Project Specialist

J. Paul Getty Trust, The • Los Angeles, CA

13d • Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced professional with expertise in the conservation and management of the built and urban heritage, including heritage of marginalized/underrepresented communities, to fill a four-year, limited-term position of Project Specialist in the Getty Conservation Institute’s Buildings and Sites Department. As Project Specialist, you will plan and carry out conservation projects—from designing and preparing to implementing and monitoring project components—aimed at addressing current conservation challenges of local, regional, and international relevance. The position will be based in our offices at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. Initially in person full-time, the opportunity to telework may be available after an initial period of training and orientation will be discussed and approved by your supervisor. Typically, staff with approved telework schedules at the Getty Conservation Institute are in the office more than half of the time.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree (Master's degree preferred) in urban planning, architecture, conservation, sustainable development or related discipline.
• Post-graduate qualifications in cultural heritage conservation or urban conservation or equivalent practical conservation experience.
• Minimum of 5-10 years of local and/or international project management experience working in cultural heritage conservation at the urban scale with local government partners.
• Knowledge and proven competency in the practical conservation of built and urban heritage.
• Ability to demonstrate clear direction for addressing conservation issues and practical implementation.
• Knowledge of preservation, planning, and related policy and practice in the USA.
• Demonstrated experience working in multi-stakeholder contexts including communities, government and non-government partners in heritage or urban management projects, and the associated processes for doing so.
• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding, and experience working with the heritage of underrepresented communities and interest and knowledge of emerging practices and processes that better involve communities and secure more equitable and sustainable conservation practices.
• Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams of staff, interns, consultants, and project partners.
• Experience in undertaking typical conservation processes such as heritage surveys, cultural mapping, the development of conservation policy or strategies.
• Skill and demonstrated experience in designing, initiating, budgeting, and managing local or international conservation/urban planning projects.
• Must be adaptable, analytical, a positive problem-solver, and a creative thinker.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and research skills.
• Requires a high degree of organization and efficiency.
• Available for occasional national/international travel.

Nice To Haves

• Understanding of financial mechanisms and economics of urban heritage is valuable.
• Fluency in a language in addition to English is valuable in this position.

Responsibilities

• Manage and monitor operations and resources for the African American Historic Places, Los Angeles Project (AAHPLA), which is a collaboration between Getty and the Los Angeles City Planning, Office of Historic Resources to advance the understanding, identification, protection, conservation, and celebration of the city’s Black heritage.
• Managing Getty’s AAHPLA team, staffing, and budgets, as well as partner and consultant agreements, and collaborating on development of project plans.
• Contributing to the completion of AAHPLA cultural heritage preservation strategies for three historically African American neighborhoods in Los Angeles, which will be under development by a project consultant in 2025 and 2026.
• Identifying mechanisms, potential partners and resources for the implementation of the AAHPLA neighborhood cultural preservation strategies.
• Developing strong relationships with Los Angeles City Planning, Office of Historic Resources and other project partners and working collaboratively to build local expertise, through seminars, symposia, and workshops, to ensure the long-term sustainability of project outcomes.
• Undertaking research, drawing on international and national efforts, to identify strategies for historic preservation policies and processes that better support social justice and equity goals (may result in publications, tools, guidelines and training).
• Developing a dissemination plan and writing/co-writing conference papers and project publications to share the results of the work.
• Work with colleagues to further advance community empowered processes and practices for our work including building process and systems, upskilling staff and integration of processes across projects.
• Disseminate and make accessible Getty resources and training materials related to urban heritage, including materials from past training programs.
• Advance economic research needs that demonstrate the benefits of conservation across a range of projects areas including AAHPLA.
• Manage and provide direction to multi-disciplinary project teams, which include staff, interns, consultants, and project partners; supervise and mentor direct report(s).
• Provide advice and work collaboratively to resolve technical or operational project issues.
• Cultivate relationships with a large professional network within the conservation/urban planning community.
• Develop resource plans and manage project budgets.
• Undertake research, write, publish, and present at professional venues in order to broadly disseminate results.
• Professional development is encouraged and supported through attendance at specialized training courses and participation in professional meetings and workshops.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision insurance coverage, starting on date of hire. Getty pays 75%-95% of the premium, depending on the plan selected.
• 403(b) Employee Investment retirement plan – with up to 5% Getty Match
• Getty contribution of 6%, on behalf of employee, to 401(a) retirement account
• Educational Assistance and professional development
• Paid Vacation, Sick and Personal Days
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Many positions have bi-weekly Off-Fridays
• On-Site Fitness Center at Getty Center
• Community service opportunities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level