The Opportunity
The Shaker Museum seeks a dynamic, forward-thinking, and visionary Executive Director to lead the organization into a new era of growth and engagement. After years of planning, the Shaker Museum is building a 21st-century museum to showcase the world’s most comprehensive collection of Shaker material culture and archives.
The four-floor facility located in Chatham, NY, is by Selldorf Architects, renowned worldwide for designing subtle but powerful art spaces. The new museum includes the transformation of an historic building and construction of a modern addition and surrounding public gardens. The physical space’s design embodies and perpetuates the core ideals that were at the foundation of Shaker culture, applying them in a modern and relevant context and form. The glass façade on the ground floor entrance area, for example, is accessible and welcoming – just like Shaker communities. Construction for the new museum is scheduled to begin in Spring 2025.
The Executive Director will be responsible for realizing this building project including completion of our $35M capital campaign of which $16M has been raised. They will also be charged with advancing the museum’s mission to preserve the Shaker legacy and inspire new generations through innovative programming, community outreach, and sustainable management practices. The next Executive Director will have the singular opportunity to partner with the Board of Trustees and grow our small but dedicated staff to refine and realize its future.
About Shaker Museum
Shaker Museum holds the most comprehensive collection of Shaker objects, archives, and books, and stewards the historic North Family site at Mount Lebanon, the Central Ministry of the Shaker Communities.
Shaker Museum founder John S. Williams began collecting directly from the Shakers in the 1920s and 1930s. He quickly realized the Shakers represented an important facet of American history and, as their societies were in decline, that crucial story was in danger of disappearing. He embraced an almost anthropological mission to preserve what he could, traveling around New England to extant communities and forming lasting relationships with the Shakers. They came to trust him, not only to pay a fair price, but to be the custodian of their story. Many collectors and dealers sought spectacular show pieces that could be resold, and some of which are now on display in places like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but Williams also wanted evidence of daily Shaker life, how they lived, how they worked. The Shakers gave him important religious relics, such as a piece of founder Mother Ann Lee’s apron, because they believed in his mission to start a museum and allow the Shaker story to live on. Later, the Shakers transferred one of the most significant collections of their archival material to Shaker Museum – the records of the Central Ministry, which included diaries, business records, and correspondence spanning 150 years.
In 2004, the museum became the owner and steward of the North Family site at Mount Lebanon Shaker Village, consisting of 11 Shaker buildings on 91 acres.
About the historic Mount Lebanon site
Founded in 1787, Mount Lebanon was the first official community organized by the Shakers and was the leader in administrative and spiritual matters for all the Shaker communities that emerged throughout New England and south and west into Kentucky, Ohio, and Florida. When the seven remaining Shakers left the North Family in 1947, Mount Lebanon was closed and the last Shaker family in New York State ceased to exist.
Mount Lebanon was named a National Historic Landmark in 1965 and was recognized by the World Monuments Fund in both 2004 and 2006 as one of the 100 most significant endangered historic sites in the world. Today visitors to the North Family will find 10 original Shaker buildings on 91 acres. Visitors are welcome year-round, weather permitting, to stroll the grounds, hike the North Pasture trail, or have a picnic in the meadow.
About Old Chatham (Original Museum Site)
The museum collection is currently stored in buildings once owned by the Williams family in Old Chatham on Shaker Museum Road. Having sold off parcels over time, today the real estate holding consists of one plot of just 10 acres on which are the museum’s library, administration, and collection storage buildings.
The library and offices will move to the new Administrative Building and Library on Jones Avenue in Chatham early 2025. The ground floor of the new museum is designated for long-term collections storage of a large part of the collection.
Learn more about the Shaker Museum at https://www.shakermuseum.us/.
About the Shakers
The Shakers were guided by core values of conviction, integrity, inclusion, and innovation. They were early advocates of gender equality, welcomed Black Shakers, practiced pacifism, and put community needs above individual ones. They were successful entrepreneurs known for their various manufacturing enterprises, their creation of beautiful objects that have fascinated generations of admirers, and their significant impact on modern design and architecture. The Shakers made important contributions to religious thought, progressive causes, music, craft, agriculture, and industry in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Shakers’ core values are the foundation of Shaker Museum’s cultural and ethical vision and inspire decisions about programming, resource allocation, and community outreach.
