President & Chief Executive Officer

Ballinger | Leafblad is pleased to conduct this search for The Bakken Museum, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
The Bakken Museum is a one-of-a-kind museum with a focus on innovation and the intersection of STEM and the humanities. The museum encourages curiosity while celebrating and encouraging innovation through our exhibitions, events, and on and off-site education programs. Our purpose is to awaken the innovator inside each of us.

Since 1975, The Bakken Museum has been committed to nurturing a passion for science in visitors from around the world. Located on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) in Minneapolis, the museum maintains a world class artifact collection, dynamic exhibit experiences, and industry-leading education programs - both onsite and across the region.

A historic mansion, unique collections, medicinal gardens, dynamic exhibits, and rich education experiences: The Bakken Museum truly has something everyone can enjoy.

MISSION
The Bakken Museum inspires a passion for innovation by exploring the potential, for science, technology and the humanities to make the world a better place.

VISION
We will build a community at the intersection of science, technology, health and well-being, leveraging the past to inspire the next generation of innovators to transform the future.

ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES
Creativity We believe that everyone has the ability to use their creativity to help make the world a better place. We aim to foster that creativity in each other and our audiences.
Curiosity We are always learning, growing, and asking questions. This curiosity is the lens through which we approach learning and making connections in unexpected ways.
Uniqueness We take pride in the ways we can be surprising or different from what might be expected. We encourage our staff and audiences to bring their full selves and embrace the strengths and connections in our differences.
Adaptability We acknowledge that change is constant and that we are made stronger by our ability to accept and understand change. We improvise with empathy and purpose, using change as an asset to adapt, grow, and develop in new ways that support the needs of our audiences and each other.
Collaboration We work to leverage our collective genius in service of our mission. We listen to each other, support one another, work to better understand each other, and as a result, grow and evolve together. 
Equity We will strive to be a place where everyone is welcome, represented, and valued and will work to correct the structural imbalances which prevent that goal.

PROGRAMS
The Bakken Museum’s programs and exhibits combine interaction and reflection with the goal of finding relevance and inspiring engagement with science and technology. We do not offer solutions; we enable and encourage our audiences to create them.

On-site Education

Field Trip Programs: Each year, the museum welcomes about 10,000 students in grades 3-12 for field trips, comprising opportunities to enjoy guided experiences in the exhibits and hands-on STEM-based workshops in the classrooms.

Youth Education Programs: For grades 3-9, on-site offerings include single-day workshops, multi-week clubs, and camps during summer, winter, and spring breaks. Projects are student-led and open-ended to provide space for students to plan, build, improve, and show off a project of their design. Expert educators and volunteers provide both guidance and room for failure to build resiliency and confidence.

Off-site Education
The outreach team travels across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest to provide engaging STEM programs to students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The museum’s programs use humor and exciting demonstrations to explore the connections between science, technology, and the humanities.

Exhibits
The Bakken Museum's exhibits explore the cycle of innovation and inspiration. Each space provides historical context for visitors to make connections and ask questions. The museum also features 2.9 acres of meticulously kept gardens and a historical mansion.

Events
Special events provide dynamic opportunities for visitors to experience the museum throughout the year. We offer a range of family-oriented and 21+ events to invite everyone to dive deep into STEM-related themes through hands-on activities and experiments. In addition to events hosted by the museum, The Bakken Museum serves as a polling place and offers private rentals, which support the mission-driven programs.

Collections
The Bakken Museum’s collections are a rich resource for exploring efforts to understand the human body, health, and wellness throughout history. The museum’s collections include 11,000 books, 2,500 artifacts, and 1,000 pieces of art and ephemera on topics from electricity in literature to fascinating fringe science.

STRATEGIC PLAN
The Bakken Museum’s 2022-2025 strategic plan was adopted at the September 9, 2021 meeting of the Board of Directors. Our 2022–2025 strategic plan includes three pillars: Unite as One Bakken; Sustain and Grow; and Fully Integrate Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI). The Strategic Initiatives that have been set forth are:

SUSTAIN AND GROW
The Bakken Museum must develop, sustain, and grow our financial resources to support current operations and future aspirations. By leaning into the assets that make the Museum unique, we can bolster our financial foundation to increase our impact.

