QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will have a track record of success in fundraising and resource development, community relations, marketing and public relations, staff and volunteer management, as well as excellent oral/written communication and public speaking skills. S/he will also have the ability to inspire and empower staff, board, community members and donors, through a collaborative and community-minded approach and an appreciation of diverse perspectives. Realizing the Trust’s mission and vision will require a team builder who leads by example. Candidates should have a Master’s degree or higher in History or in Museum Studies, with a minimum of five years of administrative experience or comparable experience, competitive salary and benefits package.

RESPONSIBILITIES
The Executive Director will be charged with advancing the strategic initiatives, as follow:

Develop and secure financial resources needed to ensure the future by working with board and staff to achieve a balanced budget and monitor finances regularly; cultivating relationships with private and corporate donors; pursuing grant opportunities; building the endowment; networking with city and township officials to establish equitable support from governmental agencies; overseeing an integrated plan to build the membership base; developing a robust facility rental program for the Museum, historic homes, and Armory.

Ensure that necessary human resources are developed by fostering a culture of mutual respect and appreciation between board and staff; working with board leadership to create a strong executive/board partnership; strengthening staff capacities by modeling best practices and providing professional development opportunities; building accountability through clear expectations and regular performance evaluations.

Become an integral part of the community’s cultural and educational life by forging mutually rewarding partnerships with community organizations, public schools and institutions of higher learning; collaborating with governmental and economic development agencies to maximize resources and advance common goals; strengthening relationships with organizations that serve diverse communities; making the Museum a community gathering place.

Provide leadership in promoting and preserving the area’s heritage by positioning cultural diversity as an asset for the entire community and a means of attracting economic development; reaching out to the growing Hispanic, Asian-American and African-American communities to plan and present exhibits and programs that tell their stories and celebrate their cultures.

Maximize the potential and relevance of the collection by articulating a collections policy and adding objects to the collection that create relevance for a broad audience; demonstrating the relevance of historical lessons for today’s challenging times.

Enhance the image and understanding of the Trust in the community, region and beyond by creating a focused marketing strategy to attract and serve target audiences; harnessing technology to attract and serve younger audiences and engaging with an active Young Professionals group; cultivating new members while retaining current members.

Ensure that facilities meet future needs by managing and maintaining historic properties and developing them in ways that allow for strategic growth.


MISSION
The Holland Historical Trust is the catalyst for a dynamic interaction of the past and present that enriches the greater Holland area. By collecting, preserving and communicating what has been, the Trust focuses the power of the past to shape the future. Its educational facilities and collections are representative of a diverse heritage and are accessible to all.

VISION
To shape the future of the greater Holland area by celebrating and building on those qualities that made it thrive in the past.

BACKGROUND 

Facilities: Holland Historical Trust’s Holland Museum is an AAM accredited collection-based and historic institution. Founded in 1937, the Holland Museum is housed in a 1914 neoclassical building that was originally the Holland Post Office. The Holland Historical Trust also operates three historic properties located within a three-block radius of the Museum. 1) The beautifully restored Cappon House, an 1873 Italianate home of the City’s first Mayor.  This includes a Visitor Center in the coach house. 2) The 1867 Settlers House, a small parlor-style home of a local ship builder, which provides an excellent contrast with the Cappon House. 3) The 1924 Holland Armory, which houses the Museum’s offices, collections storage, and a large space for facility rentals, programming and temporary exhibitions.

Collection: The collection has strengths in the areas of 17th-19th century Dutch paintings and decorative arts.  This includes, 19th century Dutch immigration material; local artifacts relating to the area’s settlement, religious traditions, agriculture, manufacturing, transportation and tourist industry. It also has smaller collections of artifacts from the Odawa tribe and more recent material that tell the stories of Holland’s Hispanic and Southeast Asian residents. The Museum Archives include 5,000 lineal feet of historic documents, books, images and maps from the mid-1600s through the present.

Programs: Holland features an annual spring festival, Tulip Time, which attracts 200,000 visitors. This event offers tremendous potential for building the tourist audience, in addition to our summer programs: Kentucky Derby Party, Annual Vintage Boat Show, and a weekend-long Civil War Re-enactment, which takes place at the nearby 160-acre Van Raalte Farm, a designated Historic Site.

Human and Financial Resources: The Holland Historical Trust operates with an annual budget of $550,000. The staff includes three full-time and six part-time employees, who are supported by an active corps of over 100 volunteers. The Executive Director reports to the 14-member board of the Holland Historical Trust.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Please submit a cover letter, resume and references to:
Holland Historical Trust
Human Resources Department
31 West 10th Street
Holland, MI  49423
Or
mel@hollandmuseum.org