HISTORIC PRESERVATION SPECIALIST

Job Details

Salary: $68,099.20 - $104,062.40 Annually

Location : Arlington, VA

Job Type: Full-Time Permanent

Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number: 1505-24G-PHD-BH

Department: Community Planning, Housing and Development

Division: CPHD Neighborhood Services

Opening Date: 04/12/2024

Closing Date: 5/9/2024 11:59 PM Eastern

Position Information

This is a re-announcement; those who have previously applied do not need to apply again.

Arlington County's Community Planning, Housing & Development (CPHD) department is seeking a Historic Preservation Specialist for its Neighborhood Services Division (NSD) and the Historic Preservation Program (HPP). The HPP helps identify, document, and preserve Arlington's historic resources and cultural heritage. The team enforces the Historic Preservation Ordinance, including supporting the functions, committees, and activities of the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB), while promoting historic preservation through a variety of special projects such as reviewing and approving Certificates of Appropriateness (CoAs) in the County's 42 local historic districts.

Specific duties include:

• Conducting regular monitoring and CoA-related inspections in all the County's 42 local historic districts;
  
• Maintaining a working knowledge of the design guidelines applicable to protected historic properties;
  
• Creating, recording, and maintaining field data, correspondence, and documentation for CoA applications in progress, building permits issued, and CoA-related inspections and/or compliance issues;
  
• Receiving and processing CoA-related complaints and working with the Historic Preservation Planner to assist customers pursuing compliance;
  
• Leading civic engagement efforts for major projects of the HPP, such as the ongoing outreach for the recently approved Historic and Cultural Resources Plan, revisions to local historic district design guidelines, and inter-departmental initiatives involving historic preservation, cultural heritage, and/or heritage tourism;
  
• Planning, developing, and implementing historic preservation-related outreach and educational activities/programming to a broad and diverse range of the community, such as via special events, the HPP's e-newsletter, County website, historic markers, and other informational media;
  
• Providing technical preservation guidance to various community and internal constituents, including property owners, residents, management companies, architects, contractors, the public, the HALRB, and other County staff;
  
• Evaluating and approving various types of trade and building permits for historic properties; and
  
• Helping maintain the HPP's records collection and making those records more accessible to the public.

The ideal candidate will have strong oral and written communication skills to effectively convey preservation or land use laws, policies, and procedures to the public as well as having the ability to read and interpret construction drawings and land use development maps and plans along with excellent organizational skills to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

Selection Criteria

Minimum:

• Bachelor's degree in Historic Preservation, Public History, Architecture, History, Urban Planning or field directly related to program area; and
  
• Some professional experience in a preservation- or urban planning-focused organization.

Substitution: Additional qualifying experience may substitute for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis. A Master's degree or higher may be substituted for some of the experience requirement.

Desirable: Preference may be given to candidates with a Master's degree in a related field and in possession of one or more of the following:

• Experience enforcing zoning ordinances, land use policies, and/or historic district design guidelines;
  
• Experience with historic preservation zoning ordinances and collaborating with a public board and/or commission on historic preservation projects and/or policies;
  
• Experience planning and executing a range of educational/outreach events with a focus on historic preservation, architecture, and/or cultural heritage;
  
• Experience managing large-scale and long-term projects; and/or
  
• Ability to communicate in Spanish (oral and/or writing skills).

Special Requirements

Driver's License: This position will require travel around Arlington County for various meetings and field inspections. The applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver's license. The applicant must authorize Arlington County to obtain or provide a copy of their official driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant's driving record.

Cover Letter: Please attach a cover letter or supplemental question response to your online application addressing your interest in this position and detailing how your experience and accomplishments meet the selection criteria requirements.
Additional Information

Work Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with 2-3 days of telework per week available. Some evening and weekend work will be required to attend community meetings, HALRB meetings, and special events.

Your responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire are considered part of the selection process. Please do not enter "see resume" as a response to the questions.

Each section of the application must be completed. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for the completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The official title for this position is Management Specialist.

All Management Specialists are eligible for County government employee benefits that include health, dental, vacation and sick leave, commuter transportation subsidies, tuition reimbursement, as well as a generous retirement plan.

For more information on Arlington County's generous benefits and retirement plan, click here.

Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs. Learn more about our commitment.

#LI-Hybrid

Applicants who have questions or need assistance with the application may telephone (703) ###-#### or visit the Human Resources Department. Our staff will be happy to work with you to enter your application into the system. Public access computers are available at all County Libraries, and in the Human Resources Department.

The examination process for this position may include: (1) training and experience evaluation; (2) written and oral examination; (3) personal interview; (4) performance test/work sample; and/or (5) physical examination.

Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process. Please call the ADA Coordinator at 703-###-#### (voice) or email .

