What are the responsibilities and job description for the President & Chief Executive Officer, Museum of Jewish Heritage position at Korn Ferry Executive Search?

The Museum

The Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is New York's contribution to the global responsibility to never forget. The Museum is committed to the crucial mission of educating diverse visitors about Jewish life before, during, and after the Holocaust.

As a place of memory, the Museum enables Holocaust survivors to speak through recorded testimony and draws on rich collections to illuminate Jewish history and experience. As a public history institution, it offers intellectually rigorous and engaging exhibitions, programs, and educational resources.

The Museum protects the historical record and promotes understanding of Jewish heritage. It mobilizes memory to teach the dangers of intolerance and challenges visitors-including more than 60,000 schoolchildren a year-to let the painful lessons of the past guide them to envision a world worthy of their futures. The Museum aims :

To memorialize the six million Jewish men, women, and children who perished in the Holocaust.
To honor the survivors of the Holocaust, by telling their stories via exhibits and educational programs.
To educate visitors and audiences about the vibrant history and culture of the Jewish people.
To combat antisemitism and Jewish hatred in all forms.
To stand with the State of Israel and the Jewish people throughout the world.

With a storied history of exhibitions on view at the Museum, the Museum of Jewish Heritage currently hosts five exhibitions on site and one at The Mystic Seaport. A few noteworthy exhibitions at the Museum include :

Courage to Act : Rescue in Demark : The Museum's first exhibition for visitors aged 9 and up, the exhibition tells the remarkable story of the rescue of the Danish Jews during the Holocaust. Using state-of-the-art technology and creative storytelling, Courage to Act immerses visitors in the inspiring story and addresses a critical need of reaching the next generation.

The Holocaust : What Hate Can Do : An expansive and timely presentation of Holocaust history told through personal stories, objects, photos, and film - many on view for the first time. The 12,000-square-foot exhibition features over 1,250 original objects and survivor testimonies from the Museum's collection and is a representation of this global story through a local lens, rooted in the objects donated by survivors and their families, many of whom settled in New York and nearby places.

Speaking Up! Confronting Hate Speech : Rooted in the Museum's crucial mission to fight antisemitism through education, this exhibit underscores the power of words to lead to discrimination, persecution, and mass violence. Identity-based violence like genocide is rarely-if ever-a spontaneous event. The exhibition provides historical and current examples of the connection between words and mass atrocities, while empowering visitors with strategies to counter hate speech in their own communities.

A full outline of the Museum's current exhibitions on-site, the Gerda III exhibition at The Mystic Seaport, and its memorial art installation by Andy Goldsworthy, the Garden of Stones, can be found here.

In addition to its remarkable exhibitions, the Museum boasts an exceptional education department, dedicated to educating visitors about Jewish life before, during, and after the Holocaust. It serves as a living memorial to those who perished and a testament to the resilience of Jewish culture. The Museum's workshops and educational programs include resources for all ages, promoting understanding and remembrance of Jewish heritage.

Located in Battery Park City, the Museum overlooks the Hudson River and is situated in the heart of the financial district, surrounded by restaurants, parks, and a variety of community centers and facilities. Anchoring the southernmost tip of Manhattan, the Museum of Jewish Heritage completes the cultural and educational landscape it shares with the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Across the water, Lady Liberty lifts her lamp, and Ellis Island marks the gateway through which millions flowed into this country seeking refuge. The Museum's meaningful location inspires its mission and makes it a significant historical and educational destination.

The Museum of Jewish Heritage is a public, American institution with strong Jewish roots. The core building's six-sided shape and six-tiered, louvered roof, rising 85-feet in the air, are reminders of the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. They are also reminiscent of the six-pointed Star of David, symbolizing the Museum's commitment to representing Jewish life and culture as it has endured and evolved.

To the north of the Museum, the buildings of the new World Trade Center gleam-reminders, etched into the New York City skyline, of a collective responsibility to remember and renew.

Purpose of the Position

At this critical point in the organization's history, the Museum of Jewish Heritage is seeking a President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to succeed incumbent Jack Kliger, who served as a member of the Board of Trustees prior to taking on the President & CEO role. Kliger oversaw integral exhibit implementation at the Museum and enhanced the Museum's educational mission and community engagement.

The incoming leader will provide vision, direction, and leadership for the Museum's next phase of development as a leading educational resource for Holocaust remembrance in the world. Unlike many Holocaust museums that primarily focus on the events of the Holocaust, the Museum of Jewish Heritage emphasizes Jewish life before, during, and after the Holocaust. This broader narrative provides a more comprehensive understanding of Jewish culture and resilience. The next President & Chief Executive Officer will further the Museum's important role of presenting Holocaust history through personal stories and artifacts, many of which have been donated by survivors and their families that have settled in New York.

Leading and working alongside a talented team of over sixty staff, the President & CEO serves as an ambassador for the Museum's collections and programs within the New York, national, and global communities. The CEO provides leadership for the Museum by implementing the strategic vision and overseeing operations. Additionally, the CEO maintains and elevates professional standards, ensures stewardship of the Museum's assets, and cultivates both a professional and volunteer leadership team. The successful appointee will lead the Museum in fulfilling its mission and achieving its vision to educate diverse visitors about Jewish life before, during, and after the Holocaust.

