[DANK Haus German American Cultural Center] Executive Director

AHK; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k

Medical/Dental/Vision

PTO

Language classes

Job summary

DANK Haus German American Cultural Center in Chicago seeks an Executive Director to lead strategy, grow revenue, and oversee daily operations across the museum, language school, and programming.

The role requires 3–5 years nonprofit leadership, strong fundraising, and the ability to balance home-based work with office collaboration; bilingual English/German preferred.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years senior nonprofit leadership or executive director experience.
• Experience with revenue growth, staff management, and fundraising.
• Grant writing, corporate/government funding, and Board-level communication experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary public spokesperson and build community relationships.
• Set and monitor organizational strategy with the Board.
• Drive revenue growth and diversify funding.
• Oversee budgeting, finance, HR, and daily operations.
• Lead strategic initiatives for Language School and cultural programming.
• Oversee board relations and reporting.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Strategic thinking

Negotiation

Communication

Bilingual EN/DE

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Fundraising cert

Job description

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

DANK Haus German American Cultural Center is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit founded in 1959, and the leading German-American Center in the Midwest. Our mission is to preserve and promote German culture, heritage, and language through a museum, art gallery, library, and language school, along with educational and social programming celebrating German heritage. We are located in a historic 77,000 sq. ft. building in Lincoln Square, one of the historically German neighborhoods of Chicago.

Our vision is to engage generations of friends, neighbors, and all those interested in exploring the vibrant German American culture of our past and present, through our core values: Hospitality (Gastfreundschaft), Engagement (Austausch), and Authenticity (Authentizität).

Following a period of growth, we are seeking a passionate, entrepreneurial Executive Director to lead our next phase of development, setting strategic direction with a focus on growing and diversifying revenue, and guiding financial management, human resources, and day-to-day operations in partnership with department leads, while holding ultimate accountability to the Board. To learn more about our history and core values visit https://dankhaus.com/

RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

• Serve as the primary public spokesperson for the organization, initiating and fostering relationships within the German-American and wider community in Chicago and beyond.
• Represent and communicate DANK’s mission, vision, and strategic goals.
• Set organizational strategy in partnership with the Board and monitor & evaluate the organization’s overall performance and impact against that strategy.
• Make data-driven decisions to improve the organization’s effectiveness, drawing on input from all departments.
• Engage frequently with DANK’s Skyline Cycle members & the broader community, including growing & fostering new members.

Revenue Generation & Financial Management

• Serve as DANK Haus’s chief fundraiser and the lead driver of organizational revenue growth and new opportunities.
• Set strategy to grow and diversify revenue across DANK Haus’s core lines of business — including facility rentals and events, the Language School, and philanthropic giving — while delegating day-to-day sales and administration to department leads.
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and close major gifts, grants, sponsorships, and corporate partnerships.
• Set the strategic direction and guidance for DANK Haus’s budgeting, financial planning, and resource allocation, aligning priorities across department leads.
• Review and hold department leads accountable for their budgets and ensure the organization's overall financial sustainability, in partnership with the Board.

Human Resources

• Own HR strategy, organizational structure, and culture; delegate day-to-day supervision of staff and volunteers to department leads.
• Set staffing plans with the Board, and approve key hiring, compensation, and performance decisions.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and accountable organizational culture.

Board Relations

• Partner with the Board on strategic priorities and policies.
• Provide regular updates on organizational health and progress, including risks and mitigation strategies.
• Support Board recruitment, development, and meetings.

Organizational Oversight, Program Development, and Management

• Maintain ultimate accountability for performance and legal/regulatory/ethical compliance; ensure every department has the clarity, resources, and support to execute DANK's strategic priorities.
• Set the strategic vision for Language School and Cultural Programming with Language School Director and Museum Director on strategy implementation, & financial metrics.
• Hybrid role: High degree of self-motivation and time-management skills to effectively balance independent tasks at home with team management in the office.

REQUIREMENTS

Years of Experience and Working Knowledge

• Minimum of 3-5 years of senior nonprofit leadership/executive director-level experience, including revenue growth, staff management, and fundraising,
• Grant writing, corporate/government funding, and Board-level communication experience preferred.

Education, Licenses, and Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business, finance, operations, or related field, or equivalent experience required.
• Master's degree and fundraising- or project management-related certification preferred.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong business/financial acumen, leadership, negotiation, and communication skills, with a track record of financial growth, process improvement and change management.
• Strategic thinker, self-motivated, hands-on, and comfortable leading through transition.
• Bilingual English/German preferred; able to work occasional evenings/weekends, and legally authorized to work in the U.S.

SALARY/ BENEFITS

• $90,000 – $125,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
• Benefits package includes 401k, Medical/Dental/Vision Coverage, Life/Disability Insurance, PTO, and free language classes.

DANK Haus German American Cultural Center does not discriminate based on race, color, sexuality, national origin, sex, disability, or age. DANK Haus is committed to diversity and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply.