Associate Director

The Little Light House Central Kentucky, Inc.; Paducah (KY); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Quilt Museum is seeking an Associate Director who is energetic, highly organized, and service-oriented to enhance visitor experience and strengthen relationships with volunteers, partners, members, and supporters.

As the primary manager of front-of-house operations, you will oversee admissions staff, coordinate volunteer recruitment, and support the Executive Leadership team while serving as a liaison with community organizations to expand programs and fundraising efforts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 3+ years in customer service, nonprofit administration, visitor services, hospitality, arts administration, or a related field.
• Demonstrated supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a positive, professional demeanor.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and cloud-based office applications.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for museum programs and events.

Responsibilities

• Supervise daily visitor services operations and admissions staff.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and evaluate front-of-house personnel.
• Ensure a welcoming, inclusive, and exceptional visitor experience.
• Develop and maintain customer service standards and operational procedures.
• Resolve visitor concerns professionally and effectively.
• Monitor admissions operations, memberships, and retail transactions for accuracy.
• Coordinate front desk scheduling to ensure appropriate staffing and coverage.
• Recruit, onboard, train, schedule, and retain museum volunteers.
• Maintain volunteer records and scheduling systems.
• Match volunteer interests and skills with museum needs.
• Coordinate volunteer recognition and appreciation initiatives.
• Develop new volunteer opportunities that support museum programs and events.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all museum volunteers.
• Coordinate volunteer involvement for development events.
• Serve as a museum ambassador with community organizations.
• Coordinate community outreach opportunities, partnership activities, and collaborative programs.
• Maintain relationships with tourism organizations, schools, libraries, civic groups, and nonprofit partners.
• Represent the museum at community meetings and events as appropriate.
• Assist with planning community engagement initiatives that expand the museum's visibility and accessibility.
• Assist with membership recruitment and stewardship activities, with a particular focus on in-person membership sales and donations.
• Support donor cultivation events and fundraising initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Development team to strengthen community relationships and donor engagement.
• Collaborate across departments to support exhibitions, educational programming, and special events.
• Assist with event logistics and museum rentals as needed.
• Help identify operational improvements that enhance efficiency and visitor satisfaction.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the museum's mission.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Organizational skills

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

POS systems

CRM systems

Membership software

Job description

The National Quilt Museum seeks an energetic, highly organized, and service-oriented professional to serve as Associate Director. This position plays a critical role in creating an exceptional visitor experience while strengthening the museum's relationships with volunteers, community partners, members, and supporters.

Serving as the primary manager of front-of-house operations, this individual oversees admissions staff and volunteers, ensures exceptional customer service, coordinates volunteer recruitment and engagement, and provides high-level administrative support to the Executive Leadership team. The position also serves as an important liaison with community organizations and assists with development initiatives, helping cultivate meaningful relationships that advance the museum's mission.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working with people, thrives in a collaborative environment, and is passionate about connecting the community with arts and culture.

Essential Responsibilities:

Visitor Services & Front-of-House Operations

• Supervise daily visitor services operations and admissions staff.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and evaluate front-of-house personnel.
• Ensure a welcoming, inclusive, and exceptional visitor experience.
• Develop and maintain customer service standards and operational procedures.
• Resolve visitor concerns professionally and effectively.
• Monitor admissions operations, memberships, and retail transactions for accuracy.
• Coordinate front desk scheduling to ensure appropriate staffing and coverage.

Volunteer Program Management

• Recruit, onboard, train, schedule, and retain museum volunteers.
• Maintain volunteer records and scheduling systems.
• Match volunteer interests and skills with museum needs.
• Coordinate volunteer recognition and appreciation initiatives.
• Develop new volunteer opportunities that support museum programs and events.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all museum volunteers.
• Coordinate volunteer involvement for development events.

Community Engagement & Partnerships

• Serve as a museum ambassador with community organizations.
• Coordinate community outreach opportunities, partnership activities, and collaborative programs.
• Maintain relationships with tourism organizations, schools, libraries, civic groups, and nonprofit partners.
• Represent the museum at community meetings and events as appropriate.
• Assist with planning community engagement initiatives that expand the museum's visibility and accessibility.
• Assist with membership recruitment and stewardship activities, with a particular focus on in-person membership sales and donations.
• Support donor cultivation events and fundraising initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Development team to strengthen community relationships and donor engagement.

General Museum Operations

• Collaborate across departments to support exhibitions, educational programming, and special events.
• Assist with event logistics and museum rentals as needed.
• Help identify operational improvements that enhance efficiency and visitor satisfaction.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the museum's mission.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Three or more years of experience in customer service, nonprofit administration, visitor services, hospitality, arts administration, or a related field.
• Demonstrated supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a positive, professional demeanor.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and cloud-based office applications.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for museum programs and events.

Preferred

• Experience with POS systems
• Experience supervising volunteers.
• Experience in nonprofit, museum, cultural institution, tourism, or hospitality settings.
• Familiarity with donor databases, CRM systems, or membership management software.
• Experience coordinating community partnerships or public programs.
• Knowledge of fundraising or membership programs.

Desired Characteristics

The ideal candidate will be:

• Warm, welcoming, and service-oriented.
• A natural relationship builder.
• Highly organized and dependable.
• Adaptable and resourceful.
• Comfortable working independently while collaborating across departments.
• Passionate about arts, culture, education, and community engagement.
• Committed to providing exceptional experiences for every visitor, volunteer, and partner.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to assist during museum events, which may include setup and breakdown.