Timeframe
Ongoing year-round position.
About the Role
The Advocacy & Education Manager leads Preservation Utah's statewide advocacy program and public education initiatives, advancing the organization's mission to protect and celebrate Utah's historic places. This position manages the Advocacy Resource Hub, Utah Endangered Places List, and policy and legislative engagement, while developing and delivering statewide training, lectures, and educational programming in partnership with preservation experts, SHPO, and community partners.
The Advocacy & Education Manager is a public-facing representative of Preservation Utah's mission across the state, building relationships with elected officials, preservation professionals, and communities with particular attention to underrepresented and rural areas.
Responsibilities
Advocacy Program
Lead Preservation Utah's statewide advocacy program, including annual refinement of the Advocacy Platform across three priorities: Policy & Legislative Advocacy, Resource Sharing & Partnerships, and Public Awareness & Communication
Lead Preservation Utah's response to preservation emergencies and urgent public inquiries, including threatened demolitions, alterations, or other imminent risks to historic resources; assess each situation quickly to determine the appropriate level of response, communicate accurately with the public about what is and is not within the organization's ability to influence, and correct misinformation when needed
Manage the Advocacy Resource Hub, Advocacy Alerts, Legislation Tracker, Preservation Policy Toolkit, and Public Support Request process
Lead the Utah Endangered Places List, including nomination review, list development, public announcement, and follow-up tracking
Represent Preservation Utah at hearings, commissions, city councils, RDA boards, and legislative settings
Build and maintain relationships with elected officials, SHPO, CLGs, universities, historical societies, and peer organizations
Prioritize outreach to underrepresented and rural communities statewide
Serve as staff lead for the Advocacy Committee
Education & Training
Develop and deliver a statewide lecture and webinar series in partnership with preservation experts, covering a broad range of preservation knowledge and practice
Lead Preservation Utah's collaboration with SHPO on the annual statewide preservation conference and other partner conference opportunities
Develop and deliver advocacy training for board, staff, volunteers, CLGs, community partners, and the general public
Identify emerging training needs and cultivate expert partnerships to meet them
Ground all advocacy, education, and training content in thorough historic research, using primary sources, archival materials, and credible preservation scholarship to ensure accuracy and depth
Community Stewardship Awards
Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of Preservation Utah's annual Community Stewardship Awards program
Manage the nomination and selection process, including outreach, intake, review coordination, and communication with nominators and recipients
Coordinate logistics, venue, program content, and recognition materials in collaboration with staff
Ensure the Awards program reflects Preservation Utah's values, storytelling goals, and commitment to recognizing diverse stewardship across the state
Administrative
Track and report on program metrics and outcomes for board and grant reporting
Maintain the Advocacy Resource Hub and relevant sections of the Preservation Utah website
Support grant compliance and reporting in coordination with the Executive Director
Respond to and track public inquiries and Public Support Requests
Support board meeting preparation related to advocacy and education
About Us and the Position
Preservation Utah is the only statewide nonprofit focused on historic preservation, serving all 29 counties to protect, celebrate, and advocate for the places that shape Utah’s communities.
The Advocacy & Education Manager serves as a main public representative for Preservation Utah’s mission throughout the state. This person leads our advocacy and public education efforts, manages the Advocacy Resource Hub and Utah Endangered Places List, and handles policy and legislative work. They also create and deliver training, lectures, and educational programs with preservation experts, SHPO, and community partners.
This job is for someone who can confidently testify at city council meetings, quickly correct misinformation about threatened buildings, and design webinars that help people across Utah learn about preservation. The Advocacy & Education Manager builds relationships with elected officials, preservation professionals, and communities across the state, especially in underrepresented and rural areas.
Qualifications
You should have at least 2 to 3 years of experience in historic preservation, public policy, advocacy, community education, or a similar field. We will also consider a mix of education and experience instead of a formal degree.
You should have experience in public advocacy, policy work, or community organizing.
Strong written and verbal communication skills are important, including the ability to speak confidently in public settings such as hearings, commissions, and community meetings.
You should be able to quickly understand complex preservation issues, communicate clearly even when time is limited, and set realistic expectations with the public.
A commitment to research integrity is important, along with the ability to base your work on primary sources, credible research, and established preservation standards.
You should be comfortable using standard office and communication software, and willing to learn new digital tools and content management systems.
It helps to be familiar with Utah’s political landscape, historic preservation laws, and land use processes.
Experience working with SHPO, CLGs, or other preservation partners is a plus.
Experience creating and leading trainings, workshops, or educational programs is preferred.
Knowledge of the National Register of Historic Places, Section 106, and other federal and state preservation guidelines is helpful.
Familiarity with outreach to rural and underrepresented communities is also valued.
Additional Information
This job is hybrid, with some days in the office and some remote. Preservation Utah is flexible with scheduling and supports a healthy work-life balance.
You are expected to be present at Memorial House regularly and attend events, meetings, and community activities in person.
You will need to travel throughout Utah to attend hearings, community meetings, conferences, and events.
Work often takes place outside regular office hours, including evenings and weekends.
How to Apply
Applications are on hold.