Description

The Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture (“the MAC”) is the regional art and history museum for the Pacific Inland Northwest, located in Spokane, Washington.  The museum’s two-fold mission is to promote and explore the history, culture and visual arts of the Inland Northwest and to bring to the region entertaining and informative exhibits and programs from all parts of the world that support its basic purpose.  The museum’s holdings include one of the world’s finest collections of Plateau Indian art and artifacts, in addition to a significant collection of regional photographs, art and artifacts.

Founded in 1916, the museum is the public persona of the Eastern Washington State Historical Society (EWSHS), an agency of the State of Washington operating under the Revised Code of Washington [RCW 27.34.070].  The museum, which has an annual budget of about $3 million consisting of state funds, donated and earned income, is a fully-accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.  The museum is supported by a Foundation with an endowment in excess of $5.0 million in assets.

Situated on a bluff overlooking the Spokane River, the campus includes the 1898 Campbell House, a Kirtland Cutter mansion that has been meticulously restored as a Progressive Era house museum.  Guided tours of the house are included in the museum’s price of admission, which also includes entry to the seven individual exhibit spaces in the main Exhibit Hall and Curatorial Center opened in 2001.  The MAC has recently added a robust offering of summer camps and adult education programs to its exhibits, house tour and visiting lecturer offerings.  And our “Visual Thinking Strategies” program for touring school age children has won statewide acclaim.  Both professional and amateur researchers regularly visit our library and archives, and we are in the process of digitizing the collection to expand access to our online visitors.  ArtFest, produced by museum staff and volunteers, takes over an entire city park the first weekend in June. It is the city’s largest arts and crafts festival, and serves as the traditional start of the summer season for the community.

THE OPPORTUNITY
2016 marks the museum’s centennial.  The museum is looking for a dynamic Executive Director to guide it into its next century.  The museum’s Board of Trustees has commissioned a pre-design study to examine ways to increase museum revenue, target community needs and desires, and improve the museum campus.  The new Executive Director will be intimately engaged in the process of improving and expanding existing facilities and programming to meet the challenges of the 21st century and best serve the regional community.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Reporting Relationship
As a Washington State Historical Society, the Board of Trustees is the governing body of and has ultimate responsibility for the management of the museum.  The Board appoints the Executive Director with consent of the governor of the State.  The Executive Director reports to the Board and may be removed by a majority vote of the Board and the Governor’s consent or by the Governor for cause.   The Executive Director serves at the pleasure of the Board as an “at will” employee consistent with applicable law.

Administration
The Executive Director has overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the museum, for maintaining museum’s AAM accreditation, and for ensuring the museum and its Board and staff comply with all legal, financial and administrative rules and regulations.  Reporting to the Executive Director is a Leadership Team that includes the positions of Director of Museum Experience (DME), Director of Finance and Facilities Management, Director of Development, Director of Marketing and a Confidential Secretary.  The DME supervises and provides strategic guidance to a Museum Experience Team comprised of Visitor Experience, Volunteer Programs, Exhibits, Curatorial, Collections, Library/Archive, pre-K12 School Services and Interpretive Programs staff.  The museum’s human resources include an experienced staff of approximately 40 full and part time employees and a dedicated group of over 100 community volunteers.  Important additional support is provided to museum leadership by the American Indian Cultural Council (AICC), which is comprised of leaders from Plateau Indian Tribes.

Fundraising
The Executive Director will serve avidly and passionately as the museum’s chief fundraiser.  With the Board of Trustees, Director of Development, professional development staff and volunteers, the Executive Director oversees the creation and implementation of fundraising strategies that enable the organization to meet financial and resource development goals necessary to carry out its programs and operations.  Because the museum is a state agency, the Executive Director will also work closely with the State of Washington officials and legislators to secure maximum state funding.  The Executive Director will actively engage on a regular basis with private donors and foundations and think beyond traditional sources to identify unique funding opportunities.

Financial Management
The Executive Director ensures that solid budgeting and accounting systems are in operation and that the museum has proper financial and risk management controls in place to protect the institution’s assets.  As a state agency, the museum has budgeting, compliance and reporting responsibilities to the State of Washington that the Executive Director must ensure are fulfilled.

Strategic Planning
Working in partnership with the Management Leadership Team and the Board of Trustees, the Executive Director will lead the effort to develop a strategic plan to fund and advance the museum’s mission and to communicate the vision and build support of the mission among its diverse stakeholders.

Public Relations
The Executive Director, as the primary spokesperson and public face of the museum, has the responsibility to effectively promote the organization, advocate for the museum’s mission, and build relationships with key stakeholder groups, including: donors; elected and public officials; area business, preK-12 school, college and university leadership; local artists; and regional American Indian tribal leaders.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Minimum five years of progressive executive management leadership positions in general management or development in a private, not-for-profit, or public museum, historical society, cultural center or similar enterprise or organization.
• An undergraduate or advanced degree in business management, museum management, or related field.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop and manage a leadership team that works in an integrated manner to achieve major goals.
• Successful track record of working in close partnership with a committed Board of Directors or collective leadership environment.
• Ability to develop, prioritize and implement effective work and strategic plans.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, marketing and financial management.
• Ability and desire to engage in broad outreach to museum stakeholders including Washington State officials and legislators, local American Indian tribal leaders, and regional schools and colleges as well as donors and foundations.

With an unquestioned reputation for honesty, integrity and plain speaking, the ideal candidate will be:

• INSPIRATIONAL – possessing the ability to inspire others to become excited about, energized and, importantly, invested in our mission and goals.
• PASSIONATE – demonstrating a passion for preserving, sharing and instilling in others the value of the history, art and culture of our region and elsewhere.
• A RESPECTED LEADER – with strong decision-making skills, who follows-through with commitments, has the ability to strategize, set clear objectives, and motivate our organization and its diverse stakeholders to work intensely toward success in achieving a shared vision.
• A RELATIONSHIP BUILDER – who readily collaborates with numerous constituents to articulate our goals, solicit suggestions and support, and gain broad acceptance for our role as a valuable community asset.

Compensation: State agency salary and benefits are competitive and dependent on experience.

CONTACT
Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume with references via e-mail by July 15 to:  search@northwestmuseum.org

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:   
Please contact Linda Queen at (509) 363-5336 and visit these websites:
www.northwestmuseum.org
www.movetospokane.com
The MAC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, families with children, honorably discharged veteran or military status, genetics, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.  Persons requiring reasonable accommodation in the application process or requiring this announcement in an alternative format, please call (509) 363-5336.
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