Posted: 12/10/2007
Closes: January 8, 2008
Level: Senior
Type: Permanent
Job categories: Development, Director, Marketing/Public Relations

If we were to fast forward to a year from today, as Executive Director you will have been directly responsible for initiating strong connections between the regional community and the Sonoma County Museum. The strength of these connections will be evident through visible growth in community members’ volunteering, attending, bringing friends, joining, being involved, and financially supporting the Museum. Behind the scenes you will have tirelessly developed an extensive network of relationships in government, tourism, business, education, and social communities as well as with established stakeholders of the Museum. There will be mutual trust, reciprocity, and respect in each relationship.
Your leadership will further be noticeable in your ability to creatively articulate and engage others in a compelling vision for a vibrant Museum supported by a clear strategy for success and financial viability. The strategy will respect the Museum’s mission as well as demonstrate solid understanding of the Museum’s “playing field” – the community and the Museum’s customers, niche, sustainable attributes – and a logical way the Museum will be organized and managed to have “prosperity,” i.e., having the resources necessary to pursue the mission as freely as possible. Assumptions within the strategy are that: the Museum will need to develop extensive, diverse, honest relationships in order to pursue the planned facilities expansion for programs and exhibitions in history, culture, and art; and the current quality of programs and exhibitions is sustainable. Key team members in your success will include the Board of Trustees, staff, and volunteers.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES To transform the Museum into an exciting, vibrant community-centered venture, the successful candidate will draw on competencies from prior organizational leadership positions in which s/he and the group flourished. As a charismatic and enterprising leader, s/he crafts and articulates a compelling yet consistent organizational vision and effectively enrolls multiple constituencies in its pursuit. Proven interpersonal accomplishments include rousing and involving the public, developing and engaging membership, giving speeches in numerous settings, facilitating fresh solutions to conflicting interests or priorities, collaborating with a volunteer nonprofit board, creatively tapping into professional expertise within the staff and beyond, and successfully cultivating and soliciting major gifts. Proven business savvy includes advancing financial stability in an organization along with growing the amounts of members, visitors, money, volunteers, talent, and positive attention. Entrepreneurial spirit, facilitative management style, and technological know-how are essential skills to managing finite resources.

Reports from those who have worked with the successful candidate indicate s/he has: great listening skills; ability to keep a consistent focus while creatively weaving in suggestions and new ideas; good sense of humor; charisma and confidence as a leader but doesn’t take self too seriously; ability to patiently guide strong personalities and diverse skill sets; ability to inspire reciprocal trust; ability to empower staff to handle daily operations and decisions; team approach sharing success with others; endless ingenuity.

CAREER PATH AND EDUCATION The successful candidate ideally will have a minimum three years successful leadership experience in a museum or other facility-based, cultural nonprofit organization. Other leadership experiences are also welcome. Familiarity with the wide range of visual arts and the discipline of history and the respective cultures is highly preferred, as is a deep understanding of museums as educational institutions. Experience in facility management and expansion as well as intimate understanding of preliminary phases of a capital campaign is preferred. Exposure to standards related to landmark buildings and art and artifact collections useful. A deep respect for Sonoma County and its art, culture, and history as well as active interest in its emerging future is required. Bachelor’s Degree is required. An advanced degree is strongly preferred.

Send statement of accomplishments and resume to Search Committee, info@sonomacountymuseum.org. Deadline: January 8, 2008