Foundation Director jobs in Tennessee

ASLAN FOUNDATION EUGENIA WILLIAMS HOUSE DIRECTOR

ABOUT THE EUGENIA WILLIAMS HOUSE:

Built in 1941, noted Houston architect John Fanz Staub designed the Eugenia Williams House overlooking the Tennessee River. The Aslan Foundation purchased the home to preserve this regional and national treasure and make it available to the public.

In March of 2025, the twenty-four acres overlooking the beautiful Tennessee River and the Great Smoky Mountains will be open to the public through a series of trails on the grounds and cultural programming in the main building. Guests will engage in cultural programming produced by Knoxville’s cultural institutions, including tours, lectures, small exhibitions, and intimate performances. Eugenia Williams House Cultural Partners include the Knoxville Museum of Art, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville Opera, Big Ears Festival, Knoxville Garden Club, Beck Cultural Exchange Center, Knox Heritage, East Tennessee Historical Society, and Knoxville History Project. The property will also be available for private celebrations. The Eugenia Williams House will be operated and funded by the Aslan Foundation.

ABOUT THE ASLAN FOUNDATION:

The Aslan Foundation works to strengthen the Knoxville community through grantmaking, Foundation projects, and public-private partnerships. Its funding priorities include arts and culture, historic preservation, animal welfare, land conservation, outdoor recreation, and advancing livability in Knoxville. The Eugenia Williams House is one of the Aslan Foundation’s charitable projects to further the Foundation’s mission of preserving beauty, advancing livability, and supporting cultural assets in Knoxville, Tennessee.

ABOUT THE EUGENIA WILLIAMS HOUSE DIRECTOR POSITION:

The Eugenia Williams House Director manages all aspects of the Eugenia Williams House in close partnership with the Aslan Foundation Executive Director. The Director is responsible for facilitating mission-driven use of the buildings and grounds while preserving the property’s natural and built environments. The Director supervises the Eugenia Williams House Associate. The Eugenia Williams House team is supported by the Foundation’s administrative and property staff, including a dedicated Eugenia Williams House Property Manager and Assistant. The Eugenia Williams House Director is exempt, with full benefits and a Tuesday through Saturday workweek.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strategically plan and deliver the Eugenia Williams House program in line with the Eugenia Williams House Business Plan and the mission and goals of the Aslan Foundation. Service to the public must be balanced with a focus on long-term sustainability and strategic decision-making.
• Serve a diverse public through:
  • Providing access to the beautiful grounds and extraordinarily designed buildings.
  • Facilitating high-quality, accessible Cultural Partner programming through clear communication and positive relationship building.
  • Sharing the historical significance of the property, including programming, on-site interpretation, and maintaining a small archive.
  • Providing a place for life’s celebrations through private rentals. This activity is intended to supplement the Foundation’s support of the Eugenia Williams House.
  • Balancing public use with a preservation-first mindset.
• Establish ambitious short and long-term performance measurement goals and tracking procedures to measure the Eugenia Williams House impact on visitors and Cultural Partners.
• Act as an ambassador with the Eugenia Williams House’s neighbors and the Greater Knoxville region.
• Create an annual communications plan and work with contractors as needed to meet performance measurement goals.
• Work with the Aslan Foundation’s property team to serve the public while preserving the property’s natural and built environments. The buildings and grounds must be maintained at a high-quality level.
• Develop, manage, and be accountable for program budgets, actively monitoring expenditures and reviewing variances where they arise.
• Develop, for day-to-day administration, specific documents, policies, and procedures.
• Effectively manage the Eugenia Williams House Associate and closely partner with the Foundation team.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE

• A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and a minimum of three years in a leadership position related to cultural programming, museums, or events. Nonprofit experience preferred, especially in the arts and historic preservation.
• Experience managing a physical site with a risk management mindset.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and planning skills with a passion for service.
• A minimum of three years of supervisory experience with a collaborative team approach.
• At least three years of experience with budget management, marketing, and operations.
• Interest and experience in making programming accessible and inclusive.
• Schedule flexibility for evening and weekend events focusing on program goals and work-life balance.
• The ability to hike one to two miles at a time, traverse steep slopes, and lift up to 30 lbs.