National Mall, Washington, DC

Senior Project Associate (Writing/Research)

A non-profit established in 1998, The Cultural Landscape Foundation® (TCLF) connects people to places. TCLF educates and engages the public to make our shared landscape heritage more visible, identify its value, and empower its stewards. TCLF achieves this mission through the ongoing development of its four core programs:

  • What’s Out There®, North America’s largest and most exhaustive database of cultural landscapes;
  • Pioneers of American Landscape Design®, an in-depth multimedia library, inclusive of video oral histories, chronicling the lives of significant landscape architects and educators;
  • Landslide®, an ongoing collection of important landscapes and landscape features that are threatened and at-risk;
  • The Cornelia Hahn Oberlander International Landscape Architecture Prize®, a biennial global honor that like the Pritzker in architecture includes a $100,000 award.

TCLF is headquartered in light-filled offices in the heart of Washington, D.C.’s, Dupont Circle neighborhood. Employees are based primarily in-office, with remote opportunities available after an initial period. If you thrive when given a diverse set of tasks, please get in touch!  

 

Scope and Impact:

As the Senior Project Associate, you will play a vital role in supporting TCLF’s mission by working on high-level writing, research, and program management tasks across multiple initiatives. 

Working from the foundation’s offices in Washington, D.C., the successful candidate will support TCLF's various programs, including What's Out There®, Landslide®, and Pioneers of American Landscape Design®. You will also be instrumental in shaping the direction of TCLF’s research, advocacy, and educational materials, and in ensuring the ongoing development of our online presence and multimedia resources.

Excellent writing skills, attention to detail, and a demonstrated interest in all aspects of the history, theory, and practice of landscape architecture are essential.

 

Specific Responsibilities:

  • Lead the creation and management of high-quality written content, including historical and biographical essays, and advocacy efforts targeting best practices in managing change.
  • Conduct advanced research on cultural landscape history, utilizing both print and digital resources.
  • Manage website content, overseeing both text and visual materials, ensuring consistency and accuracy.
  • Collaborate with staff to develop and implement programmatic strategies, including project timelines and deliverables.
  • Mentor junior staff and interns, providing guidance in writing, research, and program management.
  • Perform other tasks as assigned to support organizational goals.
  • Assist in managing content-related programming, i.e. What’s Out There Weekend.

 

Preparation and Knowledge:

  • Master’s degree in landscape architecture, art/cultural history, or a related field.
  • A minimum of five years of experience in a related role, preferably within a non-profit or cultural institution.
  • Exceptional writing and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to produce high-level research reports, essays, and publications.
  • Strong analytical abilities, with the capacity to synthesize information from diverse sources.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience with Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Proven experience in managing website content and understanding of basic graphic design.
  • Attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

 

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $70k to $95k. TCLF offers an attractive benefits package with health, Rx, vision, and dental plans; paid leave and holidays; and a Matching-Simple IRA retirement plan.

Application Process:

A cover letter, resume, and writing sample (e.g., a relatively brief paper or essay about a designed landscape or a landscape architect) are required. Please send application materials as PDF attachments using the subject line “Senior Project Associate – Your Name,” to aileen@tclf.org.

 

TCLF is an Equal Opportunity employer fully dedicated to achieving a diverse staff. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability or other categories protected by law.