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President and Chief Executive Officer

Employer
The Florida Holocaust Museum
Location
Florida, United States
Salary
$175,000.00 - $175,000.00
Date posted
Nov 23, 2021

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Position Type
Executive, Other Executive
Employment Level
Executive
Employment Type
Full Time

Mersky, Jaffe & Associates, a national executive search and consulting firm, has been engaged to conduct a search for the next President and Chief Executive Officer of The Florida Holocaust Museum.

About The Florida Holocaust Museum

The Florida Holocaust Museum (“FHM”) is one of the largest Holocaust museums in the United States with more than 19,000 artifacts in its collection. One of only three such museums accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, The FHM boasts an outstanding collection of contemporary visual art as well as the largest Holocaust research library in the Southeastern United States. Its permanent exhibition highlights the artifacts, photographs, documents and testimonies of Holocaust Survivors and Liberators who came to settle in Florida.

The Florida Holocaust Museum traces its origins to Tampa Bay area businessman and philanthropist Walter P. Loebenberg’s remarkable journey and vision. Loebenberg escaped Nazi Germany in 1939 and served in the United States Army during World War II. Together with a group of local businesspeople and community leaders, the concept of a living memorial to those who suffered and perished was born. The group enlisted the support of others in the community and were able to involve internationally renowned Holocaust scholars. Thomas Keneally, author of Schindler’s List, joined the FHM’s Board of Advisors and Elie Wiesel became Honorary Chairman of this Holocaust Center.

In 1992, the Museum rented its first space—one that it would soon outgrow—on the grounds of the Jewish Community Center of Pinellas County, tucked away from the mainstream of Tampa Bay life. Starting with one staff member and a small group of dedicated volunteers, it quickly surpassed all expectations. As a result of this growth, in 1998, the Museum acquired a 27,000 square foot building in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. The current location is home to The FHM’s permanent collection as well as numerous special exhibitions and its robust educational programs.

 

Position Overview

The President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) is responsible for leading and managing the Museum, for its collections, programs, as well as engagement with stakeholders and the community. The CEO maintains and elevates professional standards, stewardship of the Museum’s assets, and cultivates a professional and volunteer leadership team. The CEO leads The FHM in fulfillment of its mission and achievement of its vision. Compensation for this position is $175,000.

 

Overall, the CEO:

  1. Assures that The FHM has a long-range strategy and the necessary resources through a robust, personal involvement in the institutional advancement programs of the Museum to assure its mission.
  2. Provides leadership in developing innovative programing, organizational alignment and financial plans with the Board of Directors and staff.
  3. Maintains a working knowledge of significant developments, trends and resources in Holocaust remembrance and education and seeks to be a thought-leader in the field.

 

In program development and management, the CEO:

  1. Oversees the development, planning, and execution of museum programs, exhibits, education, and outreach to the regional and statewide constituents.
  2. Ensures that the museum operates according to the highest professional standards in all its core activities. 
  3. Supervises the program of collection management by regularly reviewing the permanent collection, overall focus, policies of acquisition, deaccession, and loans, condition of individual works, and adherence to professional standards in storage and registration, to assure the public of the highest quality permanent collection.
  4. Works with curatorial staff to develop the exhibition schedule, resulting in a diverse program of contemporary and historic exhibitions that will stimulate interest in the Holocaust and themes core to the Museum’s mission.
  5. Oversees the management of marketing, education programs, and audience development for the Museum.
  6. Supervises Director of Education and Research and the education staff to teach members of all races and cultures the inherent worth and dignity of human life to prevent future genocides, engage new audiences, and interest new benefactors. 

 

In communications, the CEO:

  1. Keeps the Board fully informed as to the condition of The FHM and all environmental factors influencing it.
  2. Promotes the public profile of The FHM and supervises the publicizing and marketing of the Museum’s mission, goals, and programs through personal community outreach and a disciplined multi-media communications strategy.
  3. Establishes constructive and collaborative working relationships with other museums, community groups, and the Holocaust remembrance community.

 

In relations with staff, the CEO:

  1. Is responsible for the recruitment, employment, supervision, and release of all personnel.
  2. Ensures the organization is designed to optimize FHM’s goals and responsibilities. To this end, oversees the development of job descriptions, conducts regular performance evaluations of the senior management team, and assures that sound human resource practices are in place.
  3. Provides ongoing opportunities for professional development for all staff and creates individualized career paths.
  4. Assures enhanced volunteer engagement through education and skill development.
  5. Maintains a collegial, cooperative work environment which attracts, retains, and motivates a dedicated staff.

 

In budget, finance and advancement management, the CEO is responsible for:

  1. Development and implementation of sound financial practices.
  2. Collaborating with the staff and the Board’s Finance Committee, in developing a budget and ensuring that operations are aligned with the budget.
  3. Manages the Director of Strategic Advancement and leads the Board of Directors so that the Museum has
    1. Funds available to conduct its work.
    2. Ongoing philanthropic support from the community and the region necessary for long-term sustainability.
    3. Relationships with donors, individuals, corporations, and foundations to expand the fundraising reach and capabilities of the Museum.
    4. Endowment fund to provide income for long-term sustainability.

 

The successful candidate will have:

  • 10 + years of proven nonprofit leadership, with experience in supervising program directors and managers. We will consider executives with extensive leadership experience in the private sector
  • visionary, strategic thinking with an ability to plan and execute in a team setting by building consensus among staff and a sense of community with volunteer leadership.
  • the ability to collaborate with colleagues and lay leadership.
  • excellent communication and people skills and the ability to develop strong relationships with a wide variety of people in both communal and industry settings.
  • creativity to help FHM continue its tradition of approaching the Holocaust exhibitions and education in innovative ways to engage the broadest possible audience.
  • strong fiscal and business management skills including proficiency in developing budgets and the ability to evaluate major capital investments.
  • minimum master’s degree in Organizational Administration (MPA, MBA), Holocaust Studies, Museum Administration, History, Art, or related field.
  • broad knowledge of museum practices and standards; specific knowledge of The Holocaust desired.
  • excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
  • demonstrated talent in cultivating donors and donor stewardship skills.
  • understanding of fundamental financial management for nonprofits; minimum five years’ experience in budgeting and executing financial plan.

 

The Florida Holocaust Museum is an equal-opportunity employer and welcomes expressions of interest and applications regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

 

If you, or anyone you know, might be a suitable candidate for this unique position, please forward the person’s name, and, if possible, a cover letter, resume, salary requirements and contact information to Lori Fodale at lori@merskyjaffe.com.

Applications will be accepted until December 23, 2021.

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