Position Description: Executive Director
Job Title:
Organization:
Job Location:
Job Status:
Salary:
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Organization Type:
Executive Director
Clark County Historical Society and Museum
Vancouver, Washington
Full Time
Commensurate with qualifications/experience
Senior, reports directly to the Historical Society Board of
Trustees
Not for Profit
Job Description:
To provide leadership and administration for the Clark County Historical Society and
Museum, including planning, organizing and directing all operational, administrative,
fundraising and programmatic aspects of the organization.
Introduction:
The Clark County Historical Society and Museum houses a broad-based collection of
materials and archives, dating from 1200 A.D. to the present. The Museum is located in
downtown Vancouver, Washington in a 1909 Carnegie Library building that is listed on
the National Register of Historic Places. The Historical Society is governed by a Board of
Trustees. The organization raises 71% of its annual operating budget via contributions and
earned income.
Clark County, lies directly north across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon and is the
southern gateway to the State of Washington. Its primary city is Vancouver, the fourth largest
in Washington State.
Examples of Duties and Principal Responsibilities:
1. Designs, establishes and maintains an organizational structure and staffing to
accomplish the organization’s goals and objectives; recruits, employs, trains,
supervises and evaluates staff.
2. Establishes and implements long and short-range goals, objectives, policies and
operating procedures; monitors and evaluates program effectiveness; effects changes
required for improvement.
3. Plans and develops strategies for generating resources and/or revenue for operating
funds and special exhibitions; may prepare contract and/or grant proposals.
4. Plans and directs development and communication of information to government
agencies, funding agencies, students, community stakeholders (e.g., schools and
universities, tribal organizations, business community) and the general public.
5. Develops and manages the annual budget for the organization and performs periodic
cost and productivity analyses.
6. Directs and oversees the acquisition and professional management of a broad-based
museum collection and archives; directs and oversees accessioning, de-accessioning,
preservation (including digitization), research and other related professional activities.
Executive Director Job Description- January 2014
7. Oversees and coordinates a wide variety of temporary and permanent exhibitions;
directs and guides all aspects of research, interpretation and collections management.
8. Plans and implements marketing strategies for all Museum/Society activities.
9. Performs other duties as assigned.
Essential Functions:
 Oversees museum fiscal matters: prepares annual budget and action plans, determines
and approves expenditures.
 Directs facility use: oversees safety and security; develops policies and fee structures;
ensures maintenance and appropriate use of the facility.
 Supervises museum employees and volunteers.
 Develops and secures funding through grants, donations, planned giving, special
events and other formal development activities.
 Educates through tours, public presentations and other opportunities.
 Reviews and plans museum exhibits as part of overall public programs.
 Establishes and maintains networks with other historical societies and museums.
 Serves as liaison to local and regional historical groups, community partners,
sponsors and as official spokesperson to the media.
 Ensures that best practices in museum and collection management are maintained.
 Works with the Board of Trustees to develop and implement a strategic plan.
 Implements directives from the Board of Trustees; attends board meetings, collects
and maintains statistics; prepares and distributes reports.
 Attends workshops, conferences and seminars for professional development.
Minimum Qualifications:
Executive Director for the Clark County Historical Society is required to possess an
earned Master’s degree in a relevant field from an accredited institution. Minimum of
five years of progressively responsible museum management is required including
demonstrated proficiency in fundraising.
To Apply:
Applicants for the position of Executive Director should send a letter of application,
curriculum vita, and five years of salary history to Dr. Robert Stepsis at
directorsearch@cchmuseum.org. All applications are held in strictest confidence as the
property of the Clark County Historical Museum and Society. Candidates selected for
consideration will be requested to provide references and additional information and will
be a subject to a criminal background check. Application review will begin March 10,
2014 and will continue until the position is filled.
Executive Director Job Description- January 2014