Jackie Robinson Museum
Director
New York, NY

 
About the Museum
EDUCATE. INSPIRE. CHALLENGE
The Jackie Robinson Museum seeks to bring people from all walks of life together to commune and appreciate each other’s unique humanity and diverse experiences. A forum for education, debate and discussion, the Museum aspires to create positive change by inspiring visitors to empathize and work with others to solve challenging social problems - and by appreciating how one life can make a difference.

Overview
The Jackie Robinson Museum (JRM) is a permanent tribute to the pioneering legacy of one of the most important Americans of the 20th century. Invoking Robinson’s role as a champion for racial, social, and economic equality, the Museum chronicles his trailblazing achievements against the backdrop of United States history. The Museum’s exhibitions and experiential programming emphasize both practical learning and dialogue around critical issues that continue to challenge our society.

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play Major League Baseball in the modern era. He would later become the first African American to be named a vice president at a major corporation, serve as an advisor to high level government officials and politicians, and start a bank and a housing development company. Not to mention, Robinson was a key figure in advancing equal opportunity and first-class citizenship for all Americans at the advent of and during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s. Hailed by Martin Luther King, Jr., as a “freedom rider before freedom rides,” Robinson’s name is synonymous with breaking barriers.

The Museum’s signature permanent installation will focus on the Museum’s holdings of over 4000 artifacts, mostly from the Robinson Family’s collection, and coalesce around three themes:
• Robinson’s multifaceted commitment to advancing equal opportunity for all through activism, civic engagement, and economic empowerment efforts;
• highlights of the 4-sport star’s athletic achievements spanning forty years; and
• a bold tribute to Robinson’s enduring impact on popular culture from 1947 to today.

“Jackie’s character was much more important than his batting average.”
– Hank Aaron, Hall of Fame outfielder

The Museum will function also as a destination for dynamic, educational programming for all ages and host a varied agenda of programming addressing topics involving both organized sports and critical social issues to which Robinson dedicated his life. Through video content, image projections, immersive audio, and memorabilia, visitors to the 20,000-square-foot Museum will embark on an interactive journey through Robinson’s extraordinary life and explore his commitment to equal justice and a ‘level playing field’ throughout society. The Museum engages people from all sectors and walks of life to embrace each other’s humanity and unique experiences and consider ways to meet the challenges that impede the realization of first-class citizenship for all.

The Jackie Robinson Museum currently has 6 full-time staff, 5 part-time staff, and a projected annual operating budget of $3.5 million.

Please access this link to learn additional information about the Jackie Robinson Museum.

About the Jackie Robinson Foundation
Established in 1973 by Rachel Robinson to perpetuate the memory of her husband, the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) is a public, nonprofit organization that administers one of the nation’s premier scholarship and leadership development programs for talented college students. Aside from generous financial support, Scholars benefit from a comprehensive, four-year program that includes career guidance, internship and permanent job placement, travel abroad, and leadership and practical life skills training.

As the Foundation celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2023, JRF remains steadfast in its commitment to social change through educational advancement and leadership development of the nation’s minority youth. With the establishment of the Jackie Robinson Museum and its anticipated program elements the Jackie Robinson Foundation will encourage greater humanitarianism among visitors of all ages and continue to help develop the next generation of dynamic leaders.

The Opportunity
The concept for the Jackie Robinson Museum was fourteen years in the making. Now that the Museum has opened its doors to the public, the devoted team who laid the foundation for this visionary endeavor is eager to identify a bold, entrepreneurial, and influential inaugural Director to embrace the imagination they have tirelessly transformed into reality and champion the Museum’s success.

Reporting directly to the Jackie Robinson Foundation’s President & CEO and working collaboratively with JRF’s board of directors, the Director will be responsible for the day-to-day administrative and operational direction and management of the Museum. This forward-thinking leader will continue to design and implement an inspired vision that ensures the Museum reflects the organization’s history, mission, and future ambitions - to develop innovative exhibits, progressive programming, and educational activities that reflect and advance the legacy of the Museum’s namesake and the values embodied in his life story.

This prominent role is a unique and enviable opportunity for a dynamic individual – one driven by a commitment to inspire future generations of changemakers and the desire for greater progress – to advance the mission and goals of the Museum and communicate the stories to be told broadly and with deep integrity.  This work requires leadership, initiative, and an entrepreneurial spirit, while engaging and collaborating with JRF staff members.

Responsibilities
Strategic Vision and Leadership
• Lead the vision and articulation of an institutional strategic approach ensuring that the Museum has both short and long-range strategic plans capable of effectuating the intended vision, achieves its mission in consistently, and increases national awareness and the prominence of the institution.
• Direct and manage all JRM functions, including leading the development, design, and maintenance of on- site and traveling exhibits, artifact and memorabilia acquisition, collections preservation and management, as well as educational program development; JRM marketing and communications, JRM fundraising, finance, and budgeting, hiring and management of JRM staff, and key constituent and public relations.
• Oversee the management, maintenance and security of the property and facilities of JRM and its collections held in public trust.
• In cooperation with the JRF’s communications director and outside consultants, devise and implement compelling, comprehensive, and successful brand marketing strategies that will create consistency of voice and messaging throughout the organization, drive understanding and awareness, and ultimately ensuring targeted levels of on-site visitation and a robust internet presence
• Cultivate a strong and transparent working relationship with Foundation’s President & CEO and its Board that ensures open communication and alignment around the organizational goals.

