Description:
The Montgomery County Historical Society, Rockville, MD, is currently seeking an energetic, creative Executive Director who will serve as chief executive and operating officer of the Society.The Executive Director(ED) will be responsible for managing staff, volunteers, programs and finances as required by the Board of Directors and should be available to start by May 1, 2008.
The Montgomery County Historical Society (MCHS),founded in 1944, is the largest historical organization in Montgomery County, and operates two campuses in Rockville and Germantown, MD. MCHS' mission is dedicated to encouraging the County's residents and the public at large to discover their common heritage. It is a 501(c) (3) non-profit governed by an elected Board of Directors.
Montgomery County is located on the shores of the Potomac River adjacent to Washington, DC. Today rapid growth continues to transform the County. Its diverse population of over 900,000 includes many who are first generation Americans. Many residents are attracted by the excellent quality of the schools and the competence of the local government. This rapidly expanding population poses both a challenge and an opportunity for the Society.
Responsibilities:
The ED will be responsible for programs and operations at both MCHS sites in Rockville and Germantown. The Rockville site is the Society's main headquarters and includes a circa 1815 historic house museum, a 19th century medical museum, a research library and archives and two administration buildings. The Germantown site consists of a farmhouse dating from the 1790s and a bank barn currently being developed for community use.
• Finances: The ED will be responsible for maintaining a balanced budget. MCHS' current budget is over $450,000 from diverse sources and the endowment is in excess of $2.5 million.
• Fund-Raising: Fund raising ability and experience is a priority. This will include supervising a Development Director in grant research and writing and also increasing membership and corporate support. Since approximately 25% of the Society's budget comes from state and local government the ED must able to relate to government officials.
• Programs: The ED will evaluate and oversee the Society's current programs which include educational programs for children and adults, the MCHS library, tours of the historic sites, special events, exhibitions, summer history camp,publications and the museum shop.
• Collections: The ED will be responsible for maintaining the security of the Society's collections and supervise a professional curator and a librarian.
Public Relations: The ED is the Society's "face" to the community and will represent MCHS at professional organizations, government hearings, and in collaborative programs with other historical organizations in the County.
Educational Requirements:
Museum management experience preferred.
Fund Raising a priority.
Masters degree preferred; bachelors required.
Skills:
A successful candidate must have proven ability to create and implement new programs and long range plans which will inspire the full and part-time professional staff of 13 plus a dedicated corps of 125 volunteers. Continuing the current atmosphere of collegiality and among the staff and volunteers is essential. A successful candidate should be congenial and flexible, have a sense of humor, and be a good listener.
Application Instructions:
For further information about MCHS go to our website: www.montgomeryhistory.org
Send resume including professional experience and educational qualifications (salary requirements are optional) to Jane W. North, Chair, MCHS Transition Committee, 5703 Overlea Road, Bethesda, MD 20816 or email the application to:
jwnorth28@aol.com |
