Executive Director

The Castine Historical Society (CHS), on the scenic Maine coast, invites talented, enthusiastic museum professionals with a passion for local history to apply for the position of Executive Director. The ideal candidate will also have strong exhibit, communication, organizational, and fundraising skills, the desire to serve as the public face of an organization, and the ability to lead CHS as it expands and rebrands for the future.

CHS’s dedicated and talented staff includes a full-time Executive Director, an additional full-time position, and two part-time staff members, plus an active group of about 70 volunteers. The annual operating budget is approximately $400,000. Thanks to a healthy, well-managed endowment, CHS is open to visitors seasonally free of charge, and most operating expenses are covered.

The Opportunity

• Lead an organization that is financially stable, has a plan for the future, is poised for growth, and is eager to spread its wings and fly.
  • CHS is a gem among local history museums and historical societies. It consistently punches above its weight and definitely is not your grandmother’s historical society.
  • Work with an engaged and talented board to lead a capital campaign to renovate the Abbott School and create a dynamic and expansive new permanent exhibit on Castine’s 400-year history.
  • Lead the rebranding of CHS to better reflect all the town’s history and engage all the people living in the community.
• Lead and inspire a dedicated and talented group of staff (f.t. Collections Manager, p.t Office Manager and a fully funded vacant p.t. position) and volunteers.
• Partner with an engaged and hardworking Board.
• Care for, expand, and be inspired by CHS’s collections, housed in a state-of-the-art storage facility and featured in CHS’s changing exhibit program.
• Lead an institution that is committed to diversity, values everyone’s story, and uses Castine’s history to explore social justice issues.
• Partner with other cultural organizations in Castine and the region to create programs and events for a variety of audiences.

• Enjoy living and working in a beautiful coastal community where other people go for vacation. Castine is busy with vacationers and seasonal residents in spring, summer and fall, and quieter in winter. Be part of a welcoming community where the spirit of cooperation is alive and well.

• Enjoy life in one of the top dozen best U.S. states to live in.

Key Responsibilities

Vision and Leadership

• Set the strategic direction for CHS’s mission, vision, and values in collaboration with the Board, staff, and community stakeholders.
• With Board and community stakeholders, develop a new name and brand for CHS.
• With the Board, develop, implement, and monitor the Strategic Plan. Develop annual staff work plan that aligns with and meets the plan’s yearly goals.
• Collaborate with the Board to achieve good governance. Work with them to grow and diversify the Board through recruitment and onboarding of new members and professional development opportunities for Board members.
• Ensure full and transparent communication with the Board. Attend all Board and committee meetings and maintain a strong working relationship with the Board and its committees.

Development and Financial Management

• Plan and lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy that includes annual and long-term goals to expand fundraising and earned revenue that will support existing and new programs, general operations, and long-term financial goals.
• With the Board Chair and Treasurer, develop the annual operating budget. Administer the budget, monitor income and expenses, assure that input from staff and committee chairs is integrated into budgetary assumptions, and support long-range budget planning and analysis. Provide the Board with regular financial reports.
• With the Board and volunteers, plan and implement an annual fundraiser.
• Write and administer grants.
• With the Board and appropriate consultants, plan and implement a capital campaign for renovations of the Abbott School and creation of a new permanent exhibit.

Buildings and Grounds

• Develop familiarity with CHS’s buildings and collections and their preservation and conservation needs.
• With the chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, oversee the maintenance and preservation of CHS’s two historic buildings.

Human Resources

• Implement best human resources practices, including onboarding, policies, benefits administration, professional development, and performance management.
• Lead, inspire, and support the staff of museum professionals so they have the skills and expertise to oversee programs with a high degree of creativity, professionalism, and sustainability.
• Guide and support Board and committee members and other volunteers in their work.

Exhibits and Programs

• In consultation with the Exhibits Committee, guest curators, and appropriate community partners, develop and install a program of changing exhibits.
• In consultation with the Education Committee, plan, implement, and evaluate dynamic public history programs for diverse adult, family, and youth audiences.
• Lead a team of committee members, appropriate consultants, and community partners to develop a new permanent exhibit on the diverse history of Castine for the Abbott School.
• Lead the Education Committee and volunteer Docent Coordinator to oversee an active volunteer docent program for the exhibition gallery, including recruitment, training, and volunteer management.
• Assure that the collections are properly cared for and explore opportunities for expanding the collection to better tell the varied stories of Castine and its people.

 Community Engagement, Public Relations, and Marketing

Provide a high degree of visibility and serve as the representative of CHS in the community. Communicate its mission and programs to diverse constituents.

• Build new and strengthen existing community partnerships to engage individuals and organizations from diverse backgrounds.
• Work with community partners to introduce new audiences to CHS.
• Coordinate all public relations, marketing, and communications projects, including the content and design of newsletters, website, social media accounts, advertisements, and other print and online materials.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree in history, art history, museum studies/management, non-profit management or equivalent required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 3 – 5 years of successful leadership of a historical society, historic house or site, museum, or similar leadership experience.
• Experience as a Director of a similar organization, or a second-in-command or department head at a larger institution.
• Enthusiasm for local history. Eager to learn and understand Castine’s role in the local, regional, state, and national experience.
• Experience running a similar organization in a way that shows confidence and inspires others to
• Demonstrated leadership and visioning skills
  • Experience casting a vision and cultivating buy-in.
  • Track record of developing and implementing strategic plans.
  • Experience in rebranding and reimagining an institution.
• Sound management skills
  • Successful track record of leading and inspiring staff and volunteers and working with a Board.
  • History of sound financial management of a nonprofit organization.
  • A strong work ethic with a high degree of energy.
  • Strong organizational skills; the ability to balance several priorities
  • Knowledge of best practices and trends in the museum field.
• Strong fundraising skills
  • Ability to plan and lead a comprehensive organizational fundraising strategy.
  • Skilled at grant writing and donor cultivation; possessing that unique ability to solicit donations with ease.
  • Experience with and/or management of a capital campaign.

• Outstanding communication and relationship building skills.
  • Demonstrated ability, desire, and commitment to engage and partner with people and organizations from a culturally diverse landscape.
  • Strong social skills. Enjoys being out in the community, fostering goodwill and community
  • Skilled at written and verbal communication. Able to share CHS’s vision with a variety of constituents.
  • Willingness to understand and embrace technology to leverage publicity for CHS.
• Experience in the development, implementation, and evaluation of exhibits and educational programs.
  • Experience in overseeing the collaborative development and installation of major exhibits.
  • Ability to lead a team to plan, implement, and evaluate dynamic public history programs for adults and youth.
  • Experience with project management and construction.