Renfrew Museum & Park is a heritage-cultural site, dedicated to interpreting early American history, German culture, and the natural resources of the l107-acre tract.. Renfrew is actively seeking a new executive director.
Job Summary:
Renfrew is seeking its next dynamic Executive Director who possesses a diverse skill set to lead the organization and staff into its 50 th Anniversary and beyond. The Executive Director serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Renfrew Committee, Inc. (RCI), the nonprofit organization which manages Renfrew Museum and Park on behalf of the Borough of Waynesboro. The Executive Director will lead the organization in all aspects of operations and fulfillment of the Museum and Park’s mission, manage a staff of full-time and part-time employees and volunteers, raise funds and manage finances, expand community outreach, develop innovative educational programs, and work with the seven-person Board of Directors to develop policy and annual operating budget. The position requires a large degree of versatility to meet the needs of the organization.
About Renfrew Museum and Park:
Renfrew Museum and Park, commonly known as “Renfrew”, is a beautiful historic Pennsylvania German farmstead located in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. Sited on 107 acres of scenic land nestled along the east branch of the Antietam Creek in south central Pennsylvania, approximately 75 miles
from the Baltimore/Washington metropolitan area and 25 miles from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Renfrew will celebrate its 50th year of operation in 2025! The park consists of both landscaped and natural areas including farmland, woodland and meadows. Fifty acres are designated as a
wilderness/wildlife preserve with almost 5 miles of nature and hiking trails. Buildings include a picnic shelter for public use, maintenance buildings, visitor center and multiple historic structures used as interpretive museum spaces. Renfrew is an established and rapidly growing nonprofit
organization committed to offering visitors great experiences and becoming a memorable destination offering the perfect mix of history and nature just waiting to be explored. The Executive Director will be responsible for ensuring the implementation of preservation and museum standards
in providing care for park areas, collection items, historic structures, revenue generating programming, and visitor access.
OUR MISSION
Renfrew Committee, Inc. supports the Borough of Waynesboro in its stewardship of Renfrew Museum and Park preserving, interpreting, and educating others about its historic Pennsylvania German farmsteads, Early American decorative arts collection, built environment, and cultural landscapes. Creating lasting connections to Renfrew’s distinctive character and dynamic heritage through unique experiences, we foster a meaningful sense of place for visitors of all ages.
Responsibilities:
Leadership and Board Relations
Provide strategic leadership and vision to the staff, board, and community partners. Oversee the direction and emphasis of historical interpretation of the museum through all initiatives and programs. Update, maintain, and execute a Strategic Plan in partnership with the Board and staff.
In collaboration with the Board of Directors, formulate policies and coordinate the activities of Board committees. Lead and ensure professional development of both full and part-time staff who assist in the park and building maintenance, visitors services and programming, along with a dedicated corps of around 30-40 active volunteers.
Development, Fundraising, and Fiscal Management
Develop, manage, and monitor Renfrew’s $400,000 annual operating budget, and capital and restricted funds, ensuring financial sustainability and effective resource allocation for preservation, programs, buildings and grounds maintenance and operations. Forecast and anticipate future site and organization needs and develop long-range plans with staff and Board. Drive fundraising efforts, manage annual membership and operations fundraising, lead capital campaigns, oversee financial operations, ensure compliance with reporting obligations, and secure grant funding. Responsible for cultivating new donor and sponsor relationships and for maintaining and expanding existing relationships. Regularly communicate with the RCI board treasurer and Budget & Finance Committee Chair, accountant(s), financial advisor(s), and non-discretionary fund trustee(s) along with monthly
reporting responsibilities to the Borough of Waynesboro Council.
Operations and Personnel Oversight
The Executive Director manages staff and volunteers, ensuring efficient operations.
As Renfrew’s HR director, the Executive Director is responsible for all personnel matters including employment and labor law compliance, hiring, supervision and evaluations, professional development, disciplinary actions and terminations, with the support of staff managers and the
Board of Directors.
Marketing
Maintain and update Renfrew’s social media presence, direct the design and delivery of e-blasts, prepare quarterly newsletters, update website content, and collaborate on displays and advertisements. Develop marketing campaigns and design brochures and leaflets for programming.
Collections Management
Ensure the long-term conservation of Renfrew’s artifacts through monitoring environmental threats, identifying storage needs, and coordinating artifact cataloging and cleaning with staff and volunteers.
Exhibition Curation
Lead curatorial staff in the execution of periodic exhibitions, updates to interpretation, and ensures the safe display of artifacts. Responsibilities include supporting key staff in researching themes, planning layouts, and updating exhibition spaces.
Buildings and Grounds
The Executive Director oversees the preservation of historic buildings, features, landscapes, and
archeological resources. Communicate with the Manager of Buildings & Grounds on preservation
goals, monitoring of trails and outdoor spaces, and scheduling of maintenance services.
Outreach and Programming
As the external face of the organization in the community and the region, provide public speaking
engagements.
Ensure the integrity, reputation, and trust of the organization throughout the community.
Manage community partnerships, cultivate donor relationships, and represent Renfrew publicly.
Oversee the development of creative and educational programming and strategies to engage and
expand audiences, stakeholders, and financial support. Ensure that all programmatic activities
follow best practices and principles and are related to Renfrew’s mission. Develop and implement a yearly program calendar of events, workshops, tours and educational opportunities in coordination with the Visitor Experiences Manager that engages audiences while reaching Renfrew’s annual earned revenue goals.
Candidate Requirements
–Excellent interpersonal, public relations, written and oral communication skills.
–Bachelor’s degree in history, museum studies, historic preservation, art history, historic site management, parks and recreation, nonprofit management or related field.
–Three – five years of work experience demonstrating successful accomplishment of some or all of the following skills: fundraising and networking ability, capital campaign management, museum, collections and/or curation work, staff leadership, budget development and management, public
outreach and marketing.
Full-Time, Year-Round Exempt Position
Salary Range: $55,000 – $58,656
Benefits: Annual Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) of pre-taxed funds; 403(b)
retirement plan with employer contribution matching up to 5%; Paid Time Off (PTO);
seven (7) designated paid holidays.
How to Apply:
To apply, email your CV/Resume, a cover letter, and salary requirements to Renfrew Committee
Inc. (RCI) Board President Laurie Hovermale at board@renfrewmuseum.org. Resumes accepted
through November 1, 2024. No phone calls, please.