Executive Director - Port Huron Museum (7/18/25)

Posted on 6/30/25

HOURS PER WEEK: Scheduled days may vary. Weekends required. (Flexibility required, includes weekdays, weekends, and possibly evenings.)

PRIMARY PURPOSE: Visionary and strategic director to reimagine and lead the development of the five cultural sites with interactive exhibits to blend the historical preservation and illuminate history and culture for the benefit of the community.

SALARY: $ 80,000-$87,000

SUPERVISOR: Reports to Board of Directors

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership & Planning: 

• Leads the visioning and planning of new interactive exhibits, taking the museums to the next level.
• Incorporates technology and storytelling techniques to create a dynamic, engaging visitor experience.
• Guides strategic planning, establishing goals and objectives for the organization.
• Builds community partnerships, resources, and continually searches for opportunities of growth and diversification through grants and community financial support.
• Focuses on growing memberships and increasing donations and endowments while sustaining revenue to maintain a balanced budget.

Annual Operating Budget and Financial controls:

• Advises and assists the board, business consultant and staff to develop and monitor the annual operating budget.
• Makes strategic recommendations for resource allocations.
• Coordinates with the business consultant and finance committee, while maintaining the financial records, preparing financial reports and monitoring cash disbursements and deposits in compliance with museum policy.
• Provides regular updates to the board and to the Vice President of the Community Foundation.
• Executes contracts and legal obligations of the museums.
• Ensures compliance with all relevant legal, safety and nonprofit standards.

Community Engagement and Collaboration:

• With the support of the Board of Trustees, promotes donations from private and public sources, including corporate sponsorships, state, federal and local government grants, the Community Foundation and individuals.
• Prepares and submits grant requests to support ongoing programs and initiatives.
• Supervises grant projects.
• Builds earned and contributed sources of income.
• Leads all major fundraising efforts to create sponsorship levels and donations.
• Acts as face of the museums within the community and to partner with organizations.
• Improves relationships with local schools, tourism partners and historical societies to increase museums’ reach and impact.

Museum Operations:

• Recruits, hires, supervises and evaluates all staff and volunteers.
• Oversees the training and staffing and scheduling of employees to meet site needs.
• Creates a welcoming atmosphere and educational environment conducive for all staff and guests.
• Maintains day to day operations, including care of the collections and facilities.
• Identifies and manages external partners (exhibit firms, designers, curators).
• Ensures the exhibits remain historically accurate while being accessible and engaging for all ages.
• Researches best practices from other non-profit community partners to determine additional site uses for meetings, events, and fundraisers to boost attendance at the museums.

Professional Development Programs:

• Participates in educational activities and museum associations to keep informed of the latest developments in museum/non-profit/business management.
• Solicits opportunities for professional development and board development.
• Supports/mentors staff in development goals.

Membership:

• Initiates the annual membership campaign.
• Oversees the development and implementation of strategies to sustain and expand memberships.
• Appraises benefits of member needs and proposes changes or revisions as necessary.

Advocacy:

• Acts as spokesperson for the museums, including promoting activities and events.
• Advocates, with board assistance, the needs of the museum community with state, local and federal government entities, community organizations, tourism industry, the media and the general public.
• Acts as liaison for museums with federal, state and local cultural agencies and local, regional, national and international professional associations.
• Develops programs, community activities, and appropriate meetings which further the mission of the museums and benefit the community.

Marketing:

• Creates and oversees all print materials and digital marketing materials.
• Coordinates with staff to develop strategies and timelines for marketing of programs at all sites
• Collaborates with staff to strategize ways to attract new audiences.
• Oversees social media management.

Collections and Exhibits:

• Ensures items donated are appropriately reviewed, accessioned, conserved, preserved, and cataloged.
• Oversees the development and implementation of exhibits, traveling exhibits, and incoming and outgoing loans for the Museum and off-site venues.

Other Responsibilities:

• Keeps electronic records in an orderly and accessible system and monitors regular file back-up. Maintains hard-copy files in an organized manner.
• Coordinates maintenance of the museum building, grounds, and equipment.
• Provides for safe and reliable operation and adequate supplies for operation of facilities within budget parameters.
• Provides final oversight on gift shop purchases, activities, and establishing of prices.

SKILLS AND EXPERTISE REQUIRED: 

• Supervise staff, volunteers and consultants o Interpersonal and team interaction skills; ability to work with a diverse community and with standing and ad hoc committees
• Articulate spokesperson
• Development and fundraising, including foundation and government grants and corporate and private donations
• Ability to develop partnerships and identify creative solutions
• Financial record-keeping skills
• Knowledge of museum professional policies, issues, and strategies
• Proficient in the following applications: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, QuickBooks, and Dropbox.
• Effective use of Social Media.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of working and transporting materials in an historic building with non-standard stairs.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Relevant bachelor's degree and 3-5 years leadership in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience, demonstrating ability required to support a non-profit organization and manage service for a small historical society and museums with a small staff and volunteers.
• Strong experience in museum design and historical interpretation
• Demonstrated project management skills with emphasis on hiring/managing staff and contractors
• Passion for community history-familiarity with agricultural, industrial or rural heritage is a plus
• Experience with interactive exhibit design or technology integration is preferred

CONTACT: Résumé and Cover Letter must be submitted via email to employment@phmuseum.org