UNITE AS “ONE BAKKEN”
We are a team united by our mission. We foster a passion for learning and experimentation, embrace challenges with innovative thinking, and are inspired by, and share in, the successes of others. By working together and innovating across teams, we will be able to transform lives and help our audiences see themselves as worthy and capable of making the world a better place.

FULLY INTEGRATE DEAI
We thrive when we work together with our communities. Staff and audiences’ experiences and different points of view help to inform, challenge, and expand our thinking. By intentionally and genuinely integrating DEAI into all aspects of the organization, The Bakken Museum will become a more equitable and effective community resource where everyone is welcome, represented, and valued.

THE PAST INFORMS & INSPIRES THE FUTURE
In 2017, The Bakken Museum implemented a new mission statement and brand, shifting the focus from electricity and history to innovation and inspiration. The new content pillars allow us to broaden programming, reach a wider audience, and continue to honor the legacy of our founder. 

At the museum, we define innovation as a new way to do something, make something or understand something. Our programs emphasize that success in innovation derives from a set of skills and mindsets that can be cultivated and strengthened. Our programs and exhibits combine interaction and reflection with the goal of finding relevance and inspiring engagement with science and technology. We do not offer solutions; we enable and encourage our audiences to create them. 

The museum is unique for the content we provide and the scope of individuals we serve. Our classes, workshops, and exhibits combine science, technology, and the humanities to give a comprehensive understanding of how they inform one another in everyday life. Our strength in off-site programming extends the impact and footprint significantly. Off-site education allows the museum to reach many more people throughout the region each year beyond those who visit our physical location. 

Adopting a new mission and leaning into outreach education to supplement traditional museum visitation, are current strengths that were at one time seen as risks. Taking risks to consistently improve our organization and better serve our audience is at the core of what we do. We experiment, we learn from successes and failures, we look to each other for inspiration and support, we explore the connections between the humanities and STEM, we listen to our audiences, we form and strengthen partnerships, and we look ahead to the future. We innovate. It’s who we are. It’s who we will continue to be.

POSITION PROFILE - PRESIDENT & CEO
The President & CEO is a skilled executive manager, with fundraising experience, a commitment to lifelong learning, and a desire to be the face of the organization. The President & CEO will have the ability to provide leadership, while working effectively with a wide range of stakeholders—always with integrity and professionalism. The President & CEO is responsible for administering the policies set by the Board, maximizing and enhancing the resources of the museum, and providing leadership for the museum’s programs, operations, and overall strategy of exploring the potential for science, technology, and the humanities to make the world a better place. Finally, this leader will need to passionately and effectively articulate the mission and activities of the Bakken with a focus on sustaining, engaging, and developing new audiences and patrons.

MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP
The President & CEO reports to the Museum’s Board of Directors. Senior staff reporting to the President & CEO are the Vice President of Finance and Administration, the Vice President of Philanthropy, the Vice President of Learning, and the Administrative Coordinator. A total of 31 staff members work at The Bakken Museum.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Vision and Strategic Development

• With the Board and in partnership with staff and the community, provide strategic direction for the organization, developing and implementing annual goals and objectives.
• With committee chairs and Board leadership, monitor and report to the Board regularly on progress using key metrics.
• Lead the Museum as a productive, smoothly functioning team by setting a clear vision for the organization.
• Set annual goals for direct reports, solve problems as they arise, provide ongoing professional development and ensure team is aligned with organizational goals.
• With senior staff, ensure that all education, exhibits, and operations projects are delivered on time, on budget and meeting The Bakken Museum’s strategic goals.

Implementing the Experiential Plan

• Oversee the implementation of the current museum Experiential Plan – a planning tool that will map the course for the museum’s exhibits over the next 5-10 years.
• Ensure all deliverables are met and that staff, community members, board members, and other stakeholders are meaningfully engaged in the Experiential Plan’s development.

