Executive Director, New Castle Historical Society, Chappaqua, NY – Museum Studies

The New Castle Historical Society (NCHS) seeks an Executive Director. Founded in 1966, the NCHS’s mission is to discover, collect, preserve, and communicate the history of the Town of New Castle. The NCHS is located in the historic New Castle hamlet of Chappaqua, NY, 35 miles north of New York City and easily accessible by train.

The NCHS is housed in the unique Greeley House Museum, the family summer home of Horace Greeley, one of the major American historical figures of the nineteenth century-reformer, presidential candidate, outspoken opponent of slavery, and the most important newspaper editor of his day. New Castle has played an important role in American history from the arrival of European settlers in the 1600s, subsequent founding by the Quakers in the 1700s, through the Revolutionary War, in the 1800s as Mr. Greeley’s residence, and as the current home of President and Secretary Clinton and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The NCHS Greeley House Museum is open to the public and permanently displays memorabilia of Horace Greeley and his family. The museum also collects and preserves old maps, pictures and other artifacts that illustrate the community in past years, as well as contemporary materials that will be of interest to future generations. Typically, the NCHS also presents one to two varying exhibits at the museum every year, as well as educational programs at the Greeley House, schools and community at large.

The Executive Director is the sole, full-time, salaried employee of the NCHS. The NCHS seeks a self-starter who is a visionary leader with dynamic leadership experience and has an ardent interest in public history.

Executive Director Responsibilities

The Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day management of the New Castle Historical Society and Greeley House Museum and works closely with the Board of Trustees and volunteer committees to accomplish its Mission. Job responsibilities include:

Achieve financial goals, including balancing the budget
Advance development through fundraisers, major gifts, membership, and grant writing
Recruit and supervise all museum volunteers
Work with and manage committees
Serve as an official spokesperson for the museum and Board of Trustees
Oversee the curation and management of exhibits and collection
Prepare monthly status reports
Manage the property of the museum (including day-to-day maintenance, as well as future preservation needs.)
Monitor the strategic plan
Public relations, communications, marketing, and mailings
Edit and publish the museum’s e-newsletter
Develop education programs
Develop collaborative programs with community partners
Continue to raise the regional profile of the NCHS
Manage the NCHS’s digital presence, including, but not limited to, the website, all social media pages, and apps, an Eventbrite page, and all Constant Contact publications.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree with work experience sufficient to the position; degree in museum studies or non-profit management a plus
Significant fundraising and grant writing experience
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with a wide range of audiences
Demonstrated ability to work within Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, WordPress, and QuickBooks.
Understanding of database management, mail-merge, website management, and newsletter publishing.
Availability to do weekend and evening work as required
Ability to manage and expand a diverse group of volunteers

The NCHS’s ideal candidate has all of the qualifications listed above, as well as enthusiasm for educating students of all ages, and excellent community building skills.

Salary

Salary will be approximately $55,000 to $65,000 a year, depending on experience

Application Information

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample (preferably of a grant the candidate has written, with confidential information redacted as necessary) to EDapplications@newcastlehs.org