VP of Mission Advancement & Infrastructure

Science Museum of Minnesota•St. Paul, MN

About The Position

This role serves as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, acting as a strategic partner to the CEO and other senior leaders. The VP will advise on business and strategic planning, aligning the organization's direction with its mission, vision, and goals to enhance stature, competitive advantage, and long-term sustainability. This position involves working closely with the CEO and the Board of Trustees, including serving as staff liaison to board committees, driving recruitment of engaged board members, and fostering a culture of philanthropy. The role also oversees development, membership programs, fundraising operations, events, government relations, strategic partnerships, communications, and sponsorship programs. A significant aspect is managing infrastructure oversight for Facilities and Human Resources, ensuring efficiency, innovation, and strategic alignment with the museum's mission and objectives. The VP will also lead efforts to build and engage a diverse and inclusive workplace, supporting the organization's commitment to Equity and Inclusion.

Requirements

Experience in strategic planning and business development.
Experience in fundraising and revenue generation, including government relations, sponsorship, and contributed revenue.
Experience in board relations and governance.
Experience in managing development, membership programs, and events.
Experience in strategic partnerships and communications.
Experience in financial oversight and operational management.
Experience in leading Facilities and Human Resources functions.
Proven ability to build and engage diverse and inclusive teams and workplaces.
Strong understanding of philanthropic, economic, social, and community trends.
Experience in cultivating and soliciting major and planned gifts.
Excellent representation and communication skills to engage with diverse constituencies.
Demonstrated ability to align HR programs with organizational mission and strategic objectives.

Responsibilities

Serve as a member of the Senior Leadership Team and act as a strategic thought partner to the CEO and other senior leaders.
Advise on business and strategic planning, aligning strategic direction with the organization’s mission, vision, and goals.
Serve as the staff liaison to the Mission Advancement and Governance and Nominating Committees of the Board of Trustees.
Work closely with executive volunteers to recruit new board members around specific competencies.
Build overall board engagement in the support of fundraising and revenue growth.
Ensure the type and role of the board in support of SMM’s success.
Drive the recruitment and retention of highly engaged Board of Trustee members to support fundraising goals.
Provide visionary leadership, support, coaching, and development for development, membership programs, fundraising/membership operations, events, government relations, strategic partnerships, communications, and sponsorship programs.
Provide strategic vision and direction for a comprehensive and robust fund development program.
Stay abreast of and inform Museum leadership of philanthropic, economic, social, and community trends.
Develop annual fundraising, membership, sponsorship, and overall contributed revenue plans and goals with multi-year forecasts.
Build an internal culture of philanthropy and related elements of the brand strategy.
Provide leadership for execution of all contributed revenue, government appropriations, and sponsorship programs.
Personally complete solicitations from a portfolio of key major and planned gift prospects.
Ensure the CEO, other senior and programmatic staff leaders, and the Board of Trustees are fully prepared and utilized effectively in cultivation and solicitation of major prospects.
Represent SMM to a broad range of constituencies.
Design and implement strategies to build and engage a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Fully support the activation of SMM’s statement on Equity and Inclusion and related annual goals.
Provide strategic, financial, and operational oversight to the Facilities and Human Resources functions.
Ensure the organization is leveraging Facilities for efficiency and innovation while adhering to budget parameters.
Strategically align Human Resources programs and priorities to support the Museum’s mission and strategic objectives.
Develop strategies to provide a strong employee culture.
Performs other related duties as assigned.