The City of Wichita, in partnership with the Board of Trustees, seeks an accomplished Executive Director for the Mid-America All-Indian Museum to lead the development, delivery, and coordination of educational programs aligning with the Museum’s mission.  The Executive Director will play a pivotal role in advancing the Mid-America All-Indian Museum’s mission of education about and preservation of American Indian culture and art by fostering community engagement and promoting cultural awareness. This position offers a unique opportunity to lead impactful initiatives within a vibrant cultural institution.

See the full job listing and application on governmentjobs.com. 

Pay range: $52,000-$92,000 with a competitive benefits package including health, vision, dental, retirement, and many supplemental options. 

Key Attributes: 
Each of these attributes contributes to building a well-rounded applicant capable of making a significant impact as a leader within the Mid-America All-Indian Museum, fostering its mission and strengthening its relationships with stakeholders and the community.

Visionary:   Demonstrates the ability to conceptualize and articulate a compelling future for the Museum, aligning with its mission and values while anticipating and embracing future trends and challenges in the museum industry.

Indian Affairs:   A deep understanding and respect for Native American and Indigenous cultures, histories, and etiquette. Experience working with Indigenous populations and tribal affairs, fostering relationships, and promoting collaboration between the Museum and tribal communities.

Understanding the Business:  Comprehends the operational, financial, and strategic aspects of running a museum. Grasps the nuances of budgeting, resource allocation, revenue generation, and the importance of sustainability in museum operations.

Advancement: Has a comprehensive understanding of fundraising, including the cultivation of donations and sponsorship, grant writing, and leveraging public and private funding opportunities.  

Accountability:   Taking ownership of responsibilities and outcomes. Reliable, transparent, and proactive in meeting commitments, ensuring that decisions and actions align with organizational goals and values.

Communication: Conveying ideas, fostering relationships, and ensuring clarity both internally among staff and externally with stakeholders, visitors, and the community. This includes verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

Problem Solving: Identifies challenges, analyze root causes, and develop practical solutions. Demonstrates creativity, resilience, and a systematic approach to resolving issues that arise in museum operations and community engagement.

Teamwork: Collaboration, respect for diverse perspectives, and the ability to contribute positively to a team environment.  Inspires trust and cooperation among colleagues to achieve common goals.

Respect for Policies: Adherence to museum policies, ethical guidelines, and legal requirements. Demonstrates integrity, consistency, and a commitment to upholding professional standards in all museum activities.

Internal / Customer Service: Exceptional service orientation towards both internal stakeholders (staff, volunteers) and external stakeholders (visitors, partners) is crucial. This involves responsiveness, empathy, and a dedication to enhancing the museum experience for all.

Leadership – Adaptive Leadership:  Adaptive leadership involves the ability to guide and motivate others through change and uncertainty. Inspires confidence, fosters innovation, and empowers others to excel while adapting to evolving museum and community needs.

Professional Development: Demonstrates a commitment to ongoing professional development and lifelong learning.
Strategic Vision: Ability to think long-term, set strategic goals, and implement initiatives that advance the museum’s mission and position it as a leader in the field of cultural preservation and education.

Supervisory Skills: Mentoring, coaching, and guiding staff to achieve individual and collective success. Ability to demonstrate competence in staff management, performance evaluation, and professional development.

Staff Training: Designing and implementing training programs that enhance staff skills, knowledge, and performance. Ability to prioritize continuous learning and development opportunities for museum personnel.

Priorities, Workflow & Delegation: Efficient management of priorities, workflow, and delegation ensures that tasks are completed effectively and efficiently. Demonstrates strong organizational skills, delegation abilities, and a strategic approach to managing museum operations.

Retention: Retaining talented staff is crucial for organizational stability and success. Develops and implements strategies for promoting staff engagement, satisfaction, and retention through recognition, professional growth opportunities, and a positive work environment.

City Values: Understanding and embodying the vision, mission and values of the city where at all times and demonstrates those values in community engagement, cultural sensitivity, and contributing positively to the local social and economic fabric.

Requirements

Examples of Work Performed
Plans, implements, manages, and evaluates the business and daily operations of the Museum.
Advises and supports the Museum Board and follows all policies of the Board. 
Assists in developing annual organizational goals and objectives and a strategic plan.
Manages the Museum’s budget and oversees all accounts receivable and payable. 
Coordinates efforts in matters of short- and long-range planning, publicity, endowments, programs, fundraising, grants, and corporate sponsorships.
Trains, supervises, and evaluates staff, volunteers and/or students.
Manage the organization’s calendar including scheduling and coordinator tours, presentations, educational classes, special events and rentals.
Serve as a liaison with related agencies to enhance collaborative efforts.
Maintain records, equipment, supplies, and membership records.
Some assignments may require vehicle operation.
These examples are not intended to be all-inclusive. 
Other duties may be assigned as needed.
 

Requirements of Work
Proficiency in utilizing professional agencies, associations, and publications for current information.
Strong knowledge of education delivery methods and techniques.
Effective public speaking skills.
Competency in computer use for information access, interpretation, and recording.
Ability to handle portable displays and educational equipment.
Skill in developing and maintaining relationships with stakeholders.
Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
Valid Kansas driver's license required.
Capability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
Physical ability to handle equipment and materials up to 50 lbs. and navigate uneven terrain.