Chief Executive Officer

Job content

Career Brief

The Galt Museum & Archives Board of Directors is currently seeking an experienced CEO/Executive Director in a permanent capacity to lead, develop, and manage the Galt Museum & Archives and Fort Whoop-Up; and spearhead a capital campaign for the re-development of its signature permanent collection exhibition space - Discovery Hall. This is an excellent opportunity for an individual who is seeking to expand their professional leadership skills. The institution offers an exciting calendar of community and school programs, experiences, special events and professionally curated exhibitions along with exceptional archival and community material culture collections.

The Opportunity

Working with the Board of Directors of the Galt Museum & Archives and the Friends of the Sir Alexander Galt Museum you will lead south-western Alberta’s premiere heritage and cultural resource through a capital campaign to re-develop Discovery Hall, enact the organizations mandate, vision, and mission while upholding its values with the communities that the institution serves. With a focus on stories and storytelling your leadership will focus on obtaining human and financial resources that enable the organization to fulfill its mandate and current strategic plan. You are also committed to Calls to Action put forward by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Key Responsibilities

The Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director is responsible for and has the commensurate authority to accomplish these major responsibilities:

Service Delivery

• Oversees quality delivery of all programs, products, and services.
• Ensures the quality of public experiences by our visitors in all service areas of the museum and fort.
• Increases patron, volunteer, and community support for, and understanding of, the purpose,
• goals and objectives of the organization.
• Thinks strategically about the museum and fort; works with the board and staff to fulfill strategic and annual work plans.
• Evaluates and plans for continuous improvement in the organization.
• Monitors museum trends and manages change nimbly.
• Plans for new services, using innovation, creativity and experimentation.
• Develops operational policies and procedures.
• Directs the maintenance, display and general welfare of the collection in accordance with the highest professional and ethical standards.
• Works with City departments and contractors to ensure maximum use and enjoyment of the facility and grounds by the citizens of and visitors to Lethbridge.

Community Relations

• Represents the organization throughout the community and across professional networks.
• Advocates for the relevance of the organization with stakeholders and community members.
• Lead and support institutional accessibility, diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Represent the institution on City of Lethbridge and community committees.

Financial, Risk, Resource and Facility Management

• Leads capital campaign initiatives and supports fund-development program.
• Explores initiatives that impact the organizations future viability and capacity.
• Manages internal and external financial resources effectively to achieve organizational goals.
• Recommends budget to the Board for approval and prudently manages the organization’s resources within budget guidelines.
• Ensures timely financial reporting to all stakeholders.
• Liaises with City of Lethbridge departments and contractors to ensure timely maintenance and improvement of the facility and grounds.
• Works with City of Lethbridge departments around shared systems such as: Finance, People and Partner Services (including union and labour relations), Risk Management, Facility Services, and Information Technology.

Candidate Professional Profile

• Three to five years’ experience as a CEO, Executive Director, and/or Director at a Museum (history, art, culture), Art Gallery and/or Cultural Centre.
• Masters’ Degree in a relevant discipline such as History, Sociology, Art History and/or Museum Studies.
• Management of multi-million dollar operational and capital budgets.
• Have led a multi-million-dollar capital campaign project.
• Proven fund development experience (grants, foundations, individual and corporate).
• Demonstrated experience in:
• Financial management, fund development, strategic planning, marketing, public/community relations and team supervision.
• Fulfilment and development of strategic and operational work plans.
• Effective inter-personal communication skills with internal and external stakeholders.
• Human resource development including recruitment, evaluation, coaching/advancement within a team-orientated environment.
• Maintain and expand relationships with Indigenous and under-represented community groups.
• Commitment to institutional accessibility, diversity, and inclusion.

Organizational Profile

The Galt Museum & Archives is recognized and respected among Canada’s museums and has a growing national profile, that is committed to international museum standards. The Galt preserves and shares south-western Alberta history, culture and human experience and creativity through:

• Permanent and rotating special exhibits, special events, programs and experiences at the Galt Museum & Archives and Fort Whoop-Up Interpretive Centre.
• Preserving collections of approximately 20,000 artifacts and one million
• documents, photographs, and other media.
• Providing curriculum studies and community programming annually to over 20,000 learners.
• Offering visitors a comprehensive selection of publications and other unique local products through our retail outlets

Our Foundational Focus:

Vision: As the heart of our community, our dynamic energy is the spark for curiosity, compassion, and connection.

Mission: Our community-centred approach and our commitment to reflecting the world around us deepen the sense of belonging for our communities.

Mandate: To provide a non-profit, educational, community service for the City of Lethbridge and surrounding district by preserving artifacts and information regardless of physical form which are of enduring value to the interpretation of human history of Lethbridge and Southern Alberta, by making them available through display, research, and other like enterprises.

Values: Working with our communities, we steward and share stories.

We believe trust is at the foundation of strong, positive relationships, with each other

and with our communities.

We work in service of our communities, listening and being accountable for our actions.

We approach our work with courage, embracing innovation and adaptability.

We continually work toward sustainability and holistically consider our practices from cultural, health, financial, environmental, and social perspectives.

The institution is committed to the following impact statements:

Redefining Museum

Meaning is created from challenging our traditional ways of working.

APPROACH: Be leaders in the museum sector and community in challenging traditional ways of working and in establishing museum practices that responsibly serve communities and steward and share collections and stories outside of colonial frameworks and systems that create barriers for the people we serve.

Reconciliation

Actively standing in reconciliation, truth is heard and acknowledged, and respectful and healthy relationships are nurtured.

APPROACH: Strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities to build partnerships, expand on representation of Indigenous history guided by Indigenous voices and leadership, and continue efforts in reconciliation and decolonization of museum practices.

Gathering Place

A beautiful, safe and comfortable space where everyone feels welcome.

APPROACH: Raise awareness of the Galt as the heart of the City of Lethbridge, a gathering place for visitors and community members, and a space for mutually beneficial and authentic connection.

Platform for Inclusion

Diverse voices are elevated.

APPROACH: Build understanding, conversation, and connections between people across differences by fostering safe spaces and amplifying new stories and voices.

We proudly acknowledge that we are located at the heart of Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot) Territory, home of Kainai, Piikani, Siksika and Amskapi Piikani (Montana, USA) First Nations. Lethbridge is also located within the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. The City of Lethbridge recognizes the diversity of our community and is working to ensure programs, services, facilities, and employment opportunities are inclusive to all people.

The institution is governed by a Board of Directors

• Board members are appointed by the City of Lethbridge as a special purpose committee under Bylaw 4740.
• The Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director reports to that Board of Directors, through the Board Chair.

The City of Lethbridge offers an attractive salary range commensurate with experience, starting at $91,123.50; as well as a comprehensive, flexible benefits package, and development opportunities.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit their resume with cover letter, online at: www.lethbridge.ca/careers

Closing date: Friday, December 1, 2023, at 11:59 p.m.

For further information on this employment opportunity, please contact

Devon Smither, PhD

Board Chair

Associate Dean, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Lethbridge

Associate Professor, Art History/Museum Studies

English Reviews Editor, RACAR: Revue d’art Canadienne / Canadian Art Review

403-329-2344

devon.smither@uleth.ca

Rhonda Friesen

Senior Business Partner

City of Lethbridge

People & Partner Services Division

403-320-3923

rhonda.friesen@lethbridge.ca