Executive Director

The Steam Railroading Institute (SRI) is seeking an inspiring, hands-on Executive Director to lead a volunteer centric nonprofit that operates a railroad artifact with nationwide visibility: steam locomotive Pere Marquette 1225. This position offers a chance to shape the future of a beloved institution and preserve a vital piece of America's railroading legacy. If you are a collaborative leader ready to engage deeply with mission, people, and place, this full-time role is an exciting opportunity for a mission-driven professional to oversee a unique blend of operations, fundraising, community engagement, and strategic growth.

The Steam Railroading Institute is dedicated to preserving, operating, and sharing the experience and history of steam railroading. Through historic locomotives, excursion operations, public programs, and its visitor center, SRI connects people to the technology, history, and living experience of steam railroading. The Executive Director serves as SRI's chief executive officer and is accountable to the Board of Directors for organizational performance.

Within Board-approved policies, strategic direction, budget, and established limitations, the Executive Director has authority to manage SRI's staff, operations, programs, resources, organizational structure, and day-to-day affairs. The Executive Director is expected to make timely management decisions and to keep the Board informed of significant organizational, financial, legal, safety, and reputational risks. The Executive Director is responsible for establishing clear roles, decision-making authority, reporting relationships, and accountability among staff and volunteers.

Board members interact with staff and volunteers in ways consistent with established governance policies and through the Executive Director's management structure.

SRI is a volunteer-centric organization. Volunteers are not supplemental labor but essential partners in preserving, operating, and sharing the experience of steam railroading. The Executive Director is responsible for building an organizational model in which paid staff and volunteers work together effectively, safely, respectfully, and accountably in service to SRI's mission.

• Volunteer-Centric Leadership and Organizational Culture: Lead and sustain SRI's volunteer-centric operating model, recognizing volunteers as essential partners in accomplishing the mission and a critical component of SRI's workforce and organizational capacity. Build the infrastructure, culture, and volunteer pipeline necessary for staff and volunteers to work together successfully. Ensure effective systems for volunteer recruitment, screening, onboarding, training, placement, supervision, communication, recognition, conflict resolution, retention, and evaluation.
  
  Establish clear roles, decision-making authority, expectations, and accountability for staff and volunteers, and ensure staff are equipped and expected to effectively support and engage volunteers. Foster a welcoming, respectful, equitable, and accountable culture in which volunteers have meaningful opportunities to contribute and their knowledge, expertise, and commitment are valued.
• Volunteer Development, Leadership and Succession: Build a sustainable, multigenerational volunteer pipeline by creating accessible pathways for new volunteers to become engaged, develop skills, assume greater responsibility, and become volunteer leaders and mentors. Ensure that mission-critical technical and institutional knowledge held by experienced volunteers is intentionally documented, transferred, and developed in others through mentoring, cross-training, and succession planning. Regularly assess volunteer engagement, retention, experience, capacity, and emerging leadership needs and use that information to strengthen SRI's volunteer program.
• Revenue Development and Financial Sustainability
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  Lead a comprehensive development strategy that includes individual giving, sponsor ships, corporate partnerships, grants, special campaigns, and planned giving. Cultivate and steward donor relationships to support capital improvements and long-term sustainability.
• Strategic and Financial Management
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  Provide executive leadership for SRI's strategic and financial sustainability. Partner with the Board of Directors to establish long-term strategic direction and organizational priorities, and lead implementation within Board-approved policies and resources. Develop and…