Executive Director, Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation

FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY AND DISCOVERY FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEARCH

The Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation (FKHDF) Board has launched a national search for a new executive director (https://bit.ly/3gWHUgJ) who will help lead the organization to even greater visibility and impact in the Florida Keys community and beyond. Over the last eight years, the Florida Keys History & Discovery Center, located on the property of the Islander Resort in Islamorada, FL, has grown into a world-class museum that preserves and shares the incredible history of our Upper Keys community and explores the unique ecology of the region. In addition to permanent exhibits on subjects such as Henry Flagler’s Over-Sea Railway, Legends of the Line, First People, Indian Key circa 1840, Keys flats fishery, and Coral Reef Exploration Aquarium, the Discovery Center offers a lecture series educating the public through presentations from a variety of expert speakers. The museum also features a theater showing documentaries on topics like the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane and the building of Flagler’s Railway, as well as traveling exhibits, and the Jerry Wilkinson Research Library.
The Executive Director Reports directly to the FKHDF Board Chair and interacts extensively with the Board to achieve FKHDF policies and objectives.

Executive Director Responsibilities include:

• Responsible for planning, organization, and direction of the organization’s operations and programs and staffing.
• Develops and implements consistent inventory and cost accounting policies, procedures, and operational reporting/metrics.
• Oversees and reports on the organization’s results for the board of directors.
• Prepares accurate and timely analyses that capture and communicate fundraising results, variances, and performance trends.
• Provides leadership to and manages the efforts of site staff to ensure appropriate support of all departments.
• Supervises the development of operations-based financial modeling.
• Coordinates and leads annual budget reviews, monthly and quarterly reviews, gives periodic forecast updates and assists with audits as required by the BOD.
• Develops major systems implementations related to cost and inventory control and submits to the appropriate Committee or full Board for implementation.
• Retains a diverse, highly qualified staff and volunteers by providing career coaching, growth, and personal development for workers.
• Ensures that services and funding relationships are robust enough to meet or exceed strategic goals and objectives.

Executive Director Qualifications / Skills should include:

• Demonstrated leadership and management skills
• Ability to multi-task
• Takes initiative
• Works independently
• Creative problem-solving skills
• Skilled at Grant Writing and securing philanthropic gifts
• Comfortable with Public Speaking
• Willing to join and be active with local chambers and professional organizations
• Enthusiastic
• Dynamic
• Flexible
• Organized
• Collaborative

The ideal candidate should also have the following:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, or Management preferred
• Non-profit management experience in an operational environment or equivalent
• 5 or more years management or supervisory experience

Work hours of the Executive Director are varied. The incumbent is expected to develop a strong Volunteer program to allow the Center to be open six (6) days a week, especially on weekends, that would allow the Center to be open to the public between the hours of 9 am to 5 pm, or as determined by the Executive Director and BOD. The Executive Director position is provided generous benefits including an HSA and Vacation/Sick leave comparable to other like non-profit organizations.

Contract salary will be commensurate with experience and is negotiable, but expected to start at approximately $80,000 to $85,000 per year. Application packages should include a letter of interest, a comprehensive resume’, and references, and be sent to FKHDF Executive Search Committee Chair, Mr. Don Horton (don@icm.build). Review of applications will begin immediately and the search will remain open until selection made. The ideal start date for the new Executive Director would be November 2021.

About Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation:

The Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization registered with the State of Florida in 2013 to develop and operate the Keys History & