Specialist, Museum Development

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

Benefits offered by this job

Wellness benefits

Tuition discount for employees

Job summary

The Kentucky Museum at Western Kentucky University is seeking a Museum Development Specialist to advance fundraising, grants, external relations, and exhibitions planning. The role develops funding opportunities, writes proposals, and guides exhibition projects with staff and external partners.

Key duties include grant writing, budgeting, donor relations, and membership growth. This on‑site role is based at WKU's Bowling Green campus in Kentucky.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Identify funding priorities and translate museum activities into funding proposals.
• Manage grant submission calendars, deadlines, reporting requirements, and renewals.
• Lead exhibitions development with staff and external collaborators, managing timelines.
• Develop external communications and grow the museum's membership program.

Skills

Strong writing/editing

Project management

Budgeting and scheduling

Donor relations / fundraising

Collaboration with partners

Communication excellence

Leadership and teamwork

Education

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

Job description

The Kentucky Museum opened in 1939 as a place for "Kentuckians to know Kentucky." Today, the Kentucky Museum continues this charge while increasing interdisciplinary knowledge of, appreciation, and respect for a collection representative of Southcentral Kentucky. As a teaching museum part of Western Kentucky University, we conduct research and preserve and interpret artifacts in a variety of fields, with special emphasis on fine, decorative, and folk arts; clothing and textiles; toys; political memorabilia; and other culturally significant items from our community.

About Western Kentucky University

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is a student-centered, applied-research institution committed to providing its students with a transformative academic and social experience and to elevating its surrounding communities. Founded in 1906, WKU is the third largest public four-year institution in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with approximately 16,293 students and nearly 2,612 faculty and staff employees. Western Kentucky University is committed to empowering its campus community. At the heart of our mission, we seek to provide holistic education and employment experiences that prepare students, faculty, and staff to become effective scholars, contributors, and leaders in our ever-evolving communities. Located 65 miles north of Nashville, TN, and just over 100 miles south of Louisville, KY, WKU's main campus is in Bowling Green, KY - a city with approximately 70,000 residents. Our population is ethnically diverse, with more than 85 languages spoken in and around Bowling Green, and people from 35 nationalities call our community home. Western Kentucky University seeks to attract talented faculty and staff who are inspired individually to contribute to WKU's strategic plans and ongoing success. We offer comprehensive wellness and health benefits to employees and their families, including domestic partners and other qualified dependents and take pride in providing a workplace culture that supports balancing the responsibilities of work and family life. Paid-time off for holidays, vacation and sick leave, and a tuition discount program for employees and dependents are also provided. Learn more about WKU and Bowling Green at wku.edu/about .

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 [phone]. 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.