Executive Director

Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

Vergennes (Basin Harbor), Vermont

Executive Director 

Lake Champlain Maritime Museum (the Museum) seeks an Executive Director to lead the organization into its next phase of service to the Lake Champlain Basin community, and regional, national and international visitors, by connecting people to the lake. The next Executive Director will build on the significant accomplishments of a talented and dedicated staff providing a robust set of programs that include the Museum’s collections and exhibitions, research and archaeology programs, boatbuilding, on-water education experiences, and hands-on learning for visitors of all ages. The Museum’s multi-faceted programs coalesce around the lake experience and it is recognized as a driving force for the protection of Lake Champlain’s rich American and Native American history, the lake as a vital freshwater natural resource, and the region’s unparalleled beauty. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum is nationally known for its underwater archaeology and shipwreck research. Its hands-on programs in boatbuilding and longboat rowing experiences are unique in the multi-state region. This is an opportunity to lead the organization at a pivotal time in its history as the new strategic plan charts a course that includes free admission and “pay what you can” program fees to provide greater access to all in serving the Lake Champlain Basin community. Over the next four years the Museum will mark the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal/Lake transportation system and the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War with new major exhibits that share the Museum’s ongoing research with the public and highlight the region’s diverse history in new ways.   

The next Executive Director will therefore be a visionary and dedicated leader working with a talented and passionate team and new strategic plan to advance the mission and programs of the Museum. Strengthening existing donor support, building new sources of funding, and expanding the Museum’s grant opportunities and other revenues are key elements of the responsibility. 

About Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

Lake Champlain Maritime Museum is an independent 501c3 whose mission is to connect all people to Lake Champlain, inspiring them to learn from the past, build together in the present, and create a sustainable future. The Museum has a budget of $2.2 million, a Board of 17 Directors, and 19 full and part-time staff who lead a robust seasonal and multi-faceted program anchored in year-round advocacy, education programs, and audience and donor development. 

The Museum opened its first building, a historic stone schoolhouse, in 1985 with the mission to preserve and share the cultural and natural heritage of the Lake Champlain region. Through its dedication to education, exhibitions, collections, and research, the Museum presents the lake’s history, safeguards shipwrecks, promotes the Lake Champlain Basin as a natural resource, and fosters responsible enjoyment of the lake as one of the great natural experiences in the multi-state region. Today, the Museum serves a broad community through learning experiences, exhibits and collections at its 3-acre waterfront campus that includes 18 buildings, waterfront access, boat building, underwater archaeology research projects, digital program engagement, and more. View the Museum's Site Map. The Museum is open to the public from mid-May to mid-October and education programs and research continue year-round. Annually, in the summer program season, the Museum attracts 10,000 visitors and year-round education reaches an additional 5,000 learners. Read more about The Museum’s History.

Broadly, the core programs of the Museum include exhibitions and collections, experiential learning, underwater archaeology and research, and Lake Champlain Basin advocacy. The Museum’s new Strategic Plan (2022-2026) focuses on five strategic priorities: 1) Visitor Experience to create a meaningful, inclusive, memorable experience for visitors (onsite and online) that is accessible and welcoming for all. 2) Experiential Education for learners of all ages to make personal connections to Lake Champlain through experiential education programs and become stewards of the lake and the community 3) Building Support by approaching all communication and fundraising through the lens of community building: fundraising, marketing, and outreach to help achieve the Museum’s mission and share the impact of the Museum’s work with the public. 4) Culture, People & Systems that create an environment of learning, growth, equity, and inclusion where all staff, board members, and volunteers feel valued, supported, and cared for as they achieve the mission. 5) Research using the Museum’s unique collections and exploration, aligned with the major Canal and Revolutionary War anniversaries, to be the preeminent authorities on underwater archaeology and maritime history in the Champlain Valley. Read the Museum’s Strategic Plan.

Diversity and Inclusion

There are many opportunities to develop increased  access and engagement in keeping with the Museum’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) commitment. Therefore the next Executive Director must be a champion of DEIA, and support the Museum’s strategic emphasis on greater access and inclusion in its programs. 

Desired Qualifications

The position requires leadership, management, program and fundraising experience along with vision and attention to details. The next Executive Director will demonstrate a commitment to the Museum’s overall mission, to education and love of nature. Supporting staff and establishing positive working relationships with the board are keys to successful Museum leadership. The position also requires networking skills along with genuine interest in the community of supporters. The ability to connect with the greater regional community and advocate for the mission and goals of the Museum is a priority, and commitment to the programs of the Museum, Lake Champlain and the region are essential. Management and organization skills, a team-centered value system, trust and respect, collaboration, and leading with confidence are key traits. Qualified candidates may come from a variety of nonprofit fields and other leadership experience including museums, the environmental, tourism or outdoor recreation sectors. These desired qualifications are important to the position: 

●      M.A. degree or equivalent experience in an appropriate field.

