Executive Vice President

October 2024 | Woodstock, VT
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The Woodstock Foundation is seeking a creative and strategic Executive Vice President for the Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock, Vermont

About Billings Farm & Museum

Billings Farm and Museum gardensBillings Farm & Museum (BF&M) was established in 1983 and is a primary ongoing project of the Foundation, which also maintains a partnership with Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (MBRNHP) and owns the Woodstock Inn & Resort.

Billings Farm & Museum is unique among America’s historic sites and outdoor museums in offering the experience of a fully operational dairy farm, engaging programs across the seasons, galleried exhibits, and an award-winning film. As BF&M is in its 42nd year of operation, it is an exciting and pivotal moment in the museum’s history. Through dynamic daily programming, seasonal and farm events, camps, workshops, and unique after-hours experiences, BF&M engages visitors of all ages.  As the farm of the historic Billings estate, it also serves as the agricultural counterpart to Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park.

For more information about Billings Farm and Museum, please visit https://billingsfarm.org/

About the Position

The ideal candidate for Executive Vice President is an innovative and forward-thinking leader who will help shape future direction and success, developing strategy and organizational capacity for a new phase of growth. This is the second ranking executive position at the museum, providing high-level leadership and working closely with the President/Executive Director and the Woodstock Foundation Board to review and establish museum policies, objectives, and priorities.

A member of the museum’s executive leadership team, the Executive Vice President reports to the President/Executive Director, has four direct reports and directly oversees the work of Education & Interpretation, Operations & Programs, Advancement, and Marketing.

Billings Farm and Museum art museum Billings Farm and Museum barn

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership & Management

  • Help envision, shape, and implement institutional and strategic planning as a member of the executive leadership team
  • Provide exceptional leadership and direction to the museum’s Education & Interpretation team, guided by a new Interpretive Master Plan:
    • Creatively evaluating and expanding engagement for museum visitors through an array of programs, events, and activities within the spheres of both the farm and the museum
    • Aligning programmatic efforts to attract and grow existing and new audience segments
    • Maintaining a culture of exceptional service to museum visitors
  • Provide strong guidance and direction to the external affairs team toward:
    • Billings Farm and Museum school children doing an activityCreatively and strategically expanding relationships with key stakeholders through a membership program, member events, and annual fund
    • Increasing institutional fundraising for general operations and capital projects
    • Strengthening and managing a comprehensive marketing and public relations/communications strategy
    • Forging stronger relationships with key partnering organizations – the Woodstock Inn & Resort and MBRNHP – to further broaden the BF&M audience
  • Providing leadership and direction to the museum’s Operations & Programs teams, including its retail/products area: museum shop, farmhouse scoop shop, and award-winning cheese
  • Operates at an executive level, maintaining professional confidentiality

Key Qualifications

  • Billings Farm and Museum cowsEight+ years of successful museum or non-profit management experience
  • Proven success in managing and motivating staff with diverse work responsibilities; highly developed leadership abilities, including collaborative and team-oriented working styles
  • Demonstrated success in overseeing and delivering strategic objectives over a multi-year period
  • Skillful project manager: highly organized, analytical, results-driven
  • Effective leader with demonstrated record of innovation and creativity
  • Excellent relationship-building skills, both internally and externally; astute networker and collaborator
  • Persuasive and articulate communicator with strong written and public speaking skills
  • Perceptive listener and creative problem solver
  • Proven ability to develop and implement integrated marketing and communications strategies
  • Familiar with current relationship-driven fundraising and engagement strategies and tactics

Additional Qualifications a Plus

  • Familiarity with best practices at outdoor history museums and sites and active in keeping up to date within the museum field
  • Experience in marketing/public relations and with membership and annual fund programs
  • Master’s degree in non-profit management, arts administration, museum studies, or similar field

Compensation

The starting salary for this position is $150,000 commensurate with experience.

All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you are interested in being considered for this search, please use the form below to submit your cover letter and resume in confidence.

Tracy Marshall

Executive Director, Search Practice

Senior Vice President, Principal

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