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I.          POSITION IDENTIFICATION

Work Unit:    Yellowstone Gateway Museum Team

Supervisor:    County Commissioners

Current Classification:

Pay Grade:     pay scale 14 ($43,426 to $65,139)      Title:  Executive Museum Director

Exempt         

Subordinates: Museum Curator, various seasonal, short-term staff and volunteers.

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II.         ASSIGNED DUTIES AND TASKS

Position overview: The Executive Director will be expected to grow, cultivate, sustain and develop robust relationships with donor network (including major donors, dues-paying members, “small dollar” donors, prospective donors, foundations and corporations), to significantly increase operatinve revenue and overall impact. The Director will effectively create, complete and revise plans of business development, capital projects, land use, master plan development, financing, maintenance contracts, safety of the public, security of facilities and brand development.The position works with the Yellowstone Gateway Museum Board and the Friends of the Museum board on a close basis.They will work with their Team to make the Museum a sought out destination for Visitors and the local comunity.

All duties below are essential functions unless otherwise indicated. Duties of the position are not all inclusive and subject to change.

A.   Business Development/Marketing

• To collaborate with the Museum Board, the Friends of the Museum Board, and other interest groups to develop and implement a master plan for the YGM, including strategic plan development, marketing, operations, facility development, capital improvements, budgets, and funding sources.  To create revenue generation to exceed expenses.
• To collaborate with the Museum Board, and other interest groups to develop and implement a business plan for the YGM, meeting our visitor and residents interests.
• To develop and implement a marketing plan for YGM to promote safe public/private use.
• To sell sponsorships for YGM exhibits and events.
• To develop and maintain positive working relationships with media, community groups, state and local agencies and the public utiliziing social media and traditional outlets.
• To communicate regularly with the Park County Commissioners via team reports and updates.
• To communicate regularly with the YGM Board and the Friends of the Museum Board and conduct monthly meetings and give update reports.
• To maintain and/or develop relationships with and complete paperwork and other requirements of AAA Mountain West, the Museums Association of Montana, the American Association of Museums, and other entities that serve to promote the museum.
• To work cooperatively with the Marketing/Gift Shop Committee, manage the museum gift shop, tracking income, purchases and replenishing inventory as funds permit and within purchase parameters.  Ensure that sales items do not violate museum ethics and to develop sales from the website.

B.   Budget/Fundraising

• To prepare and administer annual YGM budget, including a revenue growth plan.
• To prepare, control, and present budgets for individual events and exhibits; monitor expenditures for compliance.
• To work with Park County-contracted grant writer to secure grants for operation of YGM and facilities.
• To work with the Friends Board Treasurer and solicit (as appropriate), receive and document monetary donations to the Friends of the YGM, if such are delivered at or to the museum.
• To assist and support the Friends of the Yellowstone Gateway Museum (hereafter referred to as the “Friends”) Board in its functions of identifying, soliciting and providing financial and volunteer support for museum development and projects.  Attend Friends Board meetings whenever possible and work to maintain a positive relationship with the Friends Board.
• To prepare all purchase and claim forms, perform daily accounting functions, and make weekly deposits during open season.  Work with county accounting personnel and vendors to reconcile any problems.

C.   Daily Operations Management

• To oversee daily operations of the Yellowstone Gateway Museum (YGM), its programs pursuant to policies and decisions of the YGM Board.  Abide by Employment Contracts, Board policies, and pertinent employment policies and procedures of Park County. This will include:
• To design, develop and install museum displays, arrange for and properly document incoming loans.
• To maintain, improve and update permanent museum exhibits within current budget constraints.
• To perform/oversee research and provide information to the public (individuals, organizations, schools and peers) regarding area history, geology, paleontology, archaeology and ethnology as well as the museum’s collection and purposes through museum services and public presentations.
• To provide quality educational experiences such as tours and workshops to school groups on field trips to the museum.
• To solicit receive and process new objects and collections for the museum that are within the museum’s scope of collection which may include field collections of legally acquired archeological, geological and paleontological specimens from within Park County, Montana; incoming loans; and purchases.  Confer with and seek approval of the Collections Committee and, when deemed necessary by that committee, the full County Museum Board before accepting any items.  To prepare and ensure completion of deeds of gift, donor letters and other accessions documentation for the museum’s permanent accession files.  To make steady progress toward documenting and following up on all of the museum’s outstanding incoming and outgoing loans.
• To catalog/oversee museum objects into the collection using the Past Perfect museum software program, following instructions in the YGM’s Cataloger’s Handbook and other applicable professional museum standards including an understanding of Chenhall’s Revised Nomenclature for Museum Cataloging for historic objects, familiarity with archeological terms and the duties required for cataloging.  Cataloged objects on exhibit must be secure or into secure storage, as appropriate.  Make steady progress toward reducing the museum’s backlog of un-cataloged museum objects. 
• To oversee and review incoming mail (including electronic communications) and other deliveries, and respond to all requests for information, assistance or follow-up, whether by telephone, fax, e-mail or traditional mail, in a timely and courteous manner.  Discuss controversial or potentially controversial requests and issues, outgoing loan requests, and any communications regarding de-accessioning with appropriate museum committees and the County Museum Board prior to responding.
• To maintain/review tabulated written statistics on visitation; research use of collections; numbers of individuals contacted off-site, through formal and informal presentations; and number of volunteer hours contributed annually to the museum.
• To identify museum objects for potential de-accessioning, including, items subject to NAGPRA.  Prepare written recommendations for de-accessioning (including recommendations for method of disposal) for approval by the Collections Committee, the full County Museum Board and, ultimately, the County Commissioners.

