Museum Development Specialist

Western Kentucky University; Bowling Green (KY); On-site; USD 47,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Kentucky University is seeking a Museum Development Specialist to advance fundraising, grant development, external relations, and exhibitions planning. You will research funding opportunities, craft grant proposals, cultivate funders and partners, support membership efforts, and guide exhibitions through planning and production.

You will lead exhibition projects, coordinate guest curators, manage schedules and budgets, and collaborate with staff and external partners to ensure successful

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in nonprofit management, communication, humanities, social studies, museum studies or related field
• Minimum three years professional experience in grant writing, nonprofit development, and/or fundraising
• Demonstrated success securing funding from foundations, corporations, government agencies, individuals, or other funders
• Experience writing successful grant proposals and funding requests for public audiences
• Experience developing project budgets, schedules, and funding plans
• Valid driver's license required

Responsibilities

• Identify funding priorities and translate museum activities into funding proposals
• Research and pursue grants and fundraising opportunities from foundations, government agencies, corporations, individuals, or other sources
• Identify funding opportunities with museum director and WKU Philanthropy staff
• Stay updated on trends in funding related to museums and higher education
• Write grant proposals, letters of inquiry, budgets, and supporting documents
• Manage grant submission calendars, deadlines, and reporting
• Exhibit project management: lead exhibitions committee, identify guest curators, manage timelines
• Coordinate exhibition labels, interpretive panels, and audience-focused content
• Develop external communications and membership materials
• Participate in meetings, manage purchasing, and assist with events

Skills

Grant writing

Fundraising

External relations

Exhibition planning

Project management

Editing/writing

Communication

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communication, humanities, or related field

Job description

Position Summary

The Museum Development Specialist advances the Kentucky Museum's fundraising, grant development, external relations and communications, and exhibitions planning and execution activities. The position researches and develops funding opportunities, writes grant proposals, cultivates relationships with funders and community partners, supports the museum's membership and development initiatives, and guides exhibitions through the planning and creation process. Exhibition work will include helping museum staff identify guest curators, manage project schedules and budgets, facilitate communication between internal staff and external partners, and support the successful development and implementation of exhibitions.

Primary/Key Responsibilities

Development, Grant Writing, and Funding (50%)

• Work with Museum Director, museum staff, and WKU Philanthropy to identify funding priorities and translate museum exhibitions, programs, education initiatives, collections, research, and other activities into persuasive funding proposals.
• Research, identify, and pursue grant and fundraising opportunities from foundations, government agencies, corporations, individuals, or other potential fundraising sources.
• Work with museum director and WKU Philanthropy staff to identify funding opportunities.
• Stay up to date on emerging trends in funding opportunities related to museums, higher education, arts, humanities, and cultural organizations.
• Write compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, project narratives, budgets, supporting documents, and other funding materials.
• Manage grant submission calendars, deadlines, reporting requirements, renewals, and other deliverables. This includes ensuring principal investigators complete any needed reports and documentation.

Exhibition Project Management (30%)

• Responsible for managing the development of exhibitions by leading the exhibitions committee, identifying guest curators (often WKU faculty) and other external collaborators, and managing timelines.
• Assist museum staff in identifying and evaluating potential guest curators whose expertise aligns with proposed exhibition themes and museum priorities.
• Serve as exhibits and special projects manager, coordinating project schedules, meetings, contracts, deliverables, budgets, and communications in collaboration with museum staff.
• Coordinate purchasing supplies required for exhibition creation.
• Ensure guest curators and external collaborators know the museum's processes and policies.
• Facilitate communication between guest curators, external collaborators, and museum staff.
• Document exhibitions committee meetings, project decisions, assignments, and deadlines, ensuring all team members are kept up-to-date throughout the project.
• Assist with writing, editing, designing, and coordinating exhibition labels, interpretive panels, educational materials, exhibition descriptions, website copy, press materials, and other audience-focused content.
• Provide editorial and project-management support for exhibition content and team while recognizing that primary curatorial responsibility may rest with the assigned curator or guest curator.

Communications and Membership (20%)

• Develop the museum's regular external communications, including press releases, member communications, and social media content that informs public audiences about the museum's exhibitions, programs, activities, and institutional priorities.
• Collaborate with the Museum Director to cultivate and steward membership through our existing membership program.
• Manage museum's Adopt-an-Artifact campaign to continue raising funds for collections care

Other Responsibilities

• Participate in museum staff meetings, planning activities, and institutional initiatives.
• Share duties related to departmental purchasing, including acquiring quotes and working with agents in the WKU Purchasing Department.
• Along with museum staff, work occasional evening and weekend museum events outside regular work hours.
• This is not a remote or hybrid job. Work will be physically conducted at WKU's main campus.
• Occasional independent travel required to meet with donors and/or external collaborators and make public presentations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communication, humanities, social studies, museum studies or related field.
• Minimum three years professional, post‑undergraduate, experience in grant writing, non‑profit development, and/or fundraising.
• Demonstrated experience securing funding from foundations, corporations, government agencies, individuals, or other funders.
• Demonstrated experience writing successful grant proposals, funding requests, and writing for a public audiences.
• Experience developing project budgets, schedules, and funding plans.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of museum exhibition development standards and procedures.
• Strong project management and organizational abilities, including the ability to manage multiple deadlines and follow budgets and priorities involving multiple team members.
• Excellent writing and editing skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to collaborate with museum staff and external partners, including providing and accepting constructive feedback.
• Must be able to lift 50 lbs.

Additional Information

Salary Range: $47,000 -$50,000

Kentucky state law requires all public institutions of postsecondary education to conduct pre‑employment criminal background checks to determine suitability for employment.

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to a policy and practice of providing equal employment and educational opportunities to all individuals. In accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Revised 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, no form of discrimination or harassment will be tolerated at WKU on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, age, uniformed services, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or physical or mental disability in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities, or employment practices.

Persons with disabilities, who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and/or selection process, should notify the office of Institutional Equity. To request an accommodation, report a complaint, or ask questions regarding WKU's Discrimination and Harassment Policy (#0.2040), please contact Ms. Ena Demir, Executive Director/Title IX Coordinator via email at [e-mail] or by phone at (270) 745‑6867. Ms. Demir is also responsible for coordinating the University's response to complaints related to sex and gender harassment. Additional information regarding Title IX is accessible via WKU's https://www.wku.edu/titleix/ website.

Information concerning educational programs offered by WKU are provided at: http://www.wku.edu/atwku/academics.php

For information related to job postings, please email [e-mail].