Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Detroit Lakes Community and Cultural Center; Detroit Lakes (MN); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Detroit Lakes Community and Cultural Center seeks an Interim Chief Executive Officer to provide steady leadership during a period of organizational transition. The Interim CEO will work closely with the Board and leadership team to maintain stability, support staff, and sustain key operations and community relationships.

This transitional role involves helping the Board assess needs, clarify roles and accountability, and prepare for permanent executive leadership, with long-term changes made in

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience, preferably within a nonprofit, community-based, arts and culture, or similarly complex organization.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through transition and provide stability and clarity.

Responsibilities

• Provide consistent, visible executive leadership and maintain continuity of programs, services, facilities, and commitments.
• Support and direct the leadership team with clear priorities, expectations, and decision-making pathways.
• Serve as primary staff liaison to the Board with timely, transparent updates on operations, finances, staffing, and risks.
• Maintain executive oversight of financial performance, budgeting, cash flow, reporting, internal controls, audits, and resource allocation.

Skills

Leadership

Transition management

Financial acumen

Board relations

Fundraising

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Position Summary

The Interim Chief Executive Officer (Interim CEO) will

provide steady, visible leadership to DLCCC during a period of organizational

transition. Working closely with the Board of Directors and leadership team,

the Interim CEO will maintain organizational stability, support employees,

ensure continuity of key operations and financial priorities, and sustain

important community and stakeholder relationships.

This is a transitional leadership role. The Interim CEO will

help the Board assess organizational needs, clarify roles and accountability,

and prepare DLCCC for permanent executive leadership. The Interim CEO is not

expected to independently establish the organization's long-term structure or

strategic direction; significant long-term changes will be made in

collaboration with and subject to approval by the Board.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide consistent, visible executive leadership

  and maintain continuity of essential programs, services, facilities, and

  organizational commitments.

• Support and provide direction to the leadership

  team, establishing clear priorities, expectations, decision-making pathways,

  and accountability.

• Serve as the primary staff liaison to the Board

  and provide timely, transparent updates regarding operations, finances,

  staffing, risks, and significant organizational matters.

• Maintain executive oversight of financial

  performance, budgeting, cash flow, reporting, internal controls, audits, and

  resource allocation in partnership with the Director of Finance and Board.

• Identify and address immediate operational,

  staffing, facility, safety, contractual, or compliance concerns and promptly

  communicate material risks to the Board.

• Work with the Board to assess the current

  organizational structure, leadership responsibilities, reporting relationships,

  workload, and operational needs; provide objective observations and

  recommendations.

• Clarify roles, responsibilities, and decision

  authority as needed during the interim period, while distinguishing short-term

  stabilization needs from long-term structural decisions.

• Partner with the Human Resources on employee

  relations, performance management, organizational development, policy, and

  other employment matters as appropriate.

• Maintain important relationships with the City

  of Detroit Lakes, donors, sponsors, community partners, members, patrons,

  government representatives, and other key stakeholders.

• Support continuity of fundraising, donor

  stewardship, sponsorship, capital campaign, and community-engagement efforts in

  partnership with staff and the Board.

• Assist with transition planning and knowledge

  transfer when permanent executive leadership is selected.

Interim Priorities & Measures of Success

• Organizational stability and continuity of

  essential programs, services, and operations.

• Clear, consistent communication between the

  Board, leadership team, employees, and key stakeholders.

• Improved clarity regarding roles, reporting

  relationships, decision authority, and accountability.

• Key financial, operational, staffing, facility,

  and community priorities remain actively managed and communicated.

• The Board receives objective information and

  recommendations to support decisions regarding future organizational structure

  and permanent executive leadership.

• An organized transition and knowledge transfer

  are completed for incoming permanent leadership.

Qualifications & Experience

• Significant senior leadership experience,

  preferably within a nonprofit, community-based, membership, recreation, arts

  and culture, hospitality, public-private, or similarly complex organization.

• Demonstrated ability to lead through transition,

  organizational change, or periods requiring stability and clarity.

• Strong financial and operational acumen,

  including experience with budgets, financial reporting, resource allocation,

  and organizational risk.

• Experience working effectively with a Board of

  Directors and understanding the distinction between governance and management

  responsibilities.

• Proven ability to build trust, communicate

  transparently, make sound decisions, and lead through others.

• Strong relationship-building skills with

  employees, community leaders, donors, government officials, partners, and other

  stakeholders.

• Experience with fundraising, donor relations,

  community engagement, or revenue development is preferred.

• Commitment to DLCCC's mission and to arts,

  culture, recreation, wellness, and community enrichment.

Interim Appointment

This is a temporary executive appointment intended to

provide leadership and continuity while the Board evaluates DLCCC's future

organizational structure and conducts the process for permanent executive

leadership. The duration of the appointment, compensation, benefits, and other

terms will be established by the Board and communicated as part of the

selection process.

Reporting Structure

The Interim CEO reports directly to the Board of Directors

and provides executive leadership and oversight consistent with the

organizational structure in place during the interim period. Significant or

permanent changes to organizational structure, executive reporting

relationships, or long-term staffing strategy are subject to Board approval.

Learn, grow and play at the Detroit Lakes Community and Cultural Center! Full fitness, aquatics and recreation facility with a giant, indoor play-land. 8-lane pool, track, courts, classes and a beautiful 800+ seat performing arts theatre, conference room and ballroom!