Executive Director

Danish Windmill Corp; Iowa; Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Job summary

Danish Windmill Corp in Elk Horn, Iowa seeks an Executive Director to lead day-to-day operations of the historic windmill, Welcome Center, and related programs, reporting to the Board of Directors. This full-time, exempt role focuses on sustaining heritage, expanding visitor experiences, and growing earned and contributed revenue.

You will oversee budgets, fundraising, staff and volunteers, retail and ecommerce, education, preservation, and community partnerships, while ensuring compliance and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree requirement and equivalent leadership experience.
• Minimum five years in nonprofit or similar leadership roles.
• Proven budgeting, financial and fundraising capabilities.
• Experience with donor relations and grants.
• Strong communications and public engagement skills.
• Willingness to learn windmill operation and safety practices.
• Experience with retail, heritage tourism, and education programs is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations under Board policies and budgets.
• Develop annual and long-range plans with Board; report regularly.
• Maintain corporate records, contracts, and vendor relations.
• Prepare and administer annual budget; oversee accounting and payroll.
• Lead fundraising, grants, memberships, and donor stewardship.
• Oversee visitor services, Welcome Center, and education programs.
• Direct marketing, outreach, and community partnerships.

Skills

Budgeting

Financial administration

Fundraising

Personnel management

Public communication

Relationship building

Project management

Leadership

Technology literacy

Windmill operation training

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, nonprofit management, museum studies, history, tourism, marketing, communications, public administration

Job description

Lead the next chapter of the Danish Windmill and help carry 50 years of Danish-American heritage forward.

Location: Elk Horn, Iowa
Employment: Full-time, exempt
Salary: $55,000 - $65,000
Benefits: PTO, Health insurance, Retirement Plan
Reports to: Board of Directors

The Executive Director is the chief staff executive of the Danish Mill Corporation (dba Danish Windmill). Working under the authority of the Board of Directors, the Director leads day-to-day operations of the historic windmill, Welcome Center, visitor services, retail and ecommerce, education, preservation, fundraising, staff and volunteers, marketing, technology, and community tourism.

The Director is responsible for sound financial and organizational management while strengthening Danish-American heritage, visitor experience, earned and contributed revenue, and long-term sustainability.

Mission of the Position

Preserve, operate, promote, and strengthen the Danish Windmill as a recognized symbol of Danish heritage while providing an excellent educational and visitor experience for future generations.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations and implement Board policies, budgets, strategic priorities, and approved initiatives.
• Develop annual and long-range plans, capital and preservation priorities, and recommendations for Board consideration; provide regular Board reports and keep the Board informed of significant organizational matters.
• Maintain corporate records, required filings, contracts, licenses, permits, policies, vendor relationships, and professional services; exercise delegated signing authority within Board-established limits. Executive Director job descript…
• Prepare and administer the annual budget and oversee financial operations, including bookkeeping, banking, accounts payable, payroll, cash management, internal controls, reconciliation, and financial reporting in coordination with the Treasurer and outside accounting professionals.
• Lead fundraising, grants, membership, sponsorships, donor cultivation and stewardship, major gifts, campaigns, and special appeals; maintain appropriate donor records, acknowledgments, and grant compliance. Executive Director job descript…

Personnel, Visitor Services & Welcome Center

• Direct staffing, scheduling, supervision, training, performance management, workplace procedures, and Board-approved employee benefits; support a positive volunteer culture and comply with applicable employment and safety requirements.
• Establish visitor-service standards for admissions, hours, tours, accessibility, emergency procedures, and facility use, and administer the organization’s responsibilities as an official Iowa Welcome Center. Executive Director job descript…

Retail, Ecommerce & Earned Revenue

• Direct Gift Shop and online retail operations as important sources of operating revenue, including merchandise selection, purchasing, inventory, pricing, margins, promotions, and customer-service policies.
• Oversee POS, ecommerce, payment processing, shipping and fulfillment, returns, and supplier relationships, including Scandinavian sourcing and importing/logistics when appropriate. Executive Director job descript…

