Job Details

Architectural Historian

The Community Development Department is seeking a passionate and experienced Architectural Historian who is poised to promote and protect Santa Barbara's unique cultural heritage, fostering civic pride and economic prosperity. In this vital role, the candidate will be at the forefront of preserving the structures that tell our city's story from historic districts and landmark buildings to industrial sites and cultural landscapes that define our unique character.

The Architectural Historian is the City's qualified professional staff in historic preservation and performs high level professional work in the Planning Division of the Community Development Department with emphasis on architectural history/historic architecture, historic preservation, urban planning, and environmental review. This person will work with the Historic Landmarks Commission and City Council on the designation of Landmarks and Structures of Merit and coordinate historic preservation program as guided by the City's Historic Resources Element within the General Plan. Work in this position is characterized by complex and controversial assignments involving important historic preservation, land use policies, and development standards.

Under minimal supervision, the Architectural Historian acts as project manager on project review and evaluation, and planning studies related to historic resources requiring extensive policy analysis. The Architectural Historian also makes presentations and represents the City at Board, Commission, City Council, and community interest group meetings. Assignments can include pre-application evaluations, conducting neighborhood surveys, drafting and presenting historic structures evaluations, reviewing projects against the Secretary of the Interior Standards for historic preservation, advising the Historic Landmarks Commission at bi-weekly reviews, updating out of date historic resource reports and surveys, educating the public on the value of historic resources through lectures and social media and other means, and management of the property tax reduction program for historic resources called the Mills Act Program. This position also coordinates, delegates, and reviews the work of project team members, professional consultants, and other planners on complex projects or special studies; explains regulations and procedures; and works with other City Departments and agencies as a representative of the Planning Division. The Architectural Historian is someone who takes initiative and seeks out grant opportunities to fulfill General Plan goals and other community interests.

This position offers the chance to make a lasting impact on the physical fabric of our city while contributing to planning decisions that will shape our community for generations to come. It is a rare opportunity for a candidate to use their expertise in architectural history and historic preservation for meaningful public service protecting irreplaceable resources that represent all aspects of cultures of the community, educating the community, and ensuring our city's historic character thrives.