In addition to the oversight of the Museum's collections, programs, and engagement of stakeholders, the CEO oversees JewishGen, the global home for Jewish genealogy working to preserve Jewish family history and heritage for future generations. Offered as a free resource, JewishGen has facilitated thousands of family connections and success stories and is currently engaged in an intensive expansion effort that will bring many more records, tools, and resources to its collections.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will ensure the Museum of Jewish Heritage has a long-range strategy and the necessary resources to accomplish its mission. He / she will provide leadership in developing innovative programming, organizational alignment, and strategic financial plans with the Board of Trustees and staff. Additionally, the President & CEO will maintain a working knowledge of significant developments, trends, and resources in Holocaust remembrance and education, and aspire to be a thought-leader in the field. The President & CEO's responsibilities include :

Board Relations and Strategy

Execute on the mission, strategic goals, and policies set by the Board of Trustees.

Lead Museum operations in accordance with its mission and Jewish identity.

Communicate effectively with the Chairperson and Board of Trustees, providing information in a timely manner to enable informed Board decision-making.

Support strategic planning to ensure that the Museum can successfully fulfill its mission.

Further a culture founded in philanthropy, partnering with Trustees on fundraising initiatives.

Assist in the cultivation, recruitment, and retainment of prospective Board of Trustee members.

Ensure the financial health and stability of the Museum, proposing annual operating budgets for review and approval.

Executive Leadership :

Serve as the primary ambassador to key stakeholders, including members, donors, media outlets, Museum partners, and other relevant groups.

Recruit, supervise, retain, and develop high-performing staff, creating and promoting professional development opportunities.

Promote a culture of respect, inclusion, and collaboration among all staff, and enforce accountability for a safe and respectful workplace.

Ensure the maintenance of the Museum's property and facilities, including its collection of 40,000 historic objects, and the security of its staff and visitors.

Partner with curatorial staff to implement high-quality exhibitions in the Museum's galleries, and to offer robust educational and public programs that educate visitors in connection with the Museum's mission and with generally accepted scholarship and professional standards.

Oversee decisions to retain or dismiss outside consultants and contractors. Manage the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with employee union representatives.

Fundraising and External Engagement :

Serve as the leading revenue-generating staff member for the Museum, working to grow fundraising efforts across a variety of mediums to support the mission and increase impact.

Along with the Chairperson, serve as public spokesperson for the Museum, representing its interests, mission, and vision.

Cultivate, solicit, and maintain relationships with the Museum's major donors, including individuals, corporations, and government agencies.

Assess existing revenue markets with an eye towards the development of additional unrestricted funding streams.

Further develop and subsequently implement a capital campaign strategy in partnership with the Board of Trustees and development staff, overseeing its successful completion.

Maintain the Museum's brand by implementing messaging priorities and reviewing and approving key external statements.

Enhance the Museum's image by being active and visible in the community, and by working closely with other museums and organizations.

Financial Oversight :

Draft a proposed annual budget to submit to the Board of Trustees for approval, and regular financial statements which accurately reflect the financial condition of the Museum.

Serve as the most senior financial administrator within the Museum, to ensure the financial integrity of the Museum.

Serve as the responsible signatory for all notes, agreements, and other instruments made and entered into and on behalf of the Museum.

Key Relationships

Reports To :

Board Chair; accountable to the Board of Trustees

Direct Reports :

Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications

Vice President, Education and Visitor Services

Vice President, Human Resources and Administration

Vice President and Director, JewishGen

Senior Director, Individual Giving and Major Gifts

Senior Director, Institutional Giving

Director, Curatorial Affairs

Outside financial services vendors

Key Internal Contacts :

Staff, visitors, and volunteers

Key External Contacts :

Survivors, individual donors, foundations, government officials, Holocaust historians, professional colleagues, VIP guests, community stakeholders and members of the public.

Experience and Professional Qualifications

The President & CEO must be a passionate advocate for the Museum of Jewish Heritage's mission, as well as capable of working directly with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders. The organization seeks a highly credible, proven, proactive, dynamic, and dedicated leader to provide innovative leadership. Other desired qualifications and leadership characteristics include :

Fifteen plus (15 ) years of proven nonprofit leadership experience. Extensive experience within the Museum industry is strongly preferred.

An ability to strategically plan and execute in a team setting by building consensus among staff and a sense of community with volunteer leadership.

Excellent fundraising track record across various revenue streams. Experience in six- and seven-figure unrestricted donor engagement preferred.

Significant knowledge of the Holocaust in either a museum, non-profit, academic, or related setting.

Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills (both verbal and written), including presentation skills.

Demonstrated experience as an effective internal and external spokesperson, clearly communicating vision, key strategies, and goals to media, senior leaders, and experts in both communal and industry settings.

Track record of creativity and innovation to help the Museum of Jewish Heritage continue its tradition of approaching Holocaust exhibitions and education in innovative ways to engage the broadest possible audience.

Sound fiscal and business management skills, including proficiency in developing budgets and the ability to evaluate major capital investments. An understanding of the drivers of growth, cash flow, return on investment, and the relationship between finance and development.

Demonstrated experience with technological applications and the role of technology within museums and audience engagement strategies.

Education

A master's degree in history, museum studies, Jewish studies, or a related field. A doctorate degree in a related field preferred.

Compensation

The expected base compensation will be $350,000 - $400,000. An extensive benefits package will be provided

to the successful candidate.

Application Process

Interested and qualified candidates are welcome to submit a resume and cover letter to : MuseumofJewishHeritage_CEO@kornferry.com

The Museum employs a staff of talented, creative, results-oriented professionals, working in a spectacular setting in Lower Manhattan and committed to the vital mission of educating diverse visitors about Jewish life before, during, and after the Holocaust.

The Museum is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

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