Chief Executive Officer

Overview

The Modesto Children’s Museum (Mo Chi Mu ) is a world-class, award-winning children’s museum in the heart of California’s Central Valley. Now welcoming more than 70,000 children, families, educators, and school groups each year, Mo Chi Mu  serves as a vibrant home and trusted resource for playful learning across Stanislaus County and the greater region.

Mo Chi Mu  has quickly become a destination for families and school communities throughout the Central Valley, attracting visitors from across the region and contributing to the cultural and economic vitality of Modesto. With a growing national profile and recognition for outstanding practices, the Museum is building on its strong foundation to deepen community impact, expand access, and continue elevating the role of play in childhood.

• Oversee and manage all aspects of the Museum’s operations, staff, volunteer relations, external relations, exhibits, and education programming.
• In partnership with the Board of Directors, participate in developing the strategic plan and continuously assess museum operations to ensure its success. Support the Board’s role as the governing body for the museum.
• Oversee community engagement to stimulate museum attendance. Promote active and broad participation by volunteers in all areas of the organization’s work.
• Provide guidance in the development of the educational programming, including the areas of science, technology, engineering, arts and math for youth and families throughout the Central Valley.
• Actively engage in grant and fundraising activities and events.
• Oversee marketing and external relations and develop marketing and communication plans, coordinate marketing and PR efforts.
• Provide leadership in program development, staff organization, marketing and financial execution for operations, facilities, and programming.
• Provide excellent financial stewardship for all museum resources, address all compliance issues, and maintain the transparency necessary for a community-based not-for-profit.
• Maintain a strong, cohesive, and diverse team of internal staff. Lead staff in the development and implementation of the strategic direction provided by the board. Work with staff to develop a work plan of short- and long-range goals, and procedures to maximize effectiveness in achieving the museum's mission.
• Be the Museum’s face to the community, establishing and nurturing collaborations with local and regional partners, driving the development of innovative new programming, capitalizing on education outreach, including children and families from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Be a spokesperson and assure the organization and its mission and programs are consistently presented in strong, positive ways to relevant stakeholders, public and media.
• Be an active member of the Stanislaus County arts, culture, and education communities, and maintain a presence in a variety of settings, which may also include events and engagements on holidays, evenings, and weekends.

Key Attributes: The ideal candidate will be an inspirational leader with strong interpersonal communications skills, management, business, and fundraising and earned revenue experience. The candidate will have the ability to build collaborative relationships, financial savvy, a track record of results, and a passion for hands-on, experiential education. They will have significant executive experience working in a museum.

Leadership: The ideal candidate will be a dynamic leader who has experience evaluating and growing institutional programs and motivating staff to achieve their optimal potential. They will have led an organization through a period of opening and stability.

Program Development: Experience developing youth and family programming and STEAM education are desired.

Financial Management: The ideal candidate will have a successful track record of exceptional financial management, organizational and fundraising skills with demonstrated ability to achieve results in a transparent manner. Ability to lead the annual budgeting process and provide supervision so that programs and operations are administered and managed within budgets, and…