Postition Announcement - Executive Director - Mystic Seaport

Mystic Seaport Museum, located in Mystic, Connecticut, currently is seeking to add a new Executive Director. Driven by the exciting goals of the transformation of the Mystic Seaport Museum, reporting to the President & CEO, who will be devoting an extensive amount of his time and energy to the Museum's on-going capital campaign, and working alongside the senior leadership and the Board of Trustees of the Museum, this newly created position will provide both the visionary leadership and extra expertise necessary to take Mystic Seaport to the next level. Mystic Seaport’s transformational plans are aimed at strengthening the institution’s capabilities as a cultural and educational asset.

The Executive Director will be primarily responsible for the Museum’s day to day operations as well as serve as a key participant in strategy formulation and execution. As the chief programming officer and the senior museum professional on staff, the Executive Director is responsible for all aspects of the visitor experience including: exhibiting, public, educational and school programs, community and cultural initiatives, distance learning, volunteers and special events, as well as curatorial, library, collections management and research, and all related support and ancillary operations including food and retail sales, and special events, along with the leadership and management of attendant staff in each area. Given the breadth and diversity of responsibilities and constituencies involved in this position, outstanding leadership skills, a passion for the sea and experience in museum management are essential. The Executive Director should be an excellent communicator who embraces and encourages a team environment and has the ability to interact effectively with donors. Founded in 1929, Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum, attracting more than 300,000 visitors annually. Mystic’s assets include four National Historic Landmark vessels, an operational preservation shipyard, an interactive 19th century seafaring village and the Nation’s most extensive (non-Naval) maritime library, and the Rosenfeld photographic collection. Mystic Seaport also offers visitors educational programs for all ages, ranging from summer day camp and sailing lessons to higher education programs, including the undergraduate level Maritime Studies Program in partnership with Williams College. It is not only an institution of great historical prestige but one that is also embarking on very exciting changes for the future to continue to best serve the community, locally and nationally. For additional information on Mystic Seaport, please visit their website at www.mysticseaport.org.

Responses may be sent to Victoria Reese at Heidrick & Struggles in New York at vreese@heidrick.com or by fax, 212-370-9035. Closing date for application is November 15th