Executive Director at the Phelps Mansion Museum

Job Title: Executive Director

Location: Binghamton, NY

Overview

The Phelps Mansion Museum, located in the heart of Binghamton, New York, is a historic house museum and humanities-hub. It is dedicated not only to the preservation and interpretation of local history, but also providing a home for local arts, literature, education, and music. Our museum is the former home of Sherman D. Phelps, a 19th century banker and entrepreneur. The Second Imperial Style mansion was constructed in 1871 and now sits on the National Register of Historic Places and was chartered by the New York State Board of Regents in 2005. We are seeking an innovative Executive Director who will further our mission statement by building on the museum’s existing programming, leading fundraising efforts, applying to grants, and overseeing a team of volunteers and small staff.  

Phelps Mansion mission statement: “The Phelps Mansion Museum will utilize and preserve its unique Victorian facility and collections to serve the public through regular tours, exhibits, and programs emphasizing local history, education, literature, art and music.”

Employment type: Full-time, salaried position, $44-48K plus benefits
Contract : 1 year interim contract
Work Schedule:  40 hours a week, including evenings and weekends to correspond with museum programming
Reports To:  Chair of the Board and the Board of Trustees
Supervises:  All staff (currently 1)
Purpose: Functions as the CEO with overall responsibilities for leadership and administration of all of the functions of the Phelps Mansion Museum.

Job responsibilities: 

  • Manage the Museum’s operations, including development, education, public programming, historic preservation and finance.
  • Work collaboratively and collegially with the Board of Trustees. 
  • Oversee programming that reaches a broad racial, ethnic, and religious demographic, and specifically expand programming focused on attracting more families and children to the mansion. 
  • Oversee an effective plan to establish a distinct identity for the museum, including being a spokesperson and chief advocate for the museum  
  • Supervise human resources for a current staff of one, including hiring and termination of staff.
  • Develop K-12 programming that is in accordance with NYS education standards. 
  • Manage partnerships with professional organizations and other local nonprofits and foster opportunities for collaboration.
  • Engage with and cultivate relationships with major individual, foundation, and corporate donors.
  • Foster a strong volunteer base and efficiently coordinate volunteer labor. 
  • Act as museum liaison to City of Binghamton and other local government officials and agencies.
  • Oversee public relations, marketing, and fundraising campaigns, as well as the museum’s social media accounts 
  • Manage and oversee the museum’s day-to-day financial operations.
  • Apply for government, non-profit, and foundation grants to support museum operations and preservation of the historic facilities. 
  • Oversee the handling, care, and preservation of the museum’s collections

Job Qualifications

  • Masters degree preferred
  • Experience in a museum or related field that demonstrates the applicant’s ability to support a non-profit organization and manage service for the museum, including financial management, public relations, fundraising, and historic preservation
  • Demonstrated ability to oversee and collaborate with staff and volunteers
  • Strong record of community outreach 
  • Demonstrated success in fundraising and crafting public and private partnerships, including the ability to communicate an organization’s mission to donors, volunteers, and the overall community 
  • Experience in social media management and a demonstrated ability to use social media effectively 
  • Familiarity with Upstate New York is a plus. 

How to Apply: 

To be considered for this position, please submit a cover letter, resume, and three references to search@phelpsmansion.org. 

It is the policy of The Phelps Mansion Museum to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, The Phelps Mansion Museum will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. The Phelps Mansion Museum embraces diverse skills, perspectives, and ideas, and encourages people of color, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ candidates, and people from other underrepresented groups to apply.