Executive Director

The Opportunity
The Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS) is a thriving art, science, and history museum in East Central Florida. Reporting to the MOAS Board through the President, the next Executive Director will have the unique opportunity to work with the Board, staff and volunteers to create the next inspiring vision for MOAS and to craft an updated Strategic Plan in order to execute on this vision.

The Executive Director will begin from an advantaged position, having a financially balanced and stable $3 million operating budget, nearly $50 million in endowment, a very talented staff, a dedicated team of donors and volunteers, a supportive Board, and a diverse collection with significant inter-disciplinary potential.

The MOAS campus is located next to (and includes) Tuscawilla Preserve, a 90-acre nature preserve with boardwalks and nature trails maintained by MOAS as well as an education center and interactive learning stations.

Near the campus entrance, the 26,000 sq ft Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art features a rotating collection of 2,600 oil and watercolor paintings dating back to the early 1800’s and all with thematic and artistic ties to Florida. The collection features significant works from internationally known artists that have visited Florida and its thriving artist colonies – from Georges Innes to Thomas Hart Benton to Milton Avery- as well as long-time Florida residents like Martin Johnson Heade and members of “The Highwaymen.”

The main MOAS building (100,000 sq ft) is host to over 30,000 objects spanning multiple disciplines and noteworthy collections.  Highlights include:

• The North Wing – permanent collections and exhibits including American Art, Chinese Art, and a study center and gallery for International Decorative Arts.
• The L. Gale Lemerand Wing – the Prehistory of Florida Gallery, which includes The Volusia County Giant Ground Sloth (the best preserved and most complete fossil of this species in North America) as well as the Cuban Foundation Museum, exhibits on African Art and Weaponry from around the world, and spaces for temporary and traveling exhibitions.

The Lowell and Nancy Lohman Family Planetarium, a 94-seat facility with 40 ft. diameter dome structure and OmniStar™ digital projector.

• The Charles and Linda Williams Children’s Museum
• The Root Family Museum of 20th century American culture and technological artifacts relating to the history of Coca-Cola as well as early American industrialists.

MOAS also operates Gamble Place, a 175-acre off-campus property with an historic home, cottage and Citrus Packing House included in the National Register of Historic Places.

Through the efforts of a highly engaged and committed Board, generous donors, the MOAS Guild, and a talented staff, the museum is thriving financially and is supported by a nearly $50 million endowment (one of the largest museum endowments in Florida).  MOAS is well-positioned for ongoing success, expanded impact, and enhanced regional and national awareness.

Daytona Beach and Volusia County offer, in many ways, an ideal community.  This family-friendly oceanfront city (no longer the Spring Break mecca of past decades) remains a popular tourist destination for vacations, sports events, and entertainment. With an influx of new residents relocating to central Florida for professional opportunities and an improved quality of life, the area has many residential communities that combine a small-town coastal feel, good schools, major colleges and universities, and metropolitan amenities.

Scope and Responsibilities
MOAS is seeking a dynamic executive to lead the organization into a new phase of its history. Among the many exciting opportunities and responsibilities for the Executive Director are:

• Working with the Board and stakeholders to develop and execute an overall Strategic Plan and a Master Plan for the Campus that will reimagine the next phase of MOAS and its multi-disciplinary collections and programs (the museum is currently in the last year of its existing five-year Strategic Plan);
• Expand the impact of MOAS and position the organization as a vital educational resource, partner, and collaborator locally, regionally, and nationally; and
• Increase awareness of the museum and its collections and programs, driving increased attendance and participation.

Other specific responsibilities include:

• Represent MOAS locally, regionally, and nationally, serving as a proactive, visible and inspiring advocate for the institution and its potential for expanded and collaborative impact;
• Lead, develop and motivate a talented staff and a dedicated team of volunteers;
• Manage the operating budget and optimize earned revenues, while continually aligning operations with the museum’s core mission;
• Work closely with the Finance Committee of the Board and investment managers to ensure optimal management of the endowment;
• Identify, cultivate, and strengthen relationships with new and existing donors, and build a diversified program for contributed revenue that will help the endowment grow to $100 million;
• Oversee the maintenance, upkeep, and security of the MOAS campus and facilities as well as the preservation of its collection and design of its exhibits; and
• Engage with external stakeholders and community partners and cultivate new opportunities to leverage MOAS’ collections and programs for the benefit of the community.

Key Selection Criteria
Potential candidates should have at least ten years of demonstrated successful leadership experience with attendance-driven not-for-profit cultural organizations.

Specifically, the ideal candidate will possess:

• Respect for and belief in the life-changing impact a museum, its collections and programs can have on educating and inspiring the public;
• Deep understanding of a museum’s role in the community, particularly a multi-disciplinary institution, and demonstrated success in developing external alliances and partnerships;
• Strong business and financial acumen to effectively budget, manage, monitor, and report complex financial information;
• Demonstrated ability to balance the business needs of an attendance-driven nonprofit while optimizing the core mission;
• Demonstrated success reporting to, building, and supporting the work of a nonprofit board of directors;
• Cultural competence and demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
• Excellent management ability; skilled in organizing, directing, motivating, evaluating, and supporting staff;
• Proven track record in fundraising, particularly major gift, foundation, corporate funding and planned giving, and a solid understanding of strategies and pipeline programs needed for diversified contributed revenue;
• Ability to listen, to understand the needs of diverse audiences and community partners, and to apply these needs to MOAS’ mission;
• Ability to and strong interest in becoming part of the Volusia County community, and appreciating the cultural and historical context of MOAS and its collections;
• Passion for participating in key community events and organizations as the face of MOAS in our community;
• A Bachelor’s degree is required. Master’s degree is preferred.

Contact
DHR Global’s Nonprofit Practice has been exclusively retained to conduct this search.

To request a complete copy of the position description or to nominate a potential candidate, please contact  mcounter@dhrglobal.com.  To apply, please forward a copy of your resume to this same email address.

All applications will be reviewed and responded to in a timely manner.