The New York Transit Museum preserves the history of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and its predecessor agencies, dating back to the mid-19th century.  The Museum is located in a decommissioned subway station in downtown Brooklyn and also operates a Gallery Annex & Store at Grand Central Terminal.  With a staff of 50+ full and part-time personnel, and serving approximately 120,000 visitors per year at its main site, the Museum is one of New York City’s unique cultural institutions.  Exhibitions and programs at the Museum focus on the relationship between urban development and mass transit, on the art, engineering, science and social implications of public transportation, on the sustainability aspects of mass transit, and on New York’s mass transit systems as an iconic phenomenon of city life.  The Director oversees all aspects of museum operations, collections, content, strategic planning, development, retail and finance, and serves as President of the Museum’s non-profit affiliate, Friends of the NY Transit Museum.  The Transit Museum is a division of, and receives generous in-kind support from the MTA.  The Museum is mandated to independently raise or earn all funds needed for personnel and programming costs.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Director, New York Transit Museum is responsible for dynamic and creative leadership of the institution with focus on the following areas:

Administration

  • Oversee daily museum operations, personnel, finance and budget, internal controls, IT, short and long-range planning.
  • Serve as liaison to MTA senior management and coordinate with MTA on budget, procurement, IT, banking and finance, marketing and other departments within the MTA family, as needed.

Facilities

  • Oversee operation and maintenance of the following facilities:   60,000 square foot decommissioned subway station main site of NY Transit Museum in downtown Brooklyn; 2,000 SF Gallery Annex and Store at Grand Central Terminal; 4,500 SF archives facility at Livingston Plaza with environmental controls; 22,500 SF new collections storage facility in Sunset Park with environmental systems; 1,000 SF off-site storage (location varies).
  • Oversight of capital improvement projects as needed.

Development

  • Director must devise a viable financial plan to meet annual $9M+ budget through earned and donated revenue.
  • Fundraising sources include:  government grants, corporate/foundation grants; cultivation of major gifts; membership; annual fundraising Gala; events.
  • Earned revenue sources include:  admissions, retail, facility rental, licensing, program fees.
  • Director serves as president, Friends of the New York Transit Museum, overseeing 24-member Board and an investment and growth portfolio.

Collections & Archival

  • Collections comprise approx. 6,500 objects and several hundred thousand archival items, including about 25 vintage subway cars and 15 surface vehicles.  Comprehensive long-range collections management plan currently in development.  Approx. 20% of collections are digitized.  Collections will move to new facility in Sunset Park in summer 2015.

Exhibitions & Programming

  • Transit Museum attendance has increased steadily since 2003 (437% in 15 years).  Approx. 10-12 school/camp groups served each weekday.  Family programs offered every weekend.  Adult programs include tours/excursions; Nostalgia rides on vintage equipment; talks on contemporary issues relating to mass transit and urban life; performing arts; and special events that celebrate the social phenomenon of urban mass transit.  Programs are inspired by exhibition content, collections and current events.
  • Museum presents between 3-6 exhibitions per year in 2-4 locations.
  • Content is developed independently of MTA.
  • The Museum enjoys the patronage of a diverse audience and strives to reflect that diversity in all of its programming.

Marketing & Outreach

Director works with MTA on marketing and outreach, plus maintenance of the website.

Retail and Licensing

The Museum operates 2 stores (Brooklyn and Grand Central), along with an e-commerce site.  Stores generate approximately $2.5M in gross merchandise revenues, plus $2M+ in fare media sales.  Licensing of MTA intellectual property is managed by MTA with input from the Museum.  Museum develops product for its stores independently.

DESIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

  • A dynamic leadership style and proven ability to lead a challenging and diverse institution and professional staff.  Flexibility and ability to adapt to competing demands.
  • Extensive practical knowledge of collections management, exhibition development, educational programming, retail management, community outreach, marketing, New York City and/or transportation history, or some combination of these skill sets.
  • Demonstrated management and leadership skills in creating high performance teams and a high performance organization.
  • Proven ability to develop and drive changing business plans including governance (operation of a non-profit attached to a parent organization with a competing mission); diversity (of audience, staff and trustees); strategic planning; retail and product development best practices; capital project management.
  • Excellent verbal, editing, and written communication skills.
  • Ability to multi-task and manage varied projects simultaneously.
  • Ability to work under tight deadlines.
  • Sense of humor and ability to foster institution-wide teamwork.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Twelve years professional experience, with at least five years in a museum setting, non-profit or cultural institution.
  • Extensive knowledge of non-profit management, fundraising, operations and governance.
  • Minimum five years leadership, supervisory, team building and staff management experience.
  • A Bachelor’s degree in museum studies, fine arts, public or business administration, library science, history, or some combination of above. A master’s degree is preferred.

OTHER INFORMATION

As an employee of MTA Headquarters you may be required to complete an annual financial disclosure statement with the State of New York, if your position earns more than $90,020.00 (this figure is subject to change) per year or if the position is designated as a policy maker.

To Apply: http://www.mta.info/mta/employment/

Select Jobs at “MTA Headquarters” and search by Job Title “Director, New York Transit Museum – “82501”

MTA is an equal opportunity employer. M/F/V/D

APPLY FOR THIS JOB

Apply URL: http://www.mta.info/mta/employment/