Director Position at the Santa Fe Trail Center, Larned Kansas



The Santa Fe Trail Center Museum, operated by the Fort Larned Historical Society, tells the story of the Santa Fe Trail from the trade perspective with interpretive and interactive exhibits. It is also the official repository of historic Pawnee County records. The museum has an extensive collection, including prehistoric American Indian artifacts, trade items from the trail, antique furniture, agricultural equipment, vintage automobiles, tools, and more. The director will ensure the organization’s financial future through fundraising and aiding in the creation of fundraising initiatives. Duties also include directing curation and exhibits as well as museum operations and personnel. The director will identify, recruit, train, and supervise people who are willing to serve as volunteers or employees of the museum and will provide the expertise necessary to develop programs and exhibits that encourage visitor and community engagement.

Ideal Candidate Requirements

* Master's degree in Museum Studies, or at least five years of related relevant experience.

* A leader who will be a public face for the museum, and cultivate relationships in the community.

* Proven experience in fundraising, with a track record of successfully securing donations and sponsorships.

* Strong business acumen, able to effectively manage operations and drive financial stability.

* Experience with boards, volunteer recruitment, and staff management

* Creative thinking and ability to develop programs that enhance visitor engagement.

* Ability to build and maintain a robust volunteer base, encouraging engagement and support.

* Be a collaborative and respectful team member with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

* Knowledge of artifact preservation techniques.

Responsibilities

*Assist the Board in long-range strategic planning and implementation of those plans.

*Actively pursue funding options such as grants, donations, bequests, and other resources.

*Assist the board with annual budget development.

*Prepare monthly reports to the board regarding personnel, operations, programs and ongoing projects.

*Maintain and improve standards for collections, exhibitions, and educational efforts at the museum.

*Create promotional literature and make public appearances on behalf of the Trail Center.

*Work with the promotional committee to implement marketing as well as social media management.

*Develop and maintain relationships with members and donors.

* Develop with the board long-term fundraising strategies.

*Participate in board meetings.

*Maintain, formulate, and promote a yearly calendar of events and programs in tandem with the board and its committees.

*Maintain a professional appearance and demeanor to represent the museum.

*Working in tandem with the buildings and grounds committee on the maintenance and preservation of the museum property and its historic structures.

*Evaluate and work to assure exhibits are updated and reflect our mission to preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting Santa Fe Trail and Pawnee County history.

*Oversee exhibitions to attract audiences, donors, and sponsors to the Trail Center.

Salary: $40,000 - $45,000

To apply, please send resume and cover letter to: director@santafetrailcenter.org

From the American Alliance of Museums:

To highlight and celebrate the vital role that museum workers play in building thriving museums, strong communities, and a better world, the AAM Board of Directors is pleased to present the Nancy Hanks Memorial Awards for Rising Stars to recognize museum professionals with ten years or less of experience who are making an impact in their institutions, communities, and the museum field. Multiple individuals may be recognized in a given year.

Awards recognize a specific achievement or body of work that has benefited the honoree’s home institution, community, or the broader museum field. Honorees’ work may be in any area of museum operations (administration, collections management, community engagement, curation, development, education, equity and culture, exhibitions, human resources, leadership and management, marketing and communications, public relations, research and evaluation, registration, security, technology, etc.) or any area impacting the museum field. Recent award winners have been recognized for creating impactful new programs or policies within their museums, harnessing social media to excite and engage audiences, significantly growing their institutions’ membership programs, designing innovative learning environments, and transforming their museums into vibrant community hubs.

Contact aamnominate@aam-us.org with questions.

About Nancy Hanks

Nancy Hanks (1927-1983) was the second person and first woman to chair the National Endowment for the Arts. Dubbed the “mother of a million artists,” Hanks grew annual federal financial support for the agency from $16 million to more than $100 million in her eight-year tenure at NEA. She was known for her inspirational and visionary leadership, her unwavering belief in the power of the arts and humanities to transform society, and her support for young professionals in the cultural arena. Tragically, Hanks died of cancer when she was just 55 years old. The AAM Board of Directors established the Nancy Hanks Memorial Award in 1985 to commemorate Hanks’s lifelong support of cultural endeavors among emerging professionals.

Eligibility

• Nominee should have ten years or less of experience in the museum field at the time of submission (January 2024)
• Nominee must be active in the museum field through current employment, volunteer service, and/or enrollment in an academic museum program.
• Nominee may be from or based in any country but must demonstrate contributions to US museum(s) and/or the US museum field.
• Self-nominations are accepted.

Timeline & Additional Information

Nancy Hanks Award Application

Submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. PST on December 6, 2024 for consideration. An official announcement of the honorees will be made in May 2025. Honorees will receive a complimentary, nontransferable registration to attend the 2025 AAM Annual Meeting, though attendance at the conference is not required.

Read about all 2024 AAM honorees.

Past Recipients