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 Board members, 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.

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.