●      5-years of experience in a nonprofit leadership role or directing a department or division in a larger organization with budget, staff and program responsibilities. 

●      Excellent management and organizational skills, a multi-tasker with the ability to oversee staff without micromanaging. Able to pay attention to details while focusing on big picture.

●      Fundraising experience that includes donor relations, cultivation, grants, sponsorships and donor development.

●      Evidence of commitment to DEIA, through staff, board and programs, that advance diversity and access initiatives.

●      Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to network and connect with audiences.

●      A confident public speaker, an effective storyteller, able to assimilate content, goals and history to build engagement. 

●      Creator of partnerships through positive relationships and compelling messaging.

●      Proven success in strategic planning, setting goals, and achieving outcomes. 

●      Experience working with diverse constituents, partner entities, and stakeholders across a broad network.

●      Proven success in sustaining and supporting successful programs and assessing ROI.

●      Experience and effectiveness in community relations to build engagement and support.

Primary Responsibilities

●      Advance the Museum’s goals to expand access to Lake Champlain, its history, as a critical natural resource, and an ecotourism opportunity.

●      Guide the organization toward fulfilling its strategic plan while being responsive to new opportunities in a complex and changing global landscape.

●      Oversee the financial wellbeing of the organization with support from senior staff, finance, and the Board of Directors.

●      Actively maintain and develop relationships with donors, sponsors, and the local and regional community.

●      Utilize existing and establish new support partnerships to secure funding for Museum programs, new initiatives, endowment.

●      Travel as necessary to develop relationships, support and projects.

●      Serve as the leading spokesperson for the Museum, its mission and programs.

●      Work with the Board and staff to develop and advance the strategic direction of the Museum.

●      Manage upward to ensure positive and productive Board relations, ensuring transparency, best-practices for Board development and governance.

●      Oversee the preparation of Board materials for meetings and ensure accurate reporting and record keeping.

●      Hire, supervise, and work with staff to shape and deliver programs informed by the Museum’s mission, vision, and values utilizing proper management and evaluation systems.

●      Establish and monitor program and project timelines and budgets, working with staff to ensure goals, objectives and outcomes are met.

●      Mentor and guide with empathy, ensuring trust and respect, and employing principles of servant leadership.

●      Steward an organizational culture that prioritizes collaboration, and teamwork in a professional work environment. 

Compensation

The anticipated salary is $110,000 commensurate with experience, plus health care benefits, vacation and sick leave, 403b retirement plan, and relocation assistance. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States. 

About Vergennes, Basin Harbor and the Lake Champlain Region

Vermontvacation.com has described Vergennes as not only the State’s first city dating to 1788, but it remains today as Vermont’s smallest city encompassing only 2 square miles. Vergennes’ historic buildings, charming shops and restaurants, river access, and walkable streets make it one of Vermont’s and New England’s destinations. Its year-round population of 2500 belies the overall vibrancy of the region that includes many other nearby charming towns and villages, farm-to-market enterprises, and destinations such as historic Basin Harbor Resort (adjacent to the Museum). The cities of Shelburne and Burlington, and the University of Vermont are a short drive to the north. Historic Middlebury, VT, the Addison County seat, (Overview at Vermontvacation.com) is 20 minutes away and is home to the nationally acclaimed Middlebury College and an eclectic New England town vibe. The Champlain Basin region is a four-seasons wonderland with miles of hiking, biking, skiing, water adventure and unlimited pathways to exploration in the nearby Green Mountains, New York’s 6-million-acre Adirondack Park and high peaks. Lake Champlain, which stretches 125 miles from the historic Ticonderoga area to the south to the Canadian border region to the north is considered the “6th Great Lake.” The Charlotte, VT to Essex, NY ferry is 20 minutes away with access to the New York side of Lake Champlain. New York City is 5 hours south and Montreal, QC, Canada is a little over two hours north. Lake Champlain has been described as the epicenter of America’s Revolutionary War history but it’s indigenous people’s history goes back to the glacier retreat over 11,000 years ago, and Native Americans have been living continuously in the Champlain region since that time. Read more about Lake Champlain Native American History. 

This position is about the lake and its communities, its rich history, archaeology, natural environment and the responsibility Museum staff and board embrace to tell its story for all to experience. Candidates with leadership experience and a love of the outdoors, freshwater adventure and historic, rural communities will be warmly welcomed and rewarded with an exceptional work/life balance opportunity. 

For More Information/How to Apply

Lake Champlain Maritime Museum values diversity in all its forms and actively encourages candidates with diverse backgrounds to apply. It does not discriminate against any candidate or employee based on race, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion or veteran status.

Please send an email for more information or to make nominations. To apply, submit a cover letter, résumé/CV, and names of 3 references with their contact information and your professional relationship to them, by August 21, 2023 to: Dan Keegan, Senior Search Consultant, Museum Leadership Placement, dankeegan@museumleaders.com. References will not be contacted without prior permission of the applicant.