THE TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS
DECORDOVA PORTFOLIO DIRECTOR
deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum
Lincoln, MA
Application Deadline: Closed
The Trustees of Reservations is seeking a Portfolio Director to lead Strategic Business Operations, Public Programming and Community Engagement at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum located in Lincoln, Massachusetts. The Portfolio Director plays a vital role in advancing The Trustees’ commitment to sharing compelling contemporary art in the context of a public landscape and bringing together threads of art, nature, community, and history. This is a unique opportunity for a strategic business, management, and community leader to partner with the curatorial leadership of the Museum to elevate the deCordova as an iconic destination for contemporary art. This full-time position is part of The Trustees Leadership Team.
The Trustees of Reservations is one of Massachusetts’ largest nonprofits and the nation’s first conservation and preservation organization. Reporting to the Vice President, Cultural Properties of The Trustees, the Portfolio Director implements strategies and goals set by Trustees while leading deCordova’s team in partnership with the museum’s Artistic Director. The Portfolio Director leads and manages business operations, budgets, visitor services and security, special events, community engagement, public programming, facilities and grounds, the corporate art loan program and oversees volunteers and a full-time staff of eight. The Portfolio Director will possess and deploy a strong business, management and community relations skillset to lead and inspire a diverse and growing team.
ABOUT deCORDOVA SCULPTURE PARK AND MUSEUM
Established in 1950, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is the largest park of its kind in New England, encompassing 30 acres, 20 miles west of Boston. In 2009, deCordova changed its name from deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park to deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum to emphasize its renewed focus on sculpture and to support the institution’s goal of becoming a premier Sculpture Park. Providing a constantly changing landscape of large-scale, outdoor, modern and contemporary sculpture and site-specific installations, the Sculpture Park hosts more than 60 works, the majority of which are on loan to the Museum. Inside, the Museum holds a collection of modern and contemporary art and features a robust slate of rotating contemporary-art exhibitions and innovative interpretive programming.
In July of 2019, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum officially integrated with The Trustees of Reservations and continues to operate as a 501(c)3 nonprofit and focus its mission on providing contemporary exhibitions, outdoor sculpture, and innovative learning and engagement programs for all ages. In keeping with the wishes and will of Julian deCordova who donated the property to the Town of Lincoln in 1948, the land and buildings continue to be owned by the Town but are now maintained by The Trustees. Lincoln residents still have free access to the grounds and museum and deCordova members now have expanded benefits and access to all Trustees properties.
The public can enjoy year-round activities in the Sculpture Park and Museum, including snowshoe tours, yoga in the park, nature tours, curator and artist conversations, and many special talks, screenings, and events. DeCordova is also home to Lincoln Nursery School, the first preschool embedded in a contemporary art museum in the United States. Learn more at https://thetrustees.org/place/decordova/.
ABOUT THE TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS
The Trustees of Reservations is one of Massachusetts’ largest nonprofits and the nation’s first conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees preserve and protect places of natural, scenic, and historic beauty and hold these “reservations” in “trust” for public use and enjoyment. Their passion is to protect and share with everyone the irreplaceable natural and cultural treasures under their care. They are funded and supported by visitors, supporters, volunteers, and more than 100,000 member households. Today, the organization cares for 123 special reservations – from beaches to farms, gardens, museums, and historic sites – including deCordova.
OVERVIEW OF QUALIFICATIONS AND JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
The Portfolio Director at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum requires a multi-disciplinary business approach to lead and manage deCordova’s operations.
As the leader of operations and engagement staff and volunteers, the Portfolio Director inspires creativity, innovation and growth in education, public programs and engagement, collaborating with the Artistic Director and leveraging the curatorial and exhibits strategy and ensuring smooth, cohesive logistics, scheduling and operations. As the hospitality leader, the Portfolio Director is responsible for Visitor Experience and Security, ensuring all staff and volunteers consistently deliver an excellent visitor experience overall including at the gate, gift shop and café. As a business leader, the Portfolio Director is responsible for the business planning, financial performance, membership and enterprise revenue growth plans and achievement, including the Corporate Art loan program. As a face of the organization, the Portfolio Director partners with the local community to foster relationships and deepen engagement to deliver key performance indicators and business goals.
The Portfolio Director will develop and maintain a collaborative relationship with the Artistic Director who will lead the quality and impact of the curatorial, collections and exhibition strategies of the Museum. The Portfolio Director position requires an ability to thrive in a collaborative, matrixed environment, working in strong partnership with cross-functional leaders within a statewide organization. The Portfolio Director will possess and deploy a strong business, hospitality, visitor experience and management skillset to manage and inspire a diverse, talented team for visitor services, stewardship and public programming on site, and will collaborate with colleagues across the state to implement and deliver the programmatic vision, metrics, and visitor-experience standards at deCordova.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership and Management
Responsible for the overall operational leadership, management, and direction to drive deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum transformation and performance and deliver results aligned with statewide strategies and key performance indicators.
