Executive Director [Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art]

The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art in St. Joseph, Missouri seeks a visual arts professional to bring his/her passion for American Art, coupled with business and operations acumen, to this leadership position within our well-established and stable museum.

The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art (AKMA) is a fifty-year old museum that has a primary focus in American Art, including pieces from such noted American artists as: Thomas Hart Benton, Rembrandt Peale, William Merritt Chase, Mary Cassatt, Albert Bierstadt, Andrew Wyeth, and Wayne Thiebaud.   An on-line tour of a small portion of our collection of approximately 3,000 art works is available at http://albrecht-kemper.org/collections .  Our collection is housed in a beautiful facility that combines the traditions of an historic mansion with the beauty of a recently constructed addition housing multiple display galleries, cafe and gift shop, along with teaching, performance, and curatorial spaces.  Though our staff is small, they are talented and share your passion.

The AKMA is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is debt free.  These are sources of pride for both our Board and Staff that were accomplished, and are maintained, through both hard work and vigilance.  Our Executive Director must have the requisite business, finance and development skills to successfully lead the operations and funding activities of a vibrant regional organization.  You will be supported by a diverse and committed seventeen member community Board of Directors, and both a community and region that have a history of supporting the arts in all forms.  St. Joseph is also home to Missouri Western State University, with which the AKMA maintains a close and collaborative relationship.

Our current Executive Director is retiring after a transformative sixteen year tenure, and will be available to assist in your transition to the extent desired.   Management staff also includes a Registrar/Exhibitions Manager, Director of Marketing and Communications, and Director of Catering and Special Events.  The AKMA has a dedicated Foundation to support its efforts, though at $1 million it still has not reached critical mass.  Its development is a focus area for the Executive Director.

The AKMA Executive Director is responsible for the overall operation of all facets of the Museum.  All Museum staff members will report to the Executive Director, and he/she will have the ultimate responsibility for the planning and direction of all Museum activities.  This includes development of a comprehensive model that ensures community involvement, quality programming, strong finances and positive Board and staff relations.  The Executive Director will report to the elected community Board of Directors, and work with them to establish the overall strategic goals of the Museum.

The Board will look to the Executive Director for the vision and personal leadership that will ensure AKMA’s growth and development towards its goal of inspiring and increasing our audience locally, regionally, and nationally, while simultaneously furthering its financial stability.  The Executive Director is expected to bring an entrepreneur’s perspective towards developing new ideas for both programming and fundraising, while still demonstrating the highest professional and ethical standards in the maintenance, display, and general welfare of the Museum’s collection.  He/She must demonstrate ability and a passion for energizing the community in support of the museum, its fundraising efforts, and mission.

The Executive Director will be the chief spokesperson for, and advocate of, the AKMA.  He/She will represent the institution to all community, professional, governmental and civic organizations, and will work to both enhance the AKMA’s image and expand support for it.  The Executive Director will oversee all aspects of fundraising and will be responsible for major gift cultivation and solicitation, as well as other external development activities.  Proper maintenance, renovation, and/or construction of the Museum’s facilities will also fall under this leadership position.

The successful candidate for this position will have, first and foremost, a passion for American Art and the sharing of it with all constituencies.   He/She will also have the educational background and experience to be successful in sharing that passion while growing the AKMA’s collection and financial stability.  Strong interpersonal and communication skills will be critical, as will the leadership mentality and skills necessary to effectively deal with staff, Board and a variety of representatives of public and private organizations, boards, foundations, commissions, support groups, and other stakeholders.  The Executive Director must have an enthusiasm for history, art and culture, and an energetic ability to convey excitement about their value to all, from scholars to the indifferent.  He/She must be as comfortable with people as with historical or art objects and be energized by the introduction of one to the other.

The successful candidate will embrace the mission of the AKMA, and will invest in the vision and goals of the organization.  He/She should have strong organizational and administrative skills, and an understanding of institutional image building, along with the highest ethical standards and innate fairness.  We would look for the Executive Director to locate in St. Joseph, and be a good match to the culture of the community, Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas.

The Executive Director position requires a Masters degree in an applicable field, or the equivalent relevant experience.  The successful candidate will have a minimum of five years of senior management and leadership experience.  While traditional candidates will have successful experience in a museum or other arts related nonprofit organization, candidates with other types of management and administrative experience will be considered.  A proven record of accomplishment in art exhibition presentation, successful fundraising, and institutional planning and development is highly preferred.

We will be accepting applications through April 30, 2015