Attractions Director, WHC

POSITION SUMMARY

The History Center Attractions Director provides senior level leadership across all facets of operations. This includes guest experience, program management, retail, admissions, financial performance, and facility readiness. The Director shapes how visitors experience the Center from arrival to departure.

Responsible for leading all visitor‑facing functions—Guest Services, Admissions, Retail operations, programming and education, and overall facility readiness—and for managing key operational partnerships such as private events, food & beverage, security, and custodial services.

The Director is a key member of the Society’s senior leadership team and works closely with executive leaders across programs, collections, learning, creative, marketing, and business services to deliver a cohesive visitor experience.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead all visitor‑facing operations to ensure an exceptional guest experience.

Manage operational partnerships, maintain strong performance, compliance, and quality across private events, food & beverage, security, and custodial services.

Collaborate with the Administrator of Museums and Historic Sites to align ticketing, retail, and sales; act as strategic thought partner to the Administrator.

Represent the organization to legislators, executive leadership, donors, partners, community stakeholders, and media; serve as a visible and trusted representative of the Society.

Report to the Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer; lead the flagship cultural destination from opening through growth.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum qualifications:

• Management experience in a public‑facing environment such as a museum, attraction, visitor center, hospitality venue, or cultural institution with responsibility for daily operations or visitor services.
• Experience coordinating operational logistics for programs, events, or group visits within a public or visitor‑focused setting.
• Experience supporting revenue‑generating activities such as admissions, retail, programming, or events, including familiarity with operational financial controls such as cash handling or POS systems.
• Experience supervising staff in cross‑functional teams (e.g., create work plans, hire and train staff, evaluate performance).
• Experience representing an organization with external stakeholders such as community partners, tourism organizations, donors, elected officials, or media in a public‑facing leadership role.

In addition, a well‑qualified candidate will have demonstrated experience in at least three of the following:

• Demonstrated accountability to generate earned revenue through admissions, retail, events, or programs, including monitoring performance and identifying strategies to increase revenue or operational efficiency.
• Management of retail or commercial visitor services, including merchandising, inventory controls, POS systems, and strategies to improve per‑capita spending.
• Experience managing vendors or contracted services such as food service, event services, or operational service providers, including performance standards, compliance, and service quality expectations.
• Management of complex visitor operations involving high‑volume attendance or large group visits requiring coordination across staff, vendors, and operational teams.
• Demonstrated ability to implement operational systems, standard operating procedures, or service frameworks that improve consistency, guest satisfaction, or operational performance.
• Demonstrated experience working with development or advancement teams, cultivating donor and sponsor relationships, supporting fundraising initiatives, and representing the organization in donor‑facing settings such as tours or sponsorship engagements.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary will be between $45.00‑$59.88 per hour plus excellent benefits. Pay on appointment for current or former state employees may vary according to the applicable pay provisions found in the Wisconsin State Compensation Plan. This position is in pay schedule 81, range 01. The classification is Historic Site Manager. A 2‑year Career Executive trial period will be required.

JOB DETAILS

A criminal background check will be conducted prior to an offer of employment. Applicants are required to have valid U.S. work authorization. Position is full‑time, on site.

Equal Opportunity Employer

WHS is an Equal Opportunity and affirmative Action employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce. Veterans, women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

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