Chief Executive Officer

About the Roger Tory Peterson Institute

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute (RTPI) is located in Jamestown, NY, where Roger Tory Peterson was born and raised. For 40 years, RTPI has provided a diversity of research, educational, and cultural programs. In 2021, the organization adopted a new strategic plan that places RTPI among an emerging ecosystem of museums, academic institutions, and artists’ collectives that focus on the nexus between art and nature. As a nature art museum and home to the largest collection of Peterson's work, RTPI presents a year-round season of exhibitions and programs of Art that Matters to the Planet.

For more details, see the attached position description

About the CEO

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute seeks a Chief Executive Officer that will build upon recent gains in realizing RTPI’s potential as a nature art museum of local, regional, and national significance.

Core Responsibilities

Strategy, Leadership and Governance

• Guide the evolution and implementation of RTPI’s overall strategic vision in collaboration with the Board of Directors, staff and community stakeholders.
• Inspire and lead a talented, passionate, and dedicated team. Foster a transparent, collaborative, and inclusive culture aligned with RTPI’s mission and vision.
• Exhibit leadership in the local community through civic engagement, visibility and representation of the museum.
• Enrich RTPI’s local reputation as a treasured community gathering space, its regional reputation as a cultural destination and its national reputation as leader in the nature art ecosystem.
• With input and guidance from the Nominating and Governance Committee:
  • Build the capacity of the Board to ensure good governance; to maintain up-to-date bylaws, policies and procedures.

Administration and Finance

• With input and guidance from the Administration and Finance Committee:
  • Manage and develop a team of museum professionals with the skills and expertise to administer programs with an exceptional degree of creativity, professionalism, and sustainability.
  • Maintain best practices in human resources management, including hiring, onboarding, professional development, reporting, policies, benefits administration, and performance review.
  • Facilitate and support internal communications among staff to foster productive working relationships and a high degree of coordination and collaboration among the team.
  • Manage the organization’s finances in compliance with applicable rules and regulations, and in accordance with nonprofit and museum standards and best practices; maintain sound financial systems, bookkeeping and accounting procedures, internal controls; comply with annual audit and tax filing requirements; prepare and administer the annual budget; monitor annual income and expenses; manage the general oversight of the endowment and investment portfolios.
  • Optimize technology to support cross-departmental collaboration, document retention, program management, reporting, and evaluation.
  • Continue to work toward RTPI’s accreditation with the American Alliance of Museums.
  • Maintain a strong, working relationship with Jamestown Community College to steward the museum building and nature preserve.

Development

• With input and guidance from the Development and Communications Committee:
  • Supervise the development of a long-term fundraising strategy, including planned giving and earned income, in collaboration with the Development Director; supervise the development and implementation of annual fundraising plans, including planned giving, by the Development Director; supervise the development and implementation of annual earned income plans by the Programs and Events Manager and other staff.
  • Support fundraising objectives by cultivating and maintaining relationships with individual, corporate, and institutional funders; serve, as strategically determined, as the primary solicitor for support from major institutional, corporate, and individual donors.

Communications and External Relations

• With input from the Development and Communications Committee:
  • Guide the evolution of RTPI’s institutional voice for local, regional, and national audiences; guide the development and implementation of annual communications plans.
  • Serve as the primary spokesperson during and outside working hours, effectively representing RTPI at external engagements and events to enhance the organization’s profile among civic organizations, key partners, donors, government and elected officials, education leaders, and the media.
  • Actively engage with the local community, building relationships and seeking collaborative opportunities with other institutions and organizations to elevate Jamestown and its cultural assets.

Collections and Exhibitions

• With input and guidance from the Collections and Exhibitions Committee:
  • Supervise the development of a long-term exhibitions strategy in collaboration with the Curator; supervise the development and implementation of annual exhibitions plans by the Curator.
  • Supervise the development of a robust annual season of exhibition programs in collaboration with the Curator and Programs and Events Manager.
  • Supervise the development of a long-term collections strategy in collaboration with the Curator; supervise the development and implementation of annual collections plans by the Curator.

Experience, Skill Set, and Core Competencies

The following areas are considered priorities:

• A curiosity for realizing the potential of the unique assets of RTPI, including the building, the collection and the singular legacy of Peterson himself; passion for making the compelling case for the relevance of Peterson and RTPI today and into the future.
• A successful record of setting the vision for, managing, and implementing strategies that scale programs, initiatives, or organizations to a new phase of growth.
• Fundraising expertise with a demonstrated track record of cultivating long-term relationships, securing major gifts and elevating an organization’s brand.
• A collaborative and visionary management style, fostering innovation while ensuring alignment with an institution’s core mission.
• An open communication style, that empowers team and stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to long-term strategic goals.
• Demonstrated success working effectively with a Board of Directors, including engaging them in fundraising opportunities, participating in board recruitment, and orienting them to RTPI’s unique culture, programs, and constituent communities.
• A proven track record stewarding community relationships: aptitude and appetite for active participation in civic organizations, particularly those focused on tourism, cultural advancement, municipal advocacy, and small business development.
• Business acumen, including a working understanding of contract negotiations, IT and finance systems, budgeting, marketing, governance, and HR.
• A keen understanding of the importance of local, regional, and national recognition, with the ability to balance and leverage all three to advance an institution’s mission and visibility.
• An entrepreneurial mindset, strategic creativity, and a proactive, hands-on work ethic, with a willingness to engage directly in operational and organizational efforts as needed.
• A bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree in museum studies or related fields ideal.
• A knowledge of and passion for the natural world and the mission of RTIP, which is shared with team, Board and community.
• A skilled administrator with 10 or more years of progressive leadership experience; experience in nonprofit museums ideal; experience with smaller-scale nonprofits encouraged.

Nominations and Applications: Nominations and applications, including resume and cover letter, should be directed to Courtney Disston at: [email protected].

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute is an Equal Opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, sex, or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression, (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, genetic information, service in the military, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.