[DANK Haus German American Cultural Center] Executive Director

German American Chambers of Commerce•Chicago, IL

79d•Hybrid

About The Position

DANK Haus German American Cultural Center is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit founded in 1959, and the leading German-American Center in the Midwest. Our mission is to preserve and promote German culture, heritage, and language through a museum, art gallery, library, and language school, along with educational and social programming celebrating German heritage. We are located in a historic 77,000 sq. ft. building in Lincoln Square, one of the historically German neighborhoods of Chicago. Our vision is to engage generations of friends, neighbors, and all those interested in exploring the vibrant German American culture of our past and present, through our core values: Hospitality (Gastfreundschaft), Engagement (Austausch), and Authenticity (Authentizität). Following a period of growth, we are seeking a passionate, entrepreneurial Executive Director to lead our next phase of development, setting strategic direction with a focus on growing and diversifying revenue, and guiding financial management, human resources, and day-to-day operations in partnership with department leads, while holding ultimate accountability to the Board. To learn more about our history and core values visit https://dankhaus.com/

Requirements

Minimum of 3-5 years of senior nonprofit leadership/executive director-level experience, including revenue growth, staff management, and fundraising.
Grant writing, corporate/government funding, and Board-level communication experience preferred.
Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business, finance, operations, or related field, or equivalent experience required.
Master's degree and fundraising- or project management-related certification preferred.
Strong business/financial acumen, leadership, negotiation, and communication skills, with a track record of financial growth, process improvement and change management.
Strategic thinker, self-motivated, hands-on, and comfortable leading through transition.
Bilingual English/German preferred; able to work occasional evenings/weekends, and legally authorized to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

Grant writing, corporate/government funding, and Board-level communication experience preferred.
Master's degree and fundraising- or project management-related certification preferred.
Bilingual English/German preferred

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary public spokesperson for the organization, initiating and fostering relationships within the German-American and wider community in Chicago and beyond.
Represent and communicate DANK’s mission, vision, and strategic goals.
Set organizational strategy in partnership with the Board and monitor & evaluate the organization’s overall performance and impact against that strategy.
Make data-driven decisions to improve the organization’s effectiveness, drawing on input from all departments.
Engage frequently with DANK’s Skyline Cycle members & the broader community, including growing & fostering new members.
Serve as DANK Haus’s chief fundraiser and the lead driver of organizational revenue growth and new opportunities.
Set strategy to grow and diversify revenue across DANK Haus’s core lines of business — including facility rentals and events, the Language School, and philanthropic giving — while delegating day-to-day sales and administration to department leads.
Personally cultivate, solicit, and close major gifts, grants, sponsorships, and corporate partnerships.
Set the strategic direction and guidance for DANK Haus’s budgeting, financial planning, and resource allocation, aligning priorities across department leads.
Review and hold department leads accountable for their budgets and ensure the organization's overall financial sustainability, in partnership with the Board.
Own HR strategy, organizational structure, and culture; delegate day-to-day supervision of staff and volunteers to department leads.
Set staffing plans with the Board, and approve key hiring, compensation, and performance decisions.
Foster a positive, inclusive, and accountable organizational culture.
Partner with the Board on strategic priorities and policies.
Provide regular updates on organizational health and progress, including risks and mitigation strategies.
Support Board recruitment, development, and meetings.
Maintain ultimate accountability for performance and legal/regulatory/ethical compliance; ensure every department has the clarity, resources, and support to execute DANK's strategic priorities.
Set the strategic vision for Language School and Cultural Programming with Language School Director and Museum Director on strategy implementation, & financial metrics.