• To generate increased public (including local schools) and private use of all faciltities. To develop written and web-based educational materials that help the museum and local school districts meet their missions of educating the public about the cultural and natural history of Park County. 
• To be available to open the museum out of season by appointment for visitors, researchers, special tours and educational programs. 

D.   Facilities Management

• To develop and oversee YGM annual maintenance and capital improvement plan in conjunction with  YGM Board and County Commissioners.
• To coordinate and manage contracts to maintain YGM facilities.
• To ensure safety of facilities for the public and security of facilities and property.
• To oversee and work with volunteers as needed and available on ongoing repair and maintenance of museum facility and grounds, exhibit maintenance, and electronic technology within capability level.

E.   Team Management

• To effectively oversee museum staff positions and volunteers which mirrors the Park County Strategic plan of Core Values; teamwork, quality serivce, integrity, coruage with a work/life balance.
• To provide leadership to team staff and volunteers through training, evaluations, recruitment, and hiring.
• To communicate verbally and in writing on a regulaer basis to foster the team spirit.
• To oversee and work with volunteers on preparation of the annual museum spring opening, including mounting of displays, performance of needed maintenance and custodial functions, within current budget constraints. 
• To inspire their Team to provide the best customer service and best museum experience in the West!

1. F.       OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED:

This position performs a variety of additional duties as needed in support of Yellowstone Gateway Museum.

III.       KNOWLEDGE

The successful entrepreneurial Director will have demonstrated abilities in development and implementation of marketing strategies including: marketing plans, budgets, sponsorship ideas, sales and new market growth with great creativity. They will enjoy public speaking. They will have solid knowledge of exceptional communication skills. They will have an understanding of federal, state, and local laws and regulations pertaining to Museums. Speaking passionately with citizens about history, historical research and be adept at computer presentation skills including digital photography, power point, publishing software, etc. Will have an understanding of facilities maintenance and operations including capital improvement planning, grounds improvement, safety and security, ADA compliance and technology improvements. A love for working courteously with the public and especially with youth groups. Knowledge of contract negotiations, scheduling, booking events and auditing will be used regularly.  Knowledge or understanding of grant writing process is helpful. They will understand integrity, high team spirit and commitment to quality service are important values. Experience with Past Perfect Museum software for cataloging.

Education and Experience:  the skills and knowledge regularly obtained through a high school diploma, GED or HSET.  A bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, history, anthropology, Museum Studies or related field is preferred. An advanced degree would be very advantageous. Must have 5+ years of experience in business administration, public administration, marketing, public relations, or related field. Minimum of 5+ years’ experience in a relevant area of the museum field, such as museum management, curation, or collections management is preferred. Experience of 1-2 years in a leadership or management position is needed.  Experience working in local government, public or community interest boards or committees is appreciated. Must have ability to Love your job and have a contagious joy about it!

Licenses, certifications, etc.:

Valid Montana driver’s license to travel for education, promotion and training.

IV.      ACCOUNTABILITY

                   This position makes high-level decisions regarding the Yellowstone Gateway Museum operations and services offered. The work requires the creation, revision, interpretation and strict application of rules, regulations, and policies pertaining to collections (code of ethics) and museums.  Actions and services provided have a direct impact on the financial integrity of the County as a whole.  Must abstain from buying, selling and using the Director position to obtain, for personal use, any artifact, specimen, or archival materials within the YGM’s scope of collection.

V.        CONFIDENTIALITY

The position requires handling non-public confidential information.  The person in the position acknowledges the confidential nature of non-public information regarding county employees and elected officials.  Consistent with applicable policy and guidelines, this position will respect and safeguard the privacy of employees, elected officials and Park County and the confidential nature of information in accordance with Montana state law, without limiting the general nature of this commitment. This position will not access or seek to gain access to confidential information regarding any past or present employees, elected officials, and Park County in the course of fulfilling job responsibilities.  The person in the position hereby acknowledges that the person understands that in this context, confidential information is considered all non-public information that can be personally associated with an individual. 

If in the course of executing job responsibilities, the person in the position accidentally accesses information that others might consider inappropriate for this position to access, the person in the position will notify the person’s supervisors of the date and time of the access.  If a question arises later, it will be understood that the access was accidental.  The person in the position will not disseminate any such information.

By signing this Position Description, the undersigned hereby acknowledges reading and understanding this section regarding confidentiality and agrees to abide by the terms and conditions set forth herein.  Violation of confidentiality may warrant disciplinary action, up to and including, suspension, demotion or termination of employment.

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VI.       INDEPENDENCE OF ACTION

This position plans and carries out most assignments independently, and uses judgment and initiative to create short and long-term plans and objectives, solve problems, such as budgetary issues, resource issues, and daily or project-based problems.  The Director will work to develop and recommend new processing procedures in response to identifying process inefficiencies, frequent errors, etc. Work objectives and priorities are derived through the Directors self-starting skills and their abilities as a visionary and strategist along with the YGM Board and County Commissioners.

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VII.      PERSONAL CONTACTS

This position has contacts with other the public, county personnel, elected officials, department heads state and local agencies or equivalents, contractors and vendors in order to be responsive to questions and inquiries regarding the Museum.

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VIII.     WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those in a normal office environment, involving physical demands associated with working on a computer, communicating over the phone and in person, and some light occasional lifting.

While performing the physical duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  

On a frequent basis, the employee is required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, and climb (the stairs) or balance.  On a regular basis, the employee must sit, use hands, talk and/or hear.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

The position requires the following special vision requirements: close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less), distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more), color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors), peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point), depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships), and the ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus). These are required for assessing and handling the collection properly and safely.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the office work environment is usually moderate. During events it is moderate to high.