Deputy Director for Museum Advancement [Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, MD]

The Walters Art Museum Company Profile

Located in the historic Mount Vernon district of Baltimore, Maryland, The Walters Art Museum is a leader in curatorial scholarship, conservation, and education.

The Walters has a world-renowned collection of 33,000 objects, presents major temporary exhibitions each year (many of which travel nationally and internationally), has a world-class conservation studio and program, and is a leader in the field of educational practice.  The Walters has a staff of 140 full-time employees, an operating budget of $14.8 million, and an endowment of $130 million.  Annual attendance in FY2014 totaled 166,000 visitors.  Although admission is free for all, the Museum has a core of over 4,000 members.

In 2013, Executive Director Dr. Julia Marciari-Alexander was hired as the fifth director of the Walters.  Under her leadership, the Museum Trustees and staff began a Strategic Thinking process to create goals that align with a new vision for a 21st-century experience at the Walters.

Key Position Responsibilities

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Deputy Director for Museum Advancement is a key leader and will partner with the Deputy Director for Art & Program and the COO to create an integrated and aligned implementation of the Museum’s Strategic Plan across divisions of the Museum.

In partnership with the Executive Director, the Deputy Director for Museum Advancement will lead and oversee the departments of Development, Marketing & Communications, and the Office of the Board of Trustees.

Serving as a cultural change agent and in consultation with the Executive Director, the Deputy Director will integrate the work of three direct reports (Director of Development, Director of Marketing & Communication, and Manager of Institutional Giving), a staff of 22 overall, four volunteer groups, and the committee structure of the Board of Trustees.

In partnership with the Executive Director and in collaboration with the Board of Trustees, the Deputy Director for Museum Advancement will formulate strategy, set priorities, and implement plans to ensure that the Walters’ institutional positioning and donor experience creates meaningful pathways for involvement that are fresh, modern, and compelling.

The Deputy Director for Museum Advancement will develop an ambitious fundraising program in support of annual operations, capital improvements, endowment growth, acquisitions, and special projects.

With the Leadership Team, the Deputy Director for Museum Advancement will plan, develop, and organize the Walters’ next capital campaign, working with internal stakeholders, Walters’ constituencies, and outside counsel as necessary.

The Deputy Director will maintain a robust portfolio of Museum donors and prospects for cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.

Professional Experience, Qualifications, & Requirements

We seek an outgoing, self-assured team member with the following skills and experience to assume this position by January 2016:

• A successful record of demonstrable accomplishments in envisioning, implementing and managing a bold advancement strategy within a competitive philanthropic environment;
• Demonstrated success in aligning institutional positioning and communications with ambitious fundraising goals and in meeting those goals;
• Senior-level leadership in planning and implementing a capital campaign;
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment, under pressure and to meet internal and external deadlines;
• Substantial experience managing and evaluating staff and working effectively with high-level volunteers to meet ambitious institutional goals;
• Knowledge of fundraising “best practices” and a vision for new opportunities;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills;
• Fluency with budgeting and financial reporting;
• Background and passion for the role of art museums, history and culture;
• Minimum seven – ten years of management experience in an art museum, arts-related organization, philanthropic organization, or institution of higher learning;
• Bachelor’s degree required, with a preference for those with a graduate degree or significant experience in non-profit management, museum administration, or commensurate experience.

Leadership Characteristics

The successful candidate for the Deputy Director for Museum will be an inclusive leader and manager of the highest integrity, with the ability to motivate, inspire, and unite staff and stakeholders around a shared vision.

The Deputy Director will be an excellent communicator and listener with strong interpersonal skills and will possess the ability to cultivate relationships with and to build bridges across diverse internal and external constituencies.

S/he will have a high emotional intelligence and an earned reputation for effectively cultivating relationships with peers/colleagues within and across institutions as well as the ability to create cohesion internally and externally around a culture of philanthropy.

The successful candidate will be a highly energetic, extroverted, donor-focused, hands-on individual with a sense of humor, creativity, and fun.

Salary & Benefits

Competitive salary commensurate with experience complemented with an attractive benefits package including health, prescription drug, vision and dental insurance options; paid time off and holidays; a relocation allowance; voluntary supplemental benefits programs and flexible spending accounts.  Salary raises are based on annual performance evaluation rather than the awarding of performance bonuses.  The Walters Art Museum is an Equal Opportunity, Equal Access Employer.

Contact

To express interest in being a candidate for this position, please email a cover letter indicating your interest and your resume to our search firm, Barnes & Roche, Inc.  No phone calls, please.  We will acknowledge receipt of your materials.

Applications will be held in confidence at this stage in the search.  Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

William P. Massey

Senior Consultant, Barnes & Roche, Inc.

wmassey@brnsrche.com