Shawnee Tribe Cultural Center Position Profile Executive Director
Content Summary 3 About the Shawnee Tribe Cultural Center 4 Introduction of Opportunity 6 Cultural Committee Board Members 7 Process of Candidacy 2
About the Shawnee Tribe Cultural Center In early June 2017, ground broke for the Shawnee Tribe Cultural Center, targeting a February 2018 grand opening. This 5,500 square foot center will serve as a significant milestone for the tribe in honoring tribal heritage and encourage visitors to learn more about native American history and way of life. It will showcase and tell the story of the Shawnee people, in their own words, and serve as a place of honor, remembrance and learning. The center will signify the restoration and promotion of the Shawnee culture to tribal members and the broader community, as well as provide an archive to store and preserve historical documents and artifacts. The tribe s history and rich culture are vitally important to the future of the Shawnee tribal members, Native American community and the community as a whole. The facility will house a 1,000 square foot gallery/exhibit area, large and small viewing rooms, a catering kitchen, gifts shop, classrooms and administrative space with areas for storing and preserving artifacts. The Shawnee Tribe Cultural Center is located in Miami, Oklahoma, easily accessible to the local community and visitors in a convenient and high-visibility location just south of the Missouri/Kansas border. FSB (Frankfort Short Bruza) 3
Introduction of Opportunity The Shawnee Tribe seeks its inaugural executive director to lead the Shawnee Tribe Cultural Center. This leader will successfully direct the center with passion for and in alignment with the mission, while anticipating, conceptualizing and expressing ideas that are acted upon to create opportunities to tell the story of the Shawnee people. The executive director will collaborate to represent the center and its mission to relevant audiences, leverage and foster innovative partnerships to promote the mission. The executive director will assure that the building and exhibitions are of the highest quality and that the visitor experience is exceptional, that the tribal community is engaged and a plan is developed toward sustained earned and contributed revenue. The successful candidate will bring leadership experience in fundraising, grant writing, marketing, financial management, operations, program and service development, as well as an ability to work cooperatively with community leaders, board members, staff and volunteers. Working closely with the board, this leader will understand, support and promote the mission, financial plans and programs. Reporting Relationships The executive director will report directly to a board. Shawnee Tribe Cultural Center staff, to be determined by the executive director and board through the planning process, will report to this position. Key Responsibilities Organization Administration and Leadership Provide overall leadership in the development and implementation of short and long range plans, policies and activities. Manage the financial strength and integrity of the center and prudent use of its resources. Develop the center s strategic operating plan for pre-opening, and 3-5 years beyond. Oversee processes and procedures to support a solid infrastructure for operations. Program Oversight and Evaluation Design, implement and maintain a structured education program; develop strategies for and direct all education and exhibit activities in keeping with the goals of the Shawnee Tribe Cultural Center. Oversee the coordination, integration and delivery of all programs and related services, promoting collaborative relationships and ensuring that the expectations of the board, Shawnee Tribe, funders, partners, and other stakeholders are consistently met. Manage and ensure financial sustainability related to the budgets, ensure cost-effective staff hiring/scheduling to support strategic goals; analyze data regarding visitation, programming and expenses. Develop an assessment protocol to determine the feasibility and sustainability of programs, as well as lead to more effective and efficient service delivery. Advocacy and Relationship Building Build relationships with tribal members to understand and tell the story of the Shawnee people; seek to understand the history and key issues for important impact. Promote the center through effective messaging in alignment with its objective to serve as a place of honor, remembrance and learning. Develop and maintain positive working relationships with other related history organizations and partner with these organizations to advocate for issues of mutual benefit. 4
Introduction to the Opportunity Continued Define creative strategies to secure funding to increase the revenue base; steward donors to foster loyalty and cultivate additional giving. Serve as the primary spokesperson and face for the organization. Visitor Experience Design and develop exhibits; create a long-range plan to continually refresh and enrich the center s exhibits. Ensure an understanding of the needs of people who will interact with the space so that the center is welcoming, effortless and can be leveraged in ways that deepen the visitors experience and inspire return visits. Oversee the preservation and high-quality maintenance of the center s physical assets (the exhibits, the building and infrastructure). Board Partnership Work collaboratively with the board to identify needs, opportunities and challenges that foster the achievement of near-term and long-range goals. Provide the board with timely and accurate reports and communication to ensure the flow of appropriate information regarding opportunities and challenges of the center. In conjunction with the board, develop a strategic plan to accomplish the vision and future aspirations of the Shawnee Tribe Cultural Center while honoring and respecting tribal heritage. With the board, set agendas and prepare meeting packets and maintain board records. Key Qualifications and Competencies A minimum of 5 (five) years leadership experience in a museum, cultural center, academia or other applicable non-profit setting, overseeing multiple programs, exhibits and educational efforts. Passion for the mission and purpose and an ability to communicate this passion to others. Comprehensive working knowledge of program planning, education, budgeting, administrative operations and fundraising. Expertise in education and program development in a museum setting, preferably in the historical context. Demonstrated ability to analyze and compile complex data for planning and reporting purposes. Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to represent the organization externally across a wide range of stakeholders and constituencies. Strong relationship builder with the ability to find common ground, build consensus and strengthen collaboration. Strong community awareness and astuteness. Bachelor s degree required; advanced degree in reflecting relevant training/preparation (e.g. history, museum) is preferred. Demonstrated development and oversight of budgets and finances. 5
Cultural Committee Board Members Ben Barnes Roy Baldridge Joel Barnes FSB (Frankfort Short Bruza) 6
Process of Candidacy Shawnee Tribe is an equal opportunity employer. Process of Candidacy BeecherHill is pleased to partner with the Shawnee Tribe search committee and Cultural Committee Board Members on this critical search. Please submit nominations, referrals and resumes with preferred contact information to our Firm: Carrie Crockett crockett@beecherhillsearch.com Or, by mail: BeecherHill 250 Civic Center Drive, Suite 100 Columbus, Ohio 43215 Or, by fax: 614. 939. 4250 7