Historic Preservation, Facilities & Education

• Protect and safely operate the historic Danish Windmill through preventive maintenance, inspections, preservation planning, documentation, specialized repairs, and coordination with qualified preservation professionals or millwrights.
• Oversee the maintenance and safety of buildings, grounds, exhibits, signage, infrastructure, and the Education & Preservation Center; develop tours, exhibits, workshops, demonstrations, and interpretive or educational programs. Executive Director job descript… Executive Director job descript…

Marketing, Technology, Tourism & External Relations

• Direct marketing, advertising, website, social media, email communications, public relations, publications, brand standards, and media relations, and serve as a principal spokesperson for the organization.
• Oversee essential business technology and digital systems, including office systems, CRM, POS, ecommerce, digital records, user access, backups, and outside IT support.
• Build tourism and community partnerships that strengthen Elk Horn's Danish-American identity and visitor economy; represent the organization with tourism agencies, heritage groups, businesses, civic organizations, schools, government entities, and community partners, including support for Tivoli Fest and Julefest. Executive Director job descript…

Strategic Growth & Sustainability

• Work with the Board to strengthen attendance, earned revenue, fundraising, membership, educational participation, community partnerships, and long-term financial sustainability while balancing historic preservation with practical innovation.

Authority & Accountability

The Director reports to the Board of Directors and exercises broad day-to-day executive authority within Board-approved policies, budgets, and delegated powers. Matters reserved to the Board or its officers - including the Director's employment and compensation, borrowing, major benefit programs, and other actions requiring Board authorization - remain subject to Board approval.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, nonprofit management, museum studies, history, tourism, marketing, communications, public administration, or a related field; equivalent relevant leadership experience may be considered.
• At least five years of progressively responsible leadership experience in a nonprofit, museum or historic site, cultural organization, tourism operation, visitor attraction, retail business, community organization, or comparable setting.
• Demonstrated executive judgment and competence in budgeting, financial administration, fundraising, personnel management, public communication, relationship building, project management, and managing multiple organizational functions.
• Comfort with business technology, websites, social media, POS/ecommerce systems, vendors, contractors, and hands‑on problem solving.
• Strong written and verbal communication, integrity, initiative, sound judgment, and the ability to work effectively with a governing Board, staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners.
• Ability and willingness to learn specialized windmill operation, maintenance, and safety procedures through training and documented institutional practices; ability to perform normal museum and event duties, including lifting up to 60 pounds when necessary.

Preferred Experience

Nonprofit executive leadership · Museum or historic-site operations · Historic preservation or heritage tourism · Fundraising and grant writing · Retail or ecommerce · Membership programs · Event planning · Destination marketing · Danish-American or Scandinavian cultural organizations · Technology and business systems

First-Year Priorities

• Build effective working relationships with the Board, staff, volunteers, donors, community partners, and visitors, and evaluate current operations and organizational systems.
• Operate within the approved budget while strengthening financial reporting, retail/ecommerce performance, fundraising, grants, and membership.
• Establish measurable priorities for attendance, visitor satisfaction, educational programming, marketing, tourism partnerships, and community engagement.
• Develop a practical preservation, inspection, safety, and facility‑maintenance plan for the Windmill and related properties, including transfer and documentation of specialized windmill knowledge.

Salary range: $55,000 - $65,000 annually; commensurate with experience and qualifications, plus applicable benefits. Benefits may include paid vacation, holidays, sick leave, professional development, conference attendance, mileage reimbursement, and retirement contributions if offered by the organization.

Why Join the Danish Windmill?

The Danish Windmill is a distinctive symbol of Danish heritage and an important cultural tourism destination in Iowa. The next Executive Director will have the opportunity to preserve and safely operate an irreplaceable historic landmark while strengthening its programs, retail and visitor services, partnerships, community impact, and long-term sustainability.