Director Search

ABOUT VALLEY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

Valley Children’s Museum is a start-up children’s discovery museum that will be located in the San Francisco Bay Area community of Dublin, California, and will serve the East Bay region and surrounding communities in Contra Costa, Alameda, and San Joaquin Counties. The museum has been reaching children through school programs, and will soon undertake a mobile museum outreach program for grade schools targeted to roll out in the fall of 2007. The vision of establishing a permanent facility took a giant step forward recently when the City of Dublin granted the museum 2.5 acres of land at Camp Parks (an Army site) being redeveloped by the City and private developers. The site is located in a prime area, across the street from the Dublin BART station and a burgeoning transit village. It is within walking distance of many new housing developments and sits along the very popular Iron Horse Bike Trail which connects Dublin to San Ramon, Danville and beyond.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Executive Director of Valley Children’s Museum is the general manager, lead evangelist and chief executive officer of the organization and reports to the Board of Directors. The ideal candidate will have passion for the mission and vision of the museum and be a hands-on facilitator who can move the organization towards its goals. This individual will strategically guide all stakeholders through the stages of an emerging museum, including fundraising, design, construction and the opening of a permanent facility in Dublin. The candidate must be able to function in a start-up environment, manage volunteers and staff, develop programs to enhance the visibility of the organization, and understand the fiduciary responsibilities of a non-profit organization. He or she will be a coalition builder as well as an effective leader and spokesperson for the museum. The Executive Director will provide direction, management, and support in the following areas:

  • Leadership
  • Fundraising, Marketing & Public Relations
  • Museum Design & Exhibition and Educational Program Development
  • Operations & Organizational Management
  • Budgetary Development and Control

LEADERSHIP

  • Promote the mission and goals of the organization, implement established policies, and recommend new policies and/or revisions as needed;
  • Develop and implement a strategic as well as master plan focusing on the goals and objectives of the organization; and
  • Address problems and present resolutions for issues of fiscal responsibility, fundraising, public relations, or general welfare of the organization.

FUNDRAISING, MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS

  • Strategically build the philanthropic leadership in order to increase the capacity of the organization, and to prepare for a capital campaign;
  • Actively increase assets through an effective campaign of donor cultivation, partnership development, grant writing, and coalition building;
  • Oversee all fundraising activities, and engage the Board of Directors in fundraising by setting goals as well as creating fundraising committees, strategies and events;
  • Serve as the primary public relations executive in promoting the organization;
  • Create and manage an effective donor base;
  • Oversee the writing and printing of marketing materials including brochures, press releases, and newsletters;
  • With Board of Directors, attend all fundraising and public relations activities as feasible;
  • Research and engage capital campaign fundraising firm to undertake campaign, when appropriate; and
  • Work with consulting firm and Board of Directors to maintain fundraising for annual operating needs during course of capital campaign.

MUSEUM AND EXHIBITION DESIGN & EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

  • Develop with the Board of Directors, Advisory Board and other stakeholders a conceptual plan for the museum facility, exhibits and educational programs, and move this plan into design development and construction to successfully serve the museum’s target audiences;
  • Work closely with the Army at Camp Parks, the Dublin City Council, Dublin Planning Commission, and other federal, state and local government organizations involved in getting the museum built on the Camp Parks site in Dublin, California; and
  • Develop the exhibition and educational goals for the Mobile Museum and possible interim exhibitions.

OPERATIONS & ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT

  • Oversee the administrative functions of the organization including all legal and fiduciary compliances;
  • Ensure that the organization is updated and in compliance with all federal and state laws as they pertain to the museum’s 501(c)(3) status;
  • Oversee the process to create strategies for building design and construction with Exhibit Committee and community members;
  • Develop roll out strategy and oversee implementation of the Mobile Museum as well as possible interim and other traveling exhibits;
  • Recruit, coordinate and manage staff and volunteers for community events, fundraising, education programs and special needs (i.e., newsletter, website, data entry, education programs); and
  • At the appropriate time as agreed upon with the Board of Directors, locate and set up Valley Children’s Museum administrative office. Initially, the Executive Director may work from his or her home office.

BUDGETARY DEVELOPMENT AND CONTROL

  • Oversee management and supervision of administrative functions including operational procedures, records, and financial management; and
  • Assist in the development of the annual budget; ensure that budget limits are strictly observed.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

  • 5-10 years executive level leadership experience
  • Proven track record in fundraising and board development. Experience developing fundraising and/or marketing campaigns. Management experience in major fundraising initiatives a plus (i.e., capital and/or endowment campaign)
  • Experience with budgeting, strategic planning, and managing staff and volunteers
  • Exceptional personal communication and presentation skills
  • Excellent computer skills for donor management, budgets, and promotional materials
  • Energetic self-starter, with ability to be motivated and work effectively in a start-up environment
  • Bachelors Degree required; MBA or Masters Degree in Public Policy, Non-profit Management, Museum Studies or similar field preferred.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Please send cover letter, resume and salary requirement (email preferred) to:

Email: jenniferbevington@sbcglobal.net

Address: Valley Children’s Museum Executive Director Search
c/o Jennifer Delgadillo Bevington Consulting
68 Garland Avenue
Oakland, CA 94611
Fax: (510) 451-0811

Questions: Please direct questions via email: jenniferbevington@sbcglobal.net

Deadline: Open until filled. Resumes will be reviewed beginning May 25, 2007

Successful candidate will be required to undertake background check.

The Valley Children’s Museum is an organization that sparks the adventure of lifelong learning in children and their grown-ups by providing opportunities for constructive play for children, families and school groups through fun, interactive educational programs and outreach exhibits. Plans are underway to build a permanent children's museum and learning center in the heart of the Tri-Valley region which will serve as a unique and fully-accessible resource for children, families, educators and parent groups to learn about their world and each other. The Tri-Valley region takes its name from the San Ramon, Livermore and Amador Valleys, and the museum primarily will serve the communities of Dublin, San Ramon, Danville, Livermore, Pleasanton, Alamo and Sunol.