Eligibility for Arlington County Government employee benefits depends on your position type (permanent or temporary) and your status (full-time or part-time).

More detailed information on benefits and conditions of employment is available on the Arlington County Human Resources Department website: www.arlingtonva.us/pers.

Permanent, Full-Time Appointments
All jobs are permanent, full-time appointments unless otherwise stated in the announcement. The following benefits are available:

Paid Leave: Vacation leave is earned at the rate of five hours biweekly. Leave accrual increases gradually until eight hours of leave are earned biweekly for twelve or more years of service. Sick leave is earned at the rate of four hours biweekly. Paid parental and family leave benefits are also offered. Leave is pro-rated for part-time employees.

Holidays: There are eleven paid fixed holidays each year, as well as two floating holidays. Initial allotment of floating holidays may vary based on when you are hired.

Health and Dental Insurance: Four group health insurance plans are offered - a health maintenance organization, two plans with in-network only coverage, and a high-deductible plan with in and out-of-network coveerage, along with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Group dental insurance is also offered, with two options for coverage. The County pays a significant portion of the premium for these plans for employees and their dependents. The County also contributes to the HSA.

Life Insurance: Basic life insurance is provided at no cost to employees. The benefit is one times annual salary. Additional life insurance may be purchased for yourself, spouse, and/or children.

Retirement: The County retirement program is made up of three parts: a defined benefit (pension) plan, a defined contribution plan (401(a)), and a deferred compensation plan (457). The defined benefit plan provides a monthly retirement benefit based on your final average salary and years of service with the County. You contribute a portion of your salary on a pre-tax basis to this plan. General employees contribute 4% of pay; uniformed public safety employees contribute 7.5% of pay. The County also contributes to this plan. Employees become vested in the plan at five years of service.

For general employees, the County also contributes 4.2% of pay to a defined contribution plan (401(a)). The 457 deferred compensation plan allows you to save for retirement on either a pre-tax (457b) or post-tax (457 Roth) basis up to the IRS annual limit. New employees are automatically enrolled with a pre-tax contribution equal to 2% of your pay. A variety of investment options are available for the 401(a) and 457 plans.

Other Benefits: The County also offers health care, dependent care, and parking flexible spending accounts; adoption assistance, tuition reimbursement; transit and walk/bike to work subsidies; a college savings plan; wellness programs; training opportunities; and a variety of other benefits.

Permanent, Part-Time Appointments:
Part-time employees who work ten or more hours per week receive paid leave and benefits in proportion to the number of hours worked per week.

Limited Term Appointments:
Benefits are the same as permanent appointments except that the employees do not achieve permanent status.

Temporary Regular Appointments:
Temporary regular employees who work 30 hours or more per week are eligible for health, dental, and basic life insurance as described above. They are also eligible for vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.

Temporary Seasonal and Occasional Appointments:
Temporary employees who work on a seasonal basis or variable hours receive sick leave, but do not normally receive other paid leave or benefits. Exceptions are noted in individual announcements.

01

Do you have a Bachelor's degree in Historic Preservation, Public History, Architecture, History, Urban Planning, or a closely related field?

• Yes
• No

02

If you do not have the required college degree, do you have the additional directly related experience that may substitute for the degree requirement?

• Yes
• No

03

How many years of experience in a preservation- or planning-focused organization do you have?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 but less than 2 years
• 2 but less than 3 years
• 3 years or more

04

Please use the space below or attach a cover letter to your online application addressing how your education, specific project experience, and/or training meets the requirements under the selection criteria highlighting your accomplishments in a preservation or urban planning-focused organization. If you do not have this experience, type N/A.

05

Which of the following do you have experience in or possess? (Check all that apply)

• Enforcing zoning ordinances, land use policies, and/or historic district design guidelines
• Familiarity with historic preservation zoning ordinances and collaborating with a public board and/or commission on historic preservation projects and/or policies
• Planning and executing a range of educational/outreach events with a focus on historic preservation, architecture, and/or cultural heritage
• Master's degree in Historic Preservation, Public History, Architecture, or a related field
• Strong oral and written communication skills to effectively convey preservation or land use laws, policies, and procedures to the public
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings and land use development maps and plans
• Managing large-scale or long-term projects
• None of the above

06

If you did not provide detailed information in your application, please use the space below to describe in full detail the experiences checked on question #5. If not applicable, put N/A.

07

Are you sufficiently proficient in oral and/or written Spanish to conduct inspection work and outreach activities to attract diverse audiences and respond to questions, complaints, and information requests from Spanish speaking individuals with limited English proficiency?

• I am sufficiently proficient in Spanish to carry out these duties without difficulty
• I can speak and understand some Spanish, but I would require additional training to carry out these duties
• I do not speak Spanish

Required Question

 Arlington County, VA

 05/01/2024

 Arlington,VA