What are the responsibilities and job description for the Executive Director position at American Independence Museum?
Executive Director, The American Independence Museum
The American Independence Museum seeks an entrepreneurial and creative leader to guide the Museum into its next phase.
ABOUT THE MUSEUM
The American Independence Museum is committed to raising awareness and deepening understanding of the values of American independence. It focuses on the events surrounding the American Revolution, and celebrates diverse aspects of our nation's founding years, while seeking to inspire contemporary civic engagement.
Founded in 1991 with the support of the New Hampshire chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati, the Exeter community, and the State of New Hampshire, this history museum serves as a dynamic educational resource. It provides a space for visitors to explore and appreciate the historic efforts that shaped the freedoms Americans enjoy today.
Today, the Museum is uniquely positioned to engage local residents, students, and visitors with compelling historical narratives which make history both relevant and enjoyable. Through its exhibits and programs, the Museum fosters a deeper appreciation for how the struggle for independence shaped the early years of our nation, while encouraging interest in current issues.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Executive Director provides leadership and oversight to the American Independence Museum. This includes leading and empowering volunteers, cultivating donors, and growing Museum resources. Reporting to the President of the Board of Governors, the Executive Director will be responsible for community relations and audience development, fundraising, long range planning, board relations, operations, financial and program management. The Executive Director will ensure the Museum’s assets and programs are consistent with our strategic plan, best practices, fiscal accountability, and institutional impact goals. The Executive Director will strategically cultivate and develop revenue while building participation. The Executive Director maintains ongoing and appropriate communication with the NH Society of the Cincinnati, and the Trustees of the American Independence Center, in order to foster a good and supportive working relationship, provide them with periodic updates and respond to any requests for information in a prompt manner.
This is an opportunity for an innovative leader to bring new ideas and resources to the organization, ensuring the Museum is serving its community, and visitors to the community as an important cultural institution.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Operations - Manage Museum activities, services and operations, prepare and maintain records, write organizational policies, and document Museum operations in accordance with the law and best practices. Supervise maintenance and oversee continued preservation of two historical buildings and the physical grounds, and identify capital improvement needs.
Strategic Leadership - Prepare, develop, and implement strategies and initiatives to achieve long-range plans and advance Museum mission. Assess Museum needs and develop goals, objectives, and performance measures.
Financial Management - Develop and manage Museum budget; approve expenditures, assure compliance with contractual agreements and legal or program requirements. Administer grants, endowment, annual donations, and other Museum funds. Meet regularly with the Board to ensure effective financial planning and management.
Fund Development – Work with the Board to establish development initiatives and play a lead role in fundraising. Coordinate donor relations; develop strategic revenue producing partnerships; oversee the research and preparation of grants and approach to businesses and corporations; develop and maintain relationships with key funders, represent organization to funders and donors.
Human Resources – Create operating plan which identifies staffing and volunteer needs. Select, assign, train and supervise staff and volunteers. Promote and expand volunteer participation. Ensure we are attracting and maintaining the best staff possible to support our Strategic Planning initiatives. Hire, train, supervise, support, and review staff in accordance with Strategic Planning initiatives.
Public Programs - Organize and oversee the development and implementation of exhibits and programs that advance the goals of the Museum as outlined in the strategic plan.
Board Relations - Provide Board, Ambassadors, and committees members with information and support while maintaining engagement. Develop new Committees to expand leadership volunteer involvement in Museum work such as Education, Programs and Development Committees. Steward the Ambassadors program. Review and ensure adherence to by-laws and all work with American Independence Center Trustees and Society of the Cincinnati in the State of New Hampshire members.
Characteristics and Qualifications
- Skilled at all aspects of interpersonal relationships, motivating others, and building internal and external relationships around a shared vision;
- Entrepreneurial with enthusiasm for new ideas, a willingness to build processes that support innovation and to find original solutions to the complex challenges of sustainability and relevance;
- Demonstrated communication skills including public speaking and writing;
- Able to assess the organization’s core strengths and to translate those into programs and exhibits that engage the public;
- Able to work independently with little direction, to prioritize, and to execute on time and on budget.
The Executive Director of the American Independence Museum should have a degree in an appropriate discipline or equivalent combination of education and at least 5 years increasing responsibility in a cultural nonprofit organization. Prior management in a museum is desirable, although the American Independence Museum Board is open to candidates from non-traditional backgrounds. The ideal candidate will have experience in nonprofit management, an entrepreneurial venture and/or small business management.
The position requires knowledge and ability in fundraising, marketing, audience development, branding, and museum operations. Technical expertise in historic buildings or in collections management is not a requirement.
Working Conditions
Work is performed in an office on site during regular business hours. However, additional evening and weekend events are occasionally required.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
Salary : $75,000