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Wonderfeet Kids' Museum

Executive Director

Wonderfeet Kids' Museum, West Rutland, Vermont, United States,


To be a COMPLETE APPLICATION please email a full Cover Letter and Resume to WonderfeetEvents@gmial.com with WKM ED as the subject.

The Wonderfeet Kids Museum Board of Directors is seeking an individual with a passion for children, families, and learning, to launch our newly expanded museum into a future with expanded growth and opportunity for our community. The Executive Director (ED) plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Wonderfeet Kids Museum and is responsible for guiding the daily operations of the museum and working with the board of directors to ensure consistency with our mission, values, and goals.

The ED will be expected to lead a dynamic team, oversee strategic planning, and champion a mission to foster curiosity and exploration, inspire creativity, and ignite the imagination of every child through play. The ED will need to fully understand the museum's operations from the bottom up, often working the museum floor, programming, managing the resolution of operational issues at all levels, including filling staffing gaps.

The ED is expected to promote the museum through community outreach acting as a resource and extending our goals of collaborating with community members to build a more vibrant future for our children and families. The ED is responsible for all aspects of fundraising, including Board of Directors in campaign efforts, researching and submitting grants, and creating beneficial partnerships with organizations and individuals that will symbiotically assist in the growth of the WKM and to grow the museum in the future. This role truly involves inspirational leadership in attracting, engaging, training, retaining, empowering, and supporting Wonderfeet’s staff, board, and volunteers while creating a positive, safe, and inclusive working environment.

Leadership & Management

Strategic Leadership: Working with board to develop and execute a clear compelling strategic vision aligning with mission and goals, while ensuring fiscal responsibility and sustainability.

Operational Oversight: Provide leadership to the museum Staff, Committees, Guest Services, and all other aspects to ensure efficient operations and an exceptional visitor experience.

Strategic planning: Lead the planning, implementation, and assessment of an organizational strategic process.

Develop strategies to increase volunteer involvement at WKM.

Serve as the principal spokesperson, effectively communicating our unique value to the community.

Be active and current with relevant organizations, professional learning and resource sharing opportunities.

Operational and Day-to-Day Leadership

Ensure a consistent high level of service and compliance with all state and federal laws and regulations.

Develop, implement and manage staff policies, procedures, and handbooks.

Manage the daily operations of the museum, hiring, supervision, and training of staff.

Hire and manage staff including development and implementation of staff performance/goal review.

Present monthly and annual reports to board of directors.

Ensure all exhibits and museum are well maintained, cleaned, and kept in good condition.

Attend outside community events as the museum representative with assistance from staff, board, and volunteers.

Collect and access data for decision making, reporting, and marketing.

Finances and Fundraising

Work with BOD and finance committee to develop the annual budget.

Operate a balanced budget with adjustments to remain in a positive financial position.

Oversee daily and weekly deposits and work cooperatively with the Board Treasurer.

Work with BOD in developing and implementing annual fundraising plan.

Engage and lead staff, board, and volunteer committee members to plan and participate in fundraising events.

Actively seek and develop grant opportunities as well as maintain grant reports.

Cultivate ongoing relationships with individual, corporate, and major donors including recognition and appreciation.

Maintain and build relationships with the membership and community members for retention and accessing of future collaborators.

Marketing

Create and lead a marketing team to ensure consistent, professional, and updated marketing collateral materials.

Regularly advertise programs, events, or exhibits through the website, email, and other electronic or print methods.

Develop and distribute regular newsletters and calendar of events to membership, schools, and community.

Develop and publish an Annual Report with the support of the BOD.

Update and maintain the donor giving wall.

Educational Experiences

Develop, implement, maintain, and update exhibit plans to fit the museum’s mission.

Work with exhibit design companies to develop and install exhibits and then oversee the maintenance of all exhibits.

Oversee the education initiatives with the Education Coordinator and through collaborative community endeavors.

Board of Directors

Inform the board of museum status and activities and bring concerns/needs before the BOD in a timely manner.

Recognize board strengths and weaknesses, working with the board to help it grow its diversity, expertise, and philanthropic capacity.

Work with board to set up board orientation, training, and development opportunities.

Attend monthly board meetings and committee meeting attended by staff and board.

Recognize board members’ individual expertise and passion for Wonderfeet. Ensures an environment that is conducive to creative and good governance and productive board work.

Consistently focus on board development.

Desired qualifications and skills

Preferred at least 3 years minimum of management or nonprofit leadership experience.

Preferred at minimum a Bachelor's Degree in a related field.

Demonstrated ability to lead and energize staff and volunteers.

A proven track record of fundraising, civic and community engagement, marketing and branding, board engagement, and fiscal management is required.

APPLICATIONS

Please send your cover letter and resume to: and in the subject line please write: Executive Director application. You may address your letter to Wonderfeet Board of Directors. We will begin reviewing applications on November 15, 2024. Those who apply by then will have priority. However, the position will remain open until filled. If you have any inquiries about this position, please email with subject line WKM ED.

Job Type: Full-time

Schedule:

Monday to Friday

On call

Weekends as needed

Ability to Relocate:

Rutland, VT 05701: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

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