Ensure property objectives are balanced regarding engagement, stewardship, enterprise, and conservation objectives.
Communicate the opportunities and challenges to key staff, volunteers, and internal and external stakeholders.
Lead local advisory board committees, collaborating with the development team to set regular meeting agendas and on-going communications.
Support cultivation of important stakeholders and donors in partnership with the development team.
Model and set a culture of implementing the core values and goals of The Trustees.
Engagement, Volunteers, Membership, and the Public
Create an engaging plan covering visitor experience, education, public programming, and audience engagement that will grow the involvement of members, volunteers, and visitors, including integrating all activities such as public programming, education, exhibits and curatorial programs, large events, and tours.
Foster authentic and proactive community relations and local partnerships that foster deeper local engagement and support from the community.
Leverage the exhibits and curatorial opportunities to share the artistic platform of deCordova’s art, sculpture and exhibits locally, regionally, and nationally in collaboration with the Artistic Director and statewide marketing and development colleagues.
Ensure excellent recruitment, training, management, and recognition of staff and volunteers.
Business and Financial Performance Management
Accountable for management of operations, budgets, corporate art loan program and other projects.
Create, implement, and deliver deCordova business plans.
Responsible for the performance management and development of operations staff and volunteers.
Set and achieve financial targets, including stretch goals, and ensure their delivery.
Oversee the management of gate, café, gift shop, enterprise, rentals, special events and other visitor amenities.
Stewardship of Cultural and Natural Resources
Support the creation of property care/stewardship plans that ensure deCordova’s resources are conserved, preserved, and stewarded for the future (landscapes, ecology, trails, woodlands and buildings), in line with the statewide stewardship and collections standards.
Oversee the stewardship and resource care of all aspects of the natural, capital, and structural resources of the site.
QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
A minimum of 10 years of leadership and management experience.
Bachelor’s degree required.
Demonstrated experience with visitor experience, volunteer engagement, public programming and engagement, enterprise development, business strategy and planning.
Experience in museum or arts management.
Budgeting and financial management experience.
Entrepreneurial spirit, flexibility, and a sense of humor.
Excellent communication and writing skills, including public presentations.
Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Inclusion and Equity.
Background in hospitality, business, audience development, customer service or visitor experience preferred.
ABOUT LINCOLN AND THE REGION
Lincoln is an affluent suburb to the west of Boston and is described as one of the best places to live in Massachusetts. The population was 7,014 in 2020, including residents of Hanscom Air Force Base that live within town limits. Located just 20 miles from Boston, Lincoln is a prestigious community that offers excellent schools and easy access to historic parks and trails. The town is easily accessible from major highways. Located between Concord and Lexington, the town of Lincoln played a large role in the American Revolution, and British soldiers are buried in the town cemetery. On the night of his famous ride, Paul Revere was captured there by the British on his way to Concord from Lexington.
DeCordova serves a broad audience in New England, as well as the Greater Boston region. Its employees live in a variety of commutable locations and enjoy the benefits of the Boston metropolitan area. Boston is a world leader is health, technology and higher education, and the city offers leading museums, theaters, music venues and sports teams.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
A salary range between $110,000 - $120,000, plus exceptional benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance with employer premium contributions ranging from 75%-85%; retirement plan with 5% employer match after one year; employer paid life and disability plans; paid vacation and sick and a bank of “Early Release” hours; a bank of 15 paid flexible Holiday/Personal days; Day of Service at another site to work in a group project; Day of Wonder to explore Trustees sites on your own or with colleagues; complimentary Member-level access and discounts and 50% discount for Trustees summer camps; and a reciprocity program offering free and discounted admissions and memberships to more than 50 Massachusetts museums and cultural institutions.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
The Trustees of Reservations is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity (DBIE) and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants. The Trustees aims to create a thriving, inclusive workplace that values each team member. They aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of the mission.
To prevent the infection and spread of COVID-19, and as an integral part of its public health and safety measures, The Trustees of Reservations requires that all successful applicants show proof of full vaccination by an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine before beginning employment, unless an exemption from this policy has been granted. Applicants who believe they need an accommodation of this policy because of a disability, sincerely-held religious belief, or otherwise should inform Human Resources after an offer of employment is extended.
HOW TO APPLY
Apply in confidence: Email cover letter, resumé or CV, salary requirement and names of 3 references and your professional relationship, with contact information by January 24, 2022, to: Ida Tomlin, Senior Search Consultant, Museum Search & Reference at: SearchandRef@museum-search.com. References will not be contacted without prior permission of the applicant.
