Position Description President & CEO, DuPage Children’s Museum Naperville, Illinois Organizational Profile

Position Description
President & CEO, DuPage Children’s Museum
Naperville, Illinois
Organizational Profile
DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) is a nationally acclaimed 46,000 square foot museum providing over
300,000 visitors and approximately 8,000 member families each year with interactive, hands-on
experiences carefully designed to foster curiosity, creativity, problem solving, and innovation through the
power of play. We partner with 38 school districts as well as approximately 60 social service agencies
through our Community Access Network. DCM works directly with corporate and foundation supporters
and relies on the work of more than 750 volunteers each year. We provide high-quality early learning
resources for parents and offer professional development opportunities to caregivers and teachers. DCM’s
mission is to stimulate curiosity, creativity, thinking, and problem solving in young children through selfdirected, open-ended experiences; integration of the arts, science and math; and the child-adult learning
partnership. Website: www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org
Location
Located 28 miles west of Chicago, Illinois, Naperville is home to approximately 145,000 people. Ranked as a
top community in the United States to raise children, retire and start a home-based business, the city
boasts nationally acclaimed schools, the best public library system in the country, an exceptionally low
crime rate and a lower unemployment rate than the state's average. Naperville has been ranked by Money
Magazine as one of our country’s top three “Best Places to Live.”
Position Overview
The President & CEO provides strong leadership and vision for a world-class children’s museum to ensure
its continued development and its financial health. Responsible for upholding DCM’s reputation as an
innovative leader in the museum field and as a major force for early learning locally, regionally, and
nationally. Overall responsibilities include strategic planning, financial management, fundraising, staff
supervision, planning, program management, marketing, and government and community relations. Works
closely with the Board to develop and implement the strategic plan, establish policies, and provide
leadership and support for the staff and volunteers. Other responsibilities include interfacing with four
advisory boards and serving as the museum’s liaison locally and nationally by cultivating and growing strong
relationships with donors, civic leaders, media, and national organizations to promote the museum’s
mission and programs.
Reporting Relationships
The President & CEO reports to the Board of Directors and leads a staff of 100+ full-time and part-time
employees as well as 750+ volunteers. Incumbent directly supervises seven (7) Department Heads.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
1. Strategy & Planning
• Develops, leads, and executes the DCM Strategic Plan. Focuses the allocation of resources around
achieving the strategic plan. Establishes measurement and decision-making processes that advance
the organization’s mission and financial growth.
• Leads preparation of the annual budget, financial statements, and facilities planning. Makes
recommendations to the Board of Directors in its budgetary review and approval process.
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Cultivates a strong partnership with the Board of Directors and board committees in setting and
implementing policies consistent with the mission of the museum. Interfaces and works, as
needed, with four advisory boards.
2. Program Development & Implementation
• Oversees and supports the development, design, and delivery of exhibit and education initiatives
assuring that the goals and objectives are research-based, carefully evaluated, and aligned with the
museum's overall strategic plan and budget.
• Oversees and supports the administrative components of all program services, including contract
negotiations, contract and grant reporting, and contracted work.
3. Fund Development
• Ensures organization's financial growth in order to maintain healthy cash flow, provide full services
to our constituents, and build adequate reserves.
• Builds long term relationships with key donors including corporate, foundation, government, and
community leaders.
• Leads, directs, and participates in all fund development activities including major grants,
cultivation, and stewardship of donors.
• Supports Board of Directors in meeting their annual and long-term fundraising goals and identifying
new sources of potential support.
• Actively seeks and grows a portfolio of individual, business, foundation, and government donors.
4. Public Relations/Advocacy
• Promotes the museum's visibility and welfare through participation and membership in community
forums, civic organizations, and activities that are aligned with the museum's mission and vision.
• Oversees and supports marketing and media relations strategies.
• Represents the museum in media relations and external inquiries by participating in interviews,
public events, and other media-type engagements.
5. Organizational Management
• Structures and directs the organization to achieve the objectives of the DCM strategic plan and
focuses the allocation of staff resources accordingly.
• Fosters an atmosphere of creativity and innovation to maintain DCM as a world-class innovative
leader in the museum field and in the early childhood community.
• Leads, motivates, and develops staff and board passion about what DCM has achieved and the
goals to which it is committed.
• Collaborates with Board of Directors chairperson to drive the board agenda including the
development of appropriate board materials and reports.
• Ensures the organization has qualified staff with skills appropriate to the needs of the position
through management activities including hiring, separation of employment, ongoing staff
development, performance management, compensation, and benefits.
• Ascertains that employment policies are adhered to in all employment practices and partners with
the Board to develop necessary changes.
• Ensures that the organization has the appropriate systems, physical space, and technology to
operate efficiently and effectively.
• Supervises and evaluates department heads (Institutional Advancement, Finance & Administration,
Operations, Integrated Brand Marketing, Programs, Exhibits, and the Early Learning Research and
Education).
Position Qualifications
The President & CEO should have proven leadership, fundraising, and relationship management
experience. Additional qualifications:
Strategic Leadership:
• Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to business planning.
• Proven track record of effectively developing and implementing a strategic initiative resulting in
organizational advancement.
• Unwavering commitment to quality programs, original exhibit development and program and
exhibit evaluation.
• Ability to grow and expand networks of support through advisories, committees and coalitions.
• Knowledge and experience working with nonprofit board governance.
Financial Management:
• High level of financial literacy, good business judgment, and experience establishing and managing
budgets.
Fundraising
• Successful fundraising experience with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and
document specific examples of fundraising success. Previous capital campaign experience a plus.
• Relationship builder with a high level of organizational and political sophistication, especially as it
relates to connecting programming to funding.
Communication:
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with
excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills.
• Knowledge of relevant technology and ability to manage its implementation.
Passion/Character:
• Demonstrated passion for children and their intellectual, physical, and emotional development.
• Strong personal ethics, positive attitude, mission-driven, self-starter, and self-directed.
• Commitment to the child/adult learning partnership.
Team Building
• Excellence in organizational management with the ability to coach staff, manage and develop high
performance teams, and set and achieve strategic objectives.
• Ability to work with a Board of Directors, cultivate new and existing board member relationships,
and identify and support appropriate board building strategies.
Background:
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible senior-level experience in a dynamic
organization is preferred.
• Strong skills in financial management and fundraising, as well as experience working with nonprofit
boards, committees, and the public is desired. Background check is mandatory.
Education:
• Advanced degree is preferred.
Other Abilities:
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Communicate appropriately and clearly both verbally and in writing with telephone callers, office
visitors and co-workers. Comprehend and speak English with the general public and co-workers.
Operate office equipment in order to send and receive information with necessary optical,
auditory, and manual dexterity.
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Use a keyboard and mouse to enter, retrieve or transfer words or data.
Sit for extended periods of time.
Lift items weighing up to 20 pounds.
Climb up and down stairs or use an elevator daily.
Tolerate dust and fumes from general cleaning and maintenance procedures.
Willing to work some weekends and evenings.
Able to travel locally, regionally, and occasionally nationally to attend conferences, training, and
other events.
Reasonable accommodation in the work environment may be made to enable individuals with
disabilities to perform the essential functions described above.
Contact
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Submit resume via email to: [email protected]. Please include cover letter,
resume, and references by December 15, 2013. This position will be posted until it is filled. All
questions should be directed via email. No phone calls please.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the
person assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties,
and skills required of personnel so classified.
DuPage Children’s Museum is an equal-opportunity-employer.
November, 2013