Employment

Job Title: Museum Executive Director

Reports To: We Can Be Board of Directors

Position Type: Full-Time Salaried, $40,000-$50,000 depending on experience
 

Position Summary

The Museum Director serves as the visionary leader and chief executive of the museum. This role is responsible for directing strategic planning, managing daily operations, maximizing community engagement, and ensuring financial health to support the mission of the Children's Museum of New Bern. The Director will champion early childhood development, play-based learning, and inclusive community programming.

 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership 

• Lead the development and implementation of long-term strategic and operational plans.

• Partner with the We Can Be Association Board of Directors to establish policies, report fiscal metrics, and execute growth strategies.

• Serve as the chief spokesperson and cultural ambassador to elevate the museum's public profile.

• Demonstrate strategic communication skills and emotional intelligence to manage customer frustrations and complaints to guide conflict resolution.

Fundraising & Financial Management in partnership with We Can Be

• Support We Can Be in securing funding via individual donors, corporate sponsors, foundations, and government grants.

• Oversee major gift initiatives and capital projects for facility expansions or exhibit upgrades.

• Manage annual budgets, track expenditures.

Museum Operations & Talent Management

• Hire, mentor, and foster a diverse, collaborative team to support guest services and administration

• Maintain a workplace culture rooted in safety, inclusivity, belonging, and equity.

• Secure sufficient volunteers to staff all hours the museum is open.

• Supervise day-to-day building safety, operational compliance, cleanliness,  and business continuity.

 

Position Requirements

• Requires high stamina to stand, walk, bend, crouch, and move on the museum floor all day.

• Capacity to work in highly sensory, crowded, and consistently loud environments.

• Requires flexible hours including weekends, holidays, and occasional after-hours museum events.

• Must be CPR certified (training will be provided if needed)

• Must pass a basic criminal background check 

 

Education & Experience

• Minimum of Associates Degree

• Prior experience in a supervisory role, business management, non-profit organizations, fundraising, and fiscal budgeting

• Other relevant experience to operating a children’s museum