Executive Director

aMuse'um Children's Museum; Columbia (TN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

aMuse’um Children’s Museum in Columbia, Tennessee seeks an experienced Executive Director to lead the organization’s next growth chapter. Reporting to the Board, you will oversee staff, a $300K annual operating budget, and community partnerships to ensure financial sustainability and impactful programs for children and families.

The ideal candidate brings vision, entrepreneurial thinking, adaptability, and strong financial and operational management skills to lead fundraising, operations, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated executive skills including budgeting, strategic planning, and organizational sustainability.
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills; ability to build partnerships and advocate for the organization.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership, vision, and strategic direction for the museum.
• Oversee budgeting, operations, fundraising, and community partnerships.
• Lead programming, exhibits, events, and marketing to enhance guest experiences.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing team and a positive workplace culture.

Education

Bachelor's degree and 3 years of progressively responsible related experience

Job description

aMuse’um Children’s Museum is dedicated to sparking unbridled learning for young children from all backgrounds through play. We provide children and families with opportunities to explore, create, discover and learn in an engaging, hands-on environment.

We are seeking an experienced, energetic, vision-inspired and mission-driven Executive Director to lead the museum into its next chapter of growth and development.

The Opportunity

The Executive Director provides overall strategic and organizational leadership for the museum.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED will oversee museum staff and manage a $300K annual operating budget. The ideal candidate will be front-facing and dynamic, able to build, cultivate and maintain partnerships and relationships.The Executive Director will work closely with the volunteers, donors, sponsors and community partners to ensure the museum is financially sustainable, operationally effective and responsive to the needs of children and families in our community.

As the museum’s primary ambassador, the Executive Director will build and maintain strong relationships throughout the community while championing the museum’s mission and expanding its impact.

The ideal candidate brings vision, collaboration, entrepreneurial thinking, adaptability, and strong project, financial, and operational management skills.

Qualifications

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge and skills, which would typically be acquired through:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field and three years of progressively responsible, directly related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.
• Demonstrated executive skills, including financial and operational leadership, including budgeting, strategic planning, organizational sustainability, performance management and superior writing and verbal communication.

Job Responsibilities

Leadership & Organizational Management

• Provide overall leadership, vision, and strategic direction for the museum, working collaboratively with the Board to establish and achieve organizational goals, foster a positive and mission-focused culture, and ensure effective policies, systems, accessibility and continued growth.
• Oversee the museum’s programs, exhibits, events, marketing and community presence, ensuring exceptional experiences for guests and staff while positioning aMuse’um as a leader and innovator in the children’s museum sector.

Museum Operations

• Ensure effective systems, policies, procedures, and facilities management, including regulatory compliance, technology, accessibility, cleanliness, safety, exhibit spaces and daily opening and closing operations.
• Lead, develop, and support museum staff, including recruitment, onboarding, training, scheduling, coaching, performance management and professional development to ensure a skilled, engaged, and accountable team.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performing workplace culture through clear communication, meaningful performance metrics, ongoing feedback and appropriate recognition and compensation recommendations.
• Lead the museum’s financial management and sustainability, including developing and managing the annual budget, overseeing responsible and cost-effective use of resources, managing accounting relationships, and monitoring organizational financial performance.

Event Management

• Maintain an active presence at museum programs, fundraising initiatives, Board and committee activities, and key community events, serving as a visible ambassador for aMuse’um and supporting the museum’s mission and goals.
• Lead the museum’s fundraising and resource development efforts, cultivating relationships with donors, sponsors, foundations, businesses and community partners; pursuing grants and new funding opportunities; supporting Board-led initiatives; and leading special events and future capital campaigns to strengthen long-term financial sustainability.

Why Join aMuse’um?

This is an opportunity to lead an organization whose work has a direct impact on children, families and the broader community .

The Executive Director will have the opportunity to shape the museum’s future, strengthen its financial sustainability, develop its team, expand community partnerships and help create meaningful learning experiences for young children through play.

If you are a strategic and energetic leader who believes in the power of play, learning and community, we would love to hear from you.

aMuse’um Children’s Museum is an equal opportunity organization committed to creating an inclusive environment for children, families, staff and community members.