Fundraising

• Work with staff and Board leadership to ensure the development and implementation of a comprehensive multi-year fundraising plan incorporating grants, corporate and foundation support, and individual giving.
• In coordination with the Advancement committee, Board, and Development staff, cultivate and foster relationships with major individual, corporate and foundation donors aligned with various fundraising campaigns—including operating, capital, and special programs.
• Provide executive leadership and possess competency in state and local advocacy on behalf of The Bakken Museum.

Management & Staff Leadership

• Provide visionary, strategic, and inspirational leadership.
• Hire, coach, and retain talented staff who share a commitment to the work of the organization. Lead with a focus on ongoing growth and professional development.
• Maintain an equitable, inclusive, collaborative, positive, authentic, and open style.

Financial Oversight

• Continue to examine ways to build a more sustainable financial model, affording less risk to the organization’s goals.
• With appropriate staff and Board, monitor and oversee the finances and financial management of the organization, including transparent budgeting, auditing, and financial reporting.
• Oversee the management of fixed assets, including building operations, exhibits and collections, and grounds.

Board of Directors Engagement

• Serve as primary stakeholder liaison to the Board. Attend all board meetings, and regularly report progress toward strategic goals.
• With Board leadership, manage the operations and functions of the Board and its Committees. Attend all appropriate meetings and ensure that staff leadership and support are provided to Committees and the Board.
• Engage in broadening relationships with organizational stakeholders and encourage the board in fundraising activity.
• Help Board in implementing and adhering to best practices for Boards of non-profits and museums.

Other Duties
Diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) are core functions of all positions at the Bakken Museum. While some roles may have more specific responsibilities, the items below are a part of all roles at the museum:

• Demonstrate a commitment to DEAI through continuous personal development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias to help cultivate and promote a culture of inclusivity and belonging for all staff. 
• Proactively work individually and collaboratively with other museum staff to ensure equitable and representative experiences for all museum visitors and program participants.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 9+ years of experience in senior positions in public-facing, community focused organizations—with museum experience or similar institutional operations work a strong preference.
• 9+ years of experience with budget management and organizational profit and loss planning. Nonprofit budget experience preferred.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills at all levels internal and external to the organization.
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise inclusive, collaborative, and positive leadership.
• Organizational skills with the ability to juggle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work with outside agencies, governments, institutions and key representatives in building relationships and partnerships.
• Passion for the mission and vision of the museum and a desire to take it to the next level in the decade ahead.

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

• Deep knowledge, strength, and experience in developing and coaching a team and inspiring staff to develop and learn.
• Ability to lead through inspiration and partnership, but also to make difficult and/or unpopular decisions when necessary.
• Ability to manage in all directions of the organizational chart (down, laterally, and up).
• Strong relationship development skills, including the ability to garner the respect of and work effectively with highly-experienced Board members, private sector funders, and community members.
• Understanding of and experience with financial management and forecasting.
• Proven high degree of integrity, ethical decision-making, and sound business judgment.

TRAVEL
Limited to metro area for occasional support of programs or museum initiatives. Occasional travel to national conferences or other similar opportunities.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The compensation includes annual salary of $135,000 - $160,000 and participation in the organization’s benefits plan.

LOCATION
Work is primarily on site. Monday-Friday schedule with some weekends and evenings necessary. There is also a scheduled work from home day (Mondays).

TO APPLY
Please email a resume and cover letter to Damon Shoholm, MA: damon@ballingerleafblad.com 

Applications will be accepted until October 14, 2024. There will be an immediate and ongoing review of candidates, so we encourage and appreciate early applications. All inquiries will remain confidential.

View the complete profile: https://www.ballingerleafblad.com/s/Position-Profile-Bakken-Museum-President-CEO-Final-cymx.pdf

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The Bakken provides equal employment opportunities for all persons regardless of age, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, marital status, familial status, sex, gender identity and/or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.