Madison Children’s Museum

Roles and Responsibilities

Leadership and Strategic Vision

• Advance MCM’s strategic plan, ensuring the goals and outcomes are consistent with the mission, vision, and values, by providing visionary, collaborative, and forward-thinking leadership.
• Employ knowledge and experience to undo systemic barriers to participation and belonging in cultural organizations, increasing the sense of welcome and belonging at all museum activities for all participants.
• Foster an environment that embraces ADEI through respect, collaboration, intentionality, and anti-racism in the arts.
• Create and maintain strong ties with community decision-makers, government officials, the media, business executives, and other arts leaders to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Advocate for children, families, the arts and arts education by serving as a visible leader and key spokesperson in the local and national early learning, arts and culture communities.
• Build upon MCM’s visibility and positive brand to ensure the organization is properly resourced to achieve its goals.
• Embrace other leadership and strategic vision responsibilities, as needed.

Contributed and Earned Revenue Enhancement

• Serve as the organization’s primary development liaison, increasing revenue diversification and inspiring individual and foundation donors, corporate sponsorship opportunities, government grants, and special campaigns.
• Identify and establish relationships with key funders and donors to nurture existing relationships and develop new sources of funding.
• Ensure the successful completion of the current $3 million capital campaign by partnering with the Director of Development and the board and take the lead on future campaigns and expansion projects.
• Cultivate ongoing government support from City of Madison, the state of Wisconsin, and the federal government, elevating the positive impacts of MCM on the larger community and throughout the region.
• Enhance and guide a marketing and communication strategy that maximizes memberships, admissions, rental revenues, and other earned revenue opportunities.
• Embrace other contributed and earned revenue enhancement responsibilities, as needed.

Program Vibrancy and Community Engagement

• Champion and grow the museum's local and national partnerships, innovations, and initiatives in collaboration with MCM's VP of Education and Community Engagement and VP of Exhibits, Facilities and Strategic Initiatives.
• Stay abreast of current research and trends in museums, particularly those for children, early childhood learning, and the continuum of cognitive, emotional, and social development in both formal and informal learning environments.
• Affirm MCM’s role in the ecosystem of a vital regional early learning and arts community with multiple constituents and develop relationships that enhance the goals of that larger community.
• Connect with teachers, principals, and superintendents to understand state and national education requirements and policies to ensure that MCM complements those standards.
• Enhance MCM’s presence and increase impact in the community by actively engaging with a wide variety of stakeholders through public speaking, attendance at community events, and participating in community initiatives on all levels.
• Communicate MCM’s mission to multiple audiences and develop and guide the implementation of effective strategies to expand participation.
• Advocate for children, families, informal education, museums, and the arts at the local, state, and national level.
• Embrace other program vibrancy and community engagement responsibilities, as needed.

Financial Resiliency and Board Governance

• Develop and oversee the organizational budget, managing expenses and income to ensure financial stability and growth.
• Create earned and contributed revenue forecasting models and analysis and make recommendations to support decision-making about MCM’s finances.
• Monitor and report financial performance to the board in collaboration with the finance committee to support timely decision-making.
• Communicate financial position and forecasts to staff and funders, so that they fully understand why financial decisions are made and how resources are allocated.
• Partner with the Nominating and Governance Committee to expand, diversify, and manage the board by ensuring that members are engaged according to their skills, interests, and the needs of the organization.
• Share information with board members regularly and serve as a liaison between board committees and staff.
• Embrace other financial resiliency and board governance responsibilities, as needed.

Organizational Stability and Resiliency

• Oversee all daily operations of MCM, including programs and personnel, to ensure the organization operates effectively and efficiently.
• Elevate and activate MCM’s commitment to AEDI to attract and retain staff and board members from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
• Demonstrate a commitment to MCM’s core values and proven strengths in the areas of design, creativity, and environmental sustainability.
• Anticipate the organization’s dynamic needs and invest in staff development to continuously advance skills and deliver on MCM’s mission.
• Maintain active assessment and management of risks facing the organization and develop mitigation plans to offset potential negative impacts.
• Amplify and advance MCM’s positive culture and work environment, where all departments are equitably valued, and staff of all gender identities, ethnicities, and backgrounds are valued and feel appreciated.
• Demonstrate a genuine curiosity and interest in all aspects of the organization so that all parts of the institution are fully understood and valued.
• Galvanize an experienced staff, fostering collaboration and teamwork.
• Embrace other organizational stability and resiliency responsibilities, as needed.