Executive Director

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Executive Director:Heritage Acres Museum and ParkSaanich Historical Artifacts Society (SHAS) is the operator of Heritage Acres, a 29-acre park and Museumsituated in Central Saanich, just off the Pat Bay Highway. First established in 1984, the registered charitableorganization has developed the site extensively to include significant historical buildings, a large museumbuilding, a village square, a church, pioneer buildings, workshops, sawmill and a vast collection of over40,000 historical artifacts. These artifacts reflect cultural, agricultural, domestic, industrial, medical andeducational developments on Vancouver Island and the Saanich Peninsula over the past 200 years.In addition, Heritage Acres is home to the Vancouver Island Model Engineers (VIME) miniature railway.VIME operates independently as a Registered Society, with a cooperation agreement with SHAS.The site also features accessible walking trails and salmon bearing streams through the surroundingnatural forest area.Each summer SHAS and VIME host several themed open days for the public. The Society also generatesrevenue through facilities rental for public and private events such as weddings, corporate and club events,and filming and theatre productions.The Society is currently transitioning from a 100% volunteer run organization to a long-term sustainablebusiness plan that addresses:
The need for professional non- volunteer management
A broader perspective to include partnering with First Nations to promote their history and culture, and environmental education
Creation of a high visibility Highway Tourism Gateway
SHAS is seeking an Executive Director who will be responsible for implementing these objectives and whowill report to the Board of Directors.
This position will require an enthusiastic individual, with demonstrated capability, who is attracted to thechallenge of professionalizing a respected volunteer run organization, attracting significant capital funding,and securing the long-term viability of a highly valued community asset. It is being offered initially as aone-year consulting contract which will be negotiable and renewable after the initial term based ondemonstrated progress towards achieving the sustainable business plan objectives and improvements inoperating revenues. Compensation offered for the initial 12-month period will be determined as part ofnegotiations.
Reporting to the SHAS Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be instrumental in ensuring that thenew strategic initiatives as described by the long-term business plan are implemented.
To be considered as suitable for this keystone position in transforming the Society, the candidate will needto have demonstrated experience in the following areas:
Expanding an organization, improving revenues and implementing operational andmanagerial processes consistent with acceptable risk management and budgetary control.
Promotion, marketing and public relations.
Advocating for and promoting new capital projects and attracting individual and corporatesponsorship and granting agency funding.
Project management and project control.
Effective negotiating skills with multi-agency stakeholders including local and provincialgovernments and First Nations.
A strong understanding of museums and living history, arts and culture, and thenonprofit/charitable sector.
Skills and qualifications:
Superior written/verbal communication and computer literacy. Ability to communicateand work efficiently with co-workers and volunteers, community and a board of directors.
Qualified candidates will be inclusive decision makers and supportive team builders,demonstrating integrity, honesty, and dependability and commitment to promoting apositive organizational structure.
Leadership and Interpersonal skills, able to build rapport while relating to many differentpeople and influences.
CompanyThe Saanich Historical Artifacts Society is a registered charitable organization operating Heritage Acres and dedicated to the collection, preservation, restoration and displaying of Saanich Peninsula artifacts from the turn of the 20th Century forward. The Society tells the story of farming, country living, education, transportation, steam, and industry on Vancouver Island and adjoining areas over the last sixty or more years. Heritage Acres is open seven days a week to show people of all ages how our pioneer families lived, worked and played.
Our beautiful 29 acre park-like setting is home to steam engines, a museum, log house, chapel, and schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, model streetcar barn and more. On Heritage Acre’s Special Event Days, families love to ride the Vancouver Island Model Engineers (VIME) miniature trains that run through our site. We are open from 9 – 4 from May 1, 2026 to October 31, 2026 and the rest of the year we are open 9 to 12 noon seven days a week.
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