Executive Director

The Board of Trustees of the Westchester Children’s Museum is seeking an Executive  Director to provide leadership in advancing the Museum’s mission and goals across its exhibitions, programs, and outreach. The ideal candidate is a visionary leader, a strategic and proven fundraiser, and a community ambassador. The new Executive Director will have the exciting and unique opportunity to bring their own vision to the momentum driving the Museum towards its full potential as the hub for interactive playful learning for children with their parents, caregivers, and schools.  This role provides an opportunity to lead the Museum in a period of growth through thoughtful fundraising, staff recruitment and development, and strategic exhibit and programmatic expansion.    

As a collaborative leader, the Executive Director will report to the Board of Trustees and will work closely with the Boardmembers, the staff, and community stakeholders to create, develop, and enhance the Museum’s exhibitions and educational programming from early childhood through upper elementary. The new Executive Director will have both financial acumen and an entrepreneurial spirit. The Director will be an enthusiastic and effective public face of the Museum, engaging with both Rye and Westchester County officials, the management team of Playland Amusement Park, prospective and existing donors, and the broadest range of cultural, educational, nonprofit, business, and corporate community in Westchester.

The Westchester Children’s Museum (“WCM”) is a vibrant, interactive learning space providing children, families, and school groups the opportunity to nurture curiosity, enhance knowledge and ignite imagination through creative hands-on exploration. The Museum is committed to broadening knowledge of the arts and sciences in a playful learning environment. 

The Museum is located on the Playland Beach Boardwalk in the historic landmark North Bathhouse, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2028. Founded over 20 years ago by a group of educators and dedicated volunteers that recognized the need for this type of learning environment in the Westchester area, the Museum opened its doors in 2016 in a 6,000 square foot gallery and has since grown into 20,000 square feet of interactive space. In the last two years, the Museum has experienced a dramatic uptick in visitation and community and school engagement due to the installation of new exhibits, growth of staff, the introduction of a financial assistance membership program, and vibrant daily programming. Attendance has grown from 25k annually in 2022 to surpassing 100,000 in 2024. The Museum currently has over 2,000 members with 20% representing our Family Access Membership.  Additionally, the Museum welcomed over 10,000 students on field trips.  

The current operating budget is approaching $2million and has 7 full time and 21 part time employees.

OVERVIEW OF QUALIFICATIONS AND JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

The Executive Director’s duties and responsibilities will include overall responsibility for the  management, supervision, operation, administration, enhancement, and development of WCM. The new Executive Director is an energetic leader with a proven track record of participating in a major fundraising campaign and can lead and execute a strategic planning process.  

In order for the Museum to achieve its strategic goals, the candidate must be able to work closely  with the Board of Trustees, external partners to find funding for future programs and exhibits through both the cultivation of potential new donors and seeking various grants. The organization’s leader will manage a new  capital campaign, memberships, and annual giving. The Executive Director should possess the  political savvy and the ability to balance relationships with public sector officials serving Rye and  Westchester County, while building new relationships and partnerships in the community.  

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES 

LEADERSHIP: 

WCM seeks an Executive Director who is an energetic, innovative, and collaborative leader who  will inspire, guide, and support the work of the Board and staff to fulfill the promise of the mission  and vision of the organization by: 

• Providing leadership on program planning, advocacy, marketing, and promotional  activities to address the goals, mission, and vision of the organization. 
• Forming a strong partnership with the Board of Trustees, board committees, and community stakeholders to implement the strategic plan for the organization. 
• Guiding and supervising all activities related to design, construction, and use of the Museum  site and facilities, providing an environment for exciting learning concepts, welcoming  engagement and innovative programs consistent with the strategic direction of the  organization. 
• Providing consistent and strong coordination with all official authorities and contract  organizations including Playland, city and county officials and New York State governmental  agencies. 
• Demonstrating collaborative leadership with the staff and Board in the coordination of  administrative activities, operations, and financial affairs of WCM. 

ENGAGEMENT: 

WCM seeks an Executive Director who is committed to community building among all  stakeholders to provide a strong foundation for the organization by: 

• Engaging and forming partnerships with all community stakeholders to support and facilitate WCM’s ability to raise funds from new and existing individual and corporate donors, private foundations,  granting bodies and government agencies.
• Planning, collaborating with and guiding the Director of Development and the Board of Trustees to  implement an effective, responsive, and creative resource development program to support the WCM  mission and programs. 
• Guiding, supporting, and innovating with staff in the development of Museum exhibits and public  programs. 
• Planning, guiding, and supporting the WCM’s membership programs while developing strategies to  expand membership. 
• Managing and guiding a strong volunteer program, assisting staff with recruitment of new volunteers  and recognition of current volunteers. 
• Serving as a community builder, working closely with area and regional organizations. 

ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS 

WCM seeks an Executive Director who is a professional manager who uses collaborative systems to train, supervise and evaluate the activities related to administering day to day activities in  support of the organization by: 

• Creating an annual budget for Board approval and overseeing its effective implementation.
• Developing and implementing systems for internal program control and fiscal accountability. 
• Managing personnel and staffing including hiring and terminations, compensation, performance  evaluations, training, as well as establishing the job descriptions, duties, and responsibilities of staff to meet the Museum’s mission.  
• Working with city, county and Playland Park officials regarding the facilities and property, ensuring smooth relations and advantageous contracts with the Park’s owners and operators. 
• Liaising with the Treasurer, and as needed with legal counsel, accounting personnel and other WCM consultants. 
• Developing WCM’s organizational infrastructure including the annual review and implementation of  enhanced, cost-effective employee benefit options for current and future WCM staff.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 

The annual salary range is between $140,000 and $165,000, plus benefits.  The Museum is operational  every day and the Executive Director is responsible for the successful operations of the Museum in its entirety.  

Westchester Children’s Museum is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages  candidates with diverse backgrounds to apply. WCM does not discriminate against any candidate  or employee based on race, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age,  disability, religion, or veteran status. 

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY (DEIA) 

The Westchester Children’s Museum is committed to creating a welcoming environment. The  Museum’s goal is to connect children and families with programs and activities that  encourage communication, problem solving and play, to build bridges and forge relationships  within and among communities. WCM values experiences that are collaborative and  accessible, to the greatest extent possible, by all people regardless of their age, background, or ability.