From time to time a position, either full or part-time, will open up and become available at The Children’s Museum.  When this occurs, the position will be posted on this page and will include a position description and contact information.

If you have any questions about this process, please contact The Children’s Museum at (216) 791-7114.

Click here for a printable employment application. (.pdf file)

Position #1 – Currently accepting applications through May 25, 2012

Executive Director 

Click here for a printable Executive Director job description (.pdf file)

Position Overview

The Executive Director has overall responsibility for fundraising, staff supervision, planning, financial management, program management, marketing, and community relations for this nonprofit agency, subject to Board oversight.  The Executive Director will work closely with the Board to develop and implement the strategic plan, establish policies, and provide leadership and support for the staff and volunteers.

Reporting Relationships

The Executive Director reports to the Board of Trustees and manages a total staff of 15 (not including work-study students) through two direct reports including the Director of Education and the Director of Operations.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include overseeing and managing all aspects of the Museum’s operations, exhibits, and education programming; driving all aspects of CMC’s fundraising for both operations and a capital campaign; driving the process of solidifying the site and building project to which the capital campaign relates; being CMC’s face to the community; establishing and nurturing key collaborations with local and regional partners; driving the development of innovative new programming; capitalizing on education outreach opportunities; and developing and executing a long-term strategic plan for the Museum.

Specifically, the Executive Director will:

Oversee and Manage All Activities of CMC

• Develop annual budget and deliver results against budget
• Build a well-functioning leadership team
• Set direction and create alignment around responsibilities
• Delegate appropriate activities/authority
• Manage relationship with 3rd party accounting partner
• Prepare/actively focus Board on key organizational and operational issues as part of Board & committee meetings
• Work closely with Board to develop and execute strategic plan for Museum

Represent CMC in the Community

• Manage ongoing strategic partnerships
• Develop/secure new cornerstone partnerships for the Museum each year
• Energize broader Northeast Ohio community to actively support the CMC as advocate for early childhood issues
• Represent the Museum at community and foundation events
• Host quarterly stakeholder event at Museum
• Manage relationship with current lessor (with Board co-chairs)

Lead Operating Fund Development

• Develop fundraising strategy
• Foundations
• Corporate
• Individual
• Coordinate strategy with annual gala and capital campaign
• Develop and deliver budget for contributions
• Oversee grant writer and staff involvement in development
• Strategy, targets, follow-through
• Oversee annual fundraising gala (Board to take day-to-day lead in organizing gala in 2012)
• Lead annual operating fund raising

Lead Capital Campaign

• Lead and coordinate capital campaign preparation and execution
• Lead activities designed to solidify the site and building plan to which the capital campaign relates (with Board)
• Actively participate on campaign development committee
• Take lead in developing campaign budget (with Board)
• Manage campaign budget and calendar
• Deliver regular Board updates
• Develop overall case for support (with Board)
• Build prospective donor lists together with Board (individual, foundation, corporate, etc.)
• Develop cultivation strategies for prospective donors
• Coordinate cultivation events
• Direct Board and staff involvement

Other Key Responsibilities

• Conduct annual performance evaluations with direct reports
• Create and implement strategic plan for Board development (with Board Development Committee)
• Recruit and interview potential new Board members (with Board Development Committee)
• Network with other non-profit executive directors in community

Candidate Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal communications skills and be creative, self-directed, energetic, a team player, and have experience in early childhood education, museum education, or equivalent, including experience in
an informal learning environment.  Other key attributes include leadership, management, and fundraising experience (both for operations and as part of a capital campaign), the ability to build collaborative relationships, financial savvy, a track record of results, and a passion for early childhood education.

Leadership:

• The ideal candidate will be a strong, dynamic leader who takes initiative and gets things done, and will be a strategic thinker who is able to transform vision and ideas into concrete and high-impact programs.  The ideal candidate will have led an organization through a period of positive growth and change, and will have an impressive track record of building a solid administrative foundation from which a maturing organization can grow.  The preferred candidate will possess a leadership style that is direct and decisive, yet also empowers and encourages others to take initiative. The right person will recognize staff for their accomplishments and provide feedback concerning performance.  He or she will be available, approachable and open to ideas from all team members.

Financial Management:

• He or she will possess a high level of financial literacy and good business judgment, and will have experience establishing and managing to budgets.  The ideal candidate will have demonstrated an ability to develop and operate additional lines of business that generate income to support general operations.

Communication:

• The ideal candidate will be outgoing, personable, and a compelling spokesperson who is able to articulate the mission of the organization to diverse audiences and able to rally people around a vision.  The ideal candidate will be able to interact effectively one-on-one and with small groups, as well as successfully delivering formal presentations to large audiences.

Passion for Children:

• The right candidate will have a demonstrated passion around children and their intellectual, physical, and emotional development.

Fund Raising: 

• The ideal candidate will be a relationship builder who has a high level of organizational and political sophistication, especially as it relates to connecting programs to funding, creatively generating other resources, and building collaborative and strategic partnerships.  The ideal candidate will think beyond traditional sources to identify unique funding opportunities.

Team Building:

• She or he will have the ability to remain flexible and creative in a challenging work environment while maintaining a sense of humor.  The selected individual will possess the demonstrated ability to recruit and develop a leadership team that works in an integrated way to achieve major goals.

Character:

• The Executive Director should demonstrate honesty and integrity beyond reproach.  The selected candidate will be a problem-solver who is well-organized and remains calm under pressure.  The ideal candidate will possess a drive      for excellence and innovation and will encourage entrepreneurial thinking throughout the organization.  This individual will have a mature, healthy sense of self-assurance and be able to listen to alternative methods for reaching goals.

Background:

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible senior level experience in a comparable organization is strongly preferred.  Experience working with fundraising, nonprofit boards, committees, and the public is essential.  Capital campaign experience will be significant.

Education:

• A bachelor’s degree is required and a master’s degree is preferred.  Education in early childhood development will be a plus.

Compensation

Salary will be commensurate with experience, and benefits are competitive.

Click here for a printable Executive Director job description (.pdf file)

Contact Information

The Children’s Museum firmly supports the principle and philosophy of equal opportunity for all individuals, regardless of race, religion, sex, age, national origin or disability.

Interested candidates should send a resume via e-mail to:

Rick Manoloff, Chair of the CMC Executive Director Search Committee, at rmanoloff@ssd.com, by Friday, May 25, 2012, at noon.