Organizational Excellence and Business Acumen
• In partnership with the Foundation, provide oversight for the effective and sound management of the Museum’s operational infrastructure including optimizing policies, practices, and systems, ensuring the organization operates within budget guidelines, and  making sure contractual obligations are fulfilled.
• Provide direction and vision on the strategic framework needed to ensure capacity to achieve programmatic goals and organizational priorities.
• Lead the recruitment and management of a full-time staff of at least six full-time employees initially, as well as part- time staff, consultants, and volunteers as needed (which will be supplemented by JRF staff for designated responsibilities); provide inspirational leadership and direction to staff while ensuring the development and management of an effective organization.
• Attract and build a high-performing culture of accountability, trust, and collaboration that embraces change and empowers staff; implement transparent and active communication and delegation ensuring staff are kept abreast of decisions made at the senior leadership level; promote intra- and interdepartmental teamwork ensuring staff feel connected to institutional priorities and establish decision-making processes ensuring to support JRM in achieving its objectives.

Relationship Building & Resource Development
• Act as a key spokesperson and chief advocate for the Museum; play an enthusiastic and influential role in galvanizing support and generating excitement that advances JRM’s values; proactively seek out opportunities to increase the organization’s influence and reputation locally, nationally, and beyond.
• Build bridges and cultivate innovative partnerships amongst a broad range of stakeholders including peer institutions, government agencies, foundations, corporate leaders, and community organizations.
• Working with the CEO, Board of Directors, and JRF and JRM Development staff, devise and implement a multi-pronged fundraising and cultivation strategy to sustain JRM’s operations and effectuate programmatic strategy and goals, e.g., forming and maintaining relationships with stakeholders and benefactors, grant- writing, outreach to foundations, corporations, individuals, and grassroots donors that expands solicitation activities, engages donors and diversifies funding streams.

Innovation and Engagement
• Support and encourage a curatorial vision that yields creative, thought-provoking exhibitions and educational programming; encourage ongoing technological, programmatic and marketing innovations that enhance the Museum’s public image and expands interest in and tangible support for JRM well into the future.
• Encourage a variety of opinions and viewpoints that result in innovative and creative initiatives and spark new and existing visitors’ curiosity and create meaningful personal experiences with the Museum’s exhibitions and program offerings.  

Qualifications
The ideal candidate will possess most, if not all, of the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics gained through lived, and/or professional, volunteer, and coursework experience:

• A commitment and personal connection to the missions of the Jackie Robinson Museum (JRM) and the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF).
• A “big-picture thinker” with proven success moving from conceptualization, managing multiple iterations of a concept, to goal-oriented implementation and clear execution; ability to lead the setting of the organizational vision and to develop and promote the strategies needed to advance the work to realize that vision.
• A track record of strong leadership, vision, and strategic direction; experience developing and implementing formalized strategic plans in alignment with the organizational vision and goals; superb resource management skills.
• Politically astute leadership with proven organizational and administrative experience with: budgeting, staffing, meeting deadlines and other deliverables; the ability to set clear priorities, delegate, and guide investment in people and systems; systems-oriented with keen analytic, organization and creative problem-solving skills, which support and enable sound decision-making.
• Demonstrated success and appreciation for fundraising and audience development; track record of experience working cooperatively, diplomatically and effectively with donors, donor prospects, and in community relations and outreach capacities across diverse populations.
• Superior communication skills, including writing, public speaking, and executive presentations.
• Nimble and entrepreneurial thinking with an ability to be proactive and creative in overcoming obstacles and resource constraints and to lead through change and growth in an evolving landscape.
• Empathic leadership with high emotional intelligence who values trust, ethics, integrity, and transparency; a leader with the ability to foster and build communities of care that yield a deeper sense of well-being that enhances performance.
• A minimum of 10+ years of experience managing an institution of comparable or greater size with public exhibition space; consideration given to progressive senior management experience in large institutions.
• Demonstrated knowledge of standards and best practices for museums, non-profits, or similar organizations with a history of involvement in relevant professional organizations preferred.

Compensation & Benefits
The Director position offers a competitive salary range of $175,000-$190,000 and comprehensive benefits package.

Commitment to Equity and Equal Opportunity Employment
The Jackie Robinson Foundation is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and workplace conditions and opportunities for all persons regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

DRG Talent
We serve nonprofit organizations that care for, inspire, and enrich the lives of people all over the world. Our team of talent advisors shares a commitment to the values that matter to our clients, bringing more than 30 years of experience to serving the nonprofit community.

Our mission is to support nonprofits in bringing together the right leadership, talent, culture, and structure—so people and organizations can thrive.

This position description is based upon material provided by the Jackie Robinson Foundation, an equal opportunity employer.
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Eboni S. Gates, Senior Talent Consultant

Sarah Jones, Senior Associate