About the Region
Nestled in the heart of Columbia County, Chatham, NY, is a vibrant village celebrated for its historical charm, thriving arts scene, and strong community spirit. Its picturesque downtown, lined with 19th-century architecture, is home to boutique shops, art galleries, and locally-owned restaurants, creating a welcoming environment for residents and visitors alike. The village’s proximity to both rural landscapes and urban amenities makes it an ideal place to live, work, and thrive.
Chatham is part of the larger Columbia County region, a scenic area in the Hudson Valley known for its rolling hills, historic sites, and strong agricultural heritage. The county offers a perfect blend of tranquility and cultural vitality, with attractions like the Olana State Historic Site and the Shaker Museum preserving its rich historical legacy. Columbia County’s natural beauty is unmatched, with opportunities for hiking, kayaking, and birdwatching at locations like the Taconic State Park and Ooms Conservation Area. Its proximity to Albany and New York City provides easy access to metropolitan amenities while maintaining the peace of rural living.
The area is renowned for its farm-to-table culture, with restaurants and markets showcasing fresh, local ingredients from the region’s fertile farmlands. Nearby towns like Hudson add to the region’s allure, offering antique shops, art galleries, and annual festivals like the Hudson Jazz Festival and Basilica SoundScape. Together, Chatham and Columbia County create a vibrant community ideal for those seeking a balance of rural charm, cultural enrichment, and outdoor adventure. The Crandell Theatre, PS21: Center for Contemporary Performance, and the Art Omi Pavilions form a cultural corridor in Chatham that will be expanded by the new Shaker Museum
Key Responsibilities
With guidance and support from a motivated Board of Trustees, the Executive Director will be the prime mover in enhancing the Museum’s profile to increase visibility and recognition in the community and among peer institutions. The Executive Director will guide the Museum and expand the existing dedicated staff into a larger team to support the new building, to achieve its mission and ensure a sustainable future. The Executive Director will garner support for the institution’s priorities including serving as chief fundraiser leading the Museum’s development efforts, provide skillful oversight of its operations, and serve as a thought leader in planning exhibitions, scholarly publications, and programs that engages the local community and an expanding audience.
Key priorities for the Shaker Museum’s next Executive Director will be to collaborate with the Board of Trustees to implement the building project, organize and complete our capital campaign of $35M (of which nearly half has been raised) toward growth across all programmatic, operational, and physical aspects of the Museum, and develop the Museum’s next strategic plan.
As the face of the Shaker Museum, the Executive Director will have the gravitas, enthusiasm, and ambition to develop and leverage a range of relationships locally, regionally, nationally, internationally, and within the industry. The Executive Director is also seen as the primary advocate for arts and culture in the community and speaks for the Museum’s collections and exhibitions, connecting the community to arts and culture. Through inspired, active, and diligent leadership and management, and drawing on a well of experience and knowledge, the Executive Director will take the Museum into the next phase of its evolution.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership:
- Develop and implement a strategic vision for the museum’s growth and sustainability.
- Foster a culture of innovation and inclusivity within the organization.
- Engage with the board of directors, staff, volunteers, and community stakeholders to align efforts and resources.
Fundraising and Development:
- Lead and expand the museum’s fundraising initiatives, including capital campaigns and annual giving programs.
- Cultivate relationships with donors, foundations, and grant-making organizations.
Operational Management:
- Oversee the daily operations of the museum, ensuring financial health and operational efficiency.
- Manage and mentor a dedicated team of professionals and volunteers.
Community and Public Engagement:
- Enhance the museum’s visibility and reputation through effective marketing, partnerships, and public relations.
- Develop and implement educational and outreach programs that engage diverse audiences.
Preservation and Interpretation:
- Ensure the preservation of the museum’s collections and historic site.
- Oversee the development of interpretive programs and exhibitions that tell the Shaker story in compelling ways.
Candidate Profile
While it is understood that no one candidate will bring every desired skill, characteristic, and experience, the following offers a reflection of the ideal candidate profile. The Shakers were guided by core values of conviction, integrity, inclusion, and innovation. They were early advocates of gender equality. Our client seeks candidates who embrace this ethos and will bring that to how they lead the organization.
Our client is seeking candidates with at least 10 years of progressively responsible leadership roles in an art, history, libraries, museums, or other relevant settings. The Executive Director will reside in the region, given the importance of building authentic and strong ties with the community.
Education: An advanced degree in art or art history, history, museum education, arts management, library science, MBA, or other relevant field or research area is preferred; a combination of professional and leadership experience in a comparable setting will also be seriously considered.
Passion for the Mission
- Deep personal interest in art, history, preservation, and education, with a nuanced appreciation for the evolving role of cultural institutions, and an active voice as part of this conversation.
- Knowledge of and commitment to art, history, and cultural institutions. Expertise in the principal functions of museums and best practices in the field.
- A high level of energy and enthusiasm for cultural institutions and their role, purpose, and opportunities in today’s world, and a desire to engage the community via public exhibitions and programs.
Strategic and Visionary Leadership
- A collaborative leader who has been successful working with a range of constituents to define and refine long-term institutional goals, creating and executing new strategic plans.
- Genuine and broad intellectual interests and openness to new ideas, thinking, perspectives, and experiences, with the ability to serve as an effective thought leader in weaving these concepts directly into the work of an institution.
An Effective Friend- and Fundraiser
- Understanding of fundraising principles and strategy with experience building philanthropic relationships. Able to provide high-touch engagement with a range of constituents.
- Adept at cultivating major gifts from individual donors and stewarding the institution’s current donors, while also engaging with new potential supporters.
Authentic Spokesperson and Adept Partnership Builder
- An enthusiastic, credible, and persuasive spokesperson to a range of external audiences locally, nationally, and internationally, underscoring the role of art, history, and culture to these communities and across the field of cultural institutions generally.
- A person energized and engaged by the opportunity for dialogue, conversation, and communication with others. Dedicated to reaching out to people and serving as an ambassador in the community and for the community itself.
Operational Excellence and Financial Management
- Knowledge of and experience in the funding models and strategies of multifaceted cultural institutions, including private as well as public funding.
- A strong record of successful oversight and management of finance and operations, with the perspective to consider the impact of decisions and make sound recommendations.
Culture Champion Who Cares for All Team Members
- Foster a positive working environment for the entire organization, as the team grows, enriching staff morale, and advancing an atmosphere of teamwork and mutual support among all staff. Emotional intelligence (“EQ”) and integrity as a leader in accord with Shaker values.
- A person who encourages the engagement, growth, and achievement of others as an aspect of their leadership. Results-oriented with a collegial and collaborative working style.
- Nurture and develop the talent within the current staff even as we grow the organization to meet the requirements for our expanded institution.
Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access
- Genuine belief in and abiding commitment to the Shaker values of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access.
- Experience and success in advancing inclusion, diversity, equity, and access work in an organization or community context. Ideally the next Director will have material prior experience in IDEA work.
Compensation & Benefits
The salary range for this role is to $225,000 to $250,000, commensurate with demonstrated experience working on a successful capital campaign and institution building.
Contact
Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Naree W.S. Viner and Stephen Milbauer of Koya Partners have been exclusively retained for this search. To express interest in this role please submit your materials https://talent-profile.dsgco.com/not-found, or email Naree and Stephen directly at nviner@koyapartners.com and smilbauer@koyapartners.com. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.
Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
It is the policy of the Shaker Museum to provide for equal employment opportunity in and conditions of employment without discrimination based on age, race, creed, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, genetic predisposition, or carrier status.
About Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group
Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.
Learn more about Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the firm’s website.
To apply, visit: https://apptrkr.com/6005268
