields events.

Position Responsibilities

 Leadership

• Works with the Board of Directors to develop strategic planning and implementation through short-term and longer-term projects.
• Provides leadership in developing and managing projects, programs and activities to support organization goals.
• Works with the Board to secure resources for the financial stability of the organization.
• Strengthens and expands strong collaborative working relationships with local government and local and state-wide historic preservation, conservation, and arts organizations. 
• Promotes diversity among program participants, supporters and volunteers.

 Communications and Development

• Creates and implements effective electronic communication and social media outreach, including a periodic emailed newsletter.
• Updates and maintains the Moorefields website.
• Works with Board to Identify funding opportunities and create and implement an annual fundraising plan, including development and implementation of ideas for increasing the donor base and donor contributions.
• Supports solicitation of Bluegrass Festival sponsors.
• Works with the Board to identify grant opportunities.  Writes and submits grant applications and final reports.

 Finance 

• Works with Treasurer to prepare an annual budget for Board review and provides regular financial status reports to Board.
• Works with Treasurer and CPA to ensure timely payment of the organization’s financial obligations and filing of all required tax and other documents.
• Coordinates with Board to develop measurements and return-on-investment criteria for programs and events.

 Operations

• Staffs Moorefields Board meetings, committees, and workgroups, working with President and committee chairs to prepare agendas.
• Works with the Board, committees, and workgroups to oversee and coordinate operation of the Moorefields site, including repairs, maintenance, grounds work, day-to-day operations, and relationship with tenant.
• Works with Board to plan and implement capital projects and other special projects, including identification of funding sources.
• With Board support, plans and initiates educational programs, special events, and tours at the Moorefields site.
• Recruits, supervises, and schedules volunteers, interns, and grant supported contract employees. 
• Represents Moorefields at meetings and events; networking, building relationships, and being visible in places that benefit the organization.
• As time permits, engages in research about Moorefields’ history and the lives of those who lived here.
• Coordinates with Orange County Parks and Recreation and MST volunteers as needed.

 Events

• Works with the Board to plan and implement the Bluegrass Festival event.
• Works with Board to expand “friend raising” events such as the Wildflower, Birding, and Historic Landscape hikes and other new events.
• When appropriate, solicits sponsorships for events.
• Through volunteer recruitment and training, expands opportunities for people to visit the Moorefields site for guided and self-guided tours.

To apply: 

Submit one document that includes your cover letter, resume, and three references via email to: Pam Hemminger and Robin Jacobs (Co-Chairs, Friends of Moorefields Search Committee) at MoorefieldsSearch@gmail.com

 Applications will be accepted until March 15, 2025 or until the position is filled.