Job opportunity
Executive Director
Peninsula Chamber
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Executive Director:
Heritage Acres Museum and Park
Saanich Historical Artifacts Society (SHAS) is the operator of Heritage Acres, a 29-acre park and Museum
situated in Central Saanich, just off the Pat Bay Highway. First established in 1984, the registered charitable
organization has developed the site extensively to include significant historical buildings, a large museum
building, a village square, a church, pioneer buildings, workshops, sawmill and a vast collection of over
40,000 historical artifacts. These artifacts reflect cultural, agricultural, domestic, industrial, medical and
educational 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 surrounding
natural forest area.
Each summer SHAS and VIME host several themed open days for the public. The Society also generates
revenue 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 sustainable
business 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 who
will report to the Board of Directors.
This position will require an enthusiastic individual, with demonstrated capability, who is attracted to the
challenge 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 a
one-year consulting contract which will be negotiable and renewable after the initial term based on
demonstrated progress towards achieving the sustainable business plan objectives and improvements in
operating revenues. Compensation offered for the initial 12-month period will be determined as part of
negotiations.
Reporting to the SHAS Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be instrumental in ensuring that the
new 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 need
to have demonstrated experience in the following areas:
Expanding an organization, improving revenues and implementing operational and
managerial 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 corporate
sponsorship and granting agency funding.
Project management and project control.
Effective negotiating skills with multi-agency stakeholders including local and provincial
governments and First Nations.
A strong understanding of museums and living history, arts and culture, and the
nonprofit/charitable sector.
Skills and qualifications:
Superior written/verbal communication and computer literacy. Ability to communicate
and 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 a
positive organizational structure.
Leadership and Interpersonal skills, able to build rapport while relating to many different
people and influences.
Company
The 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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Apply on source site Executive Director:
Heritage Acres Museum and Park
Saanich Historical Artifacts Society (SHAS) is the operator of Heritage Acres, a 29-acre park and Museum
situated in Central Saanich, just off the Pat Bay Highway. First established in 1984, the registered charitable
organization has developed the site extensively to include significant historical buildings, a large museum
building, a village square, a church, pioneer buildings, workshops, sawmill and a vast collection of over
40,000 historical artifacts. These artifacts reflect cultural, agricultural, domestic, industrial, medical and
educational 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 surrounding
natural forest area.
Each summer SHAS and VIME host several themed open days for the public. The Society also generates
revenue 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 sustainable
business 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 who
will report to the Board of Directors.
This position will require an enthusiastic individual, with demonstrated capability, who is attracted to the
challenge 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 a
one-year consulting contract which will be negotiable and renewable after the initial term based on
demonstrated progress towards achieving the sustainable business plan objectives and improvements in
operating revenues. Compensation offered for the initial 12-month period will be determined as part of
negotiations.
Reporting to the SHAS Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be instrumental in ensuring that the
new 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 need
to have demonstrated experience in the following areas:
Expanding an organization, improving revenues and implementing operational and
managerial 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 corporate
sponsorship and granting agency funding.
Project management and project control.
Effective negotiating skills with multi-agency stakeholders including local and provincial
governments and First Nations.
A strong understanding of museums and living history, arts and culture, and the
nonprofit/charitable sector.
Skills and qualifications:
Superior written/verbal communication and computer literacy. Ability to communicate
and 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 a
positive organizational structure.
Leadership and Interpersonal skills, able to build rapport while relating to many different
people and influences.
Company
The 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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr