Background:
The Queens County Farm Museum is one of the longest continuously farmed sites in New York State and occupies the largest undisturbed tract of land in New York City. This 47-acre site, originally known as the Queens Farm, has produced food to feed New Yorkers for over three centuries. It exemplifies the 300-year history of farming and agriculture as a way of life in New York City.
The historic buildings, orchard, planting fields, vineyard, herb garden, and farmyard animals bring history to life and connect visitors to agriculture and the environment through the lens of history. At the center of the farm complex is the restored Adriance Farmhouse, a three-room Dutch farmhouse built in 1772. The surrounding historic area mirrors the evolution of this unique tract of land from a colonial homestead to a truck farm that served the needs of a growing city in the early twentieth century.
Owned by the New York City Department of Parks and operated by the Colonial Farmhouse Restoration Society of Bellerose, Inc., the Museum provides a wide array of learning opportunities and programs that stimulate conversation about current topics including biodiversity, nutrition, health and wellness, climate change, and the importance of preserving local history. In an ever-changing, continually developing city, and beyond, the Queens County Farm Museum remains an essential resource in the living history of New York City.
The Queens County Farm Museum is seeking a passionate and experienced leader to be its next Executive Director, a dynamic individual with a vision of the opportunity, who will build on past successes and ensure the growth and sustainability of the organization.
Position:
Working closely with the Board of Trustees, the Executive Director will be a strategic thinker with strong interpersonal and analytical skills, keen judgment, and the ability to work collaboratively with staff and others. They will be an inspirational manager, a front-facing and energetic leader who is able to build, cultivate, and maintain partnerships and relationships with key stakeholders both within and outside of the organization. They will possess outstanding communication skills and serve as spokesperson and chief advocate for the Museum. They will establish strong partnerships in the community and enhance the Museum’s public image to expand interest and support.
The Executive Director will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for the Queens County Farm Museum, its staff, daily operations, financial management, fundraising, education and public programming, events, external communications, and sustainable agriculture in the execution of its mission. The Executive Director will develop deep knowledge of field, core programs, operations, and business plans. A self-starter, the successful candidate for this position will be community-spirited, entrepreneurially minded, and proficient at handling a variety of tasks by managing teams and/or working alone. They will have experience in program management and a demonstrated ability to work independently to advance the nonprofit’s mission.
Key Responsibilities
Organization Management
- Provide strategic and proactive leadership to manage and guide the Queens County Farm Museum in all aspects of its daily operation
- Work with the board of directors to assure that the organization has a long-range strategy which upholds its mission
- Direct the overall development of public relations and marketing initiatives
- Manage, secure, and maintain the property and facilities of the Museum to ensure the historic preservation of the farm’s Adriance Farmhouse, orchard, grounds, and artifacts
- Lead, supervise, evaluate, mentor, recruit, interview, and motivate staff
- Ensure effective systems to track progress and regularly evaluate program components, so as to measure successes that can be effectively communicated to the board and funders
- Serve as primary point of contact for all Queens County Farm Museum stakeholders
- Formulate, draft, and execute procedural documents including staff manuals, fire safety and emergency procedure manuals
- Ensure compliance with all local, state and federal law in all areas
- Review general liability, board liability, and workers compensation insurance on an annual basis; when necessary, work with the board to research and purchase new policies to get the best value and maintain proper coverage
- Conduct management staff performance reviews annually
- Be mission-focused while creating a culture of growth, respect, and flexibility
Financial/Fundraising
- Develop and maintain a balanced budget on an ongoing basis; monitor and manage institutional, operating, and programmatic budgets, and facilitate the preparation of annual financial statements
- Review and approve all expenses, ensuring that all expenses directly benefit the QCFM
- Lead and participate in all fundraising and development activities, including grant writing and developing relationships with foundations, corporations, and individual donors
- Work with Board Treasurer and accountants to review financial activity and position on a quarterly basis
- Assure that all expenses directly benefit the Queens County Farm Museum
- Attend and submit progress reports at board meetings (evenings – 6 per year)
- Prepare and administer all government and non-government grant applications on a timely basis
- Assure compliance with all active grant requirements
Public and Private Events and Site Rentals
- Prepare annual calendar of events
- Oversee planning, preparation, staffing, and promotion of all public events
- Review all private event agreements
- Create all commercial site rental agreements
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree; MBA or MPA preferred
- Minimum eight to ten years of senior-level experience in management, including staff supervision and team leadership, strategic planning, organizational development, finances, budgeting, and negotiation
- Experience in education and/or agriculture preferred but not required
- Unwavering commitment to quality programs and data-driven program evaluation
- Excellence in organizational management with the ability to coach staff, manage, and develop cross functional teams of board members and volunteers
- Successful track record in setting and achieving organizational priorities and meeting goals
- Operational acumen and demonstrated ability to grow and maintain a financially stable and sustainable organization including budget preparation, analysis, decision making and reporting
- Strong marketing, public relations, and fundraising experience with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills
- Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to business planning
- Demonstrated ability in self-directed work as well as ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people
- Impeccable ethical standards with a history of maintaining the highest levels of integrity and professionalism
This is a salaried full-time, in-person position, and hours of work vary depending on program demands. The typical schedule is Monday-Friday with occasional evenings and weekends required throughout the season.
- Salary $160-180K commensurate with experience.
- Health Benefits
- Participation in the organization’s Simple IRA plan (3% match)
- Farm Store & Farmstand Employee Discount
The Queens County Farm Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Queens County Farm Museum does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, color, sex, age, gender identification, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability. All qualified applications will be given equal opportunity and selection decisions are based solely on job-related factors.
For more information about the Queens County Farm Museum, please visit their website at: https://www.queensfarm.org
To Apply:
The Queens County Farm Museum has retained the services of Harris Rand Lusk to conduct this search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications may be directed in confidence to:
Jack Lusk
Managing Partner & CEO
Harris Rand Lusk
260 Madison Avenue, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Email your resume and cover letter to Gina Roose at: [email protected]
Please put “Queens County Farm Museum” in the subject line of your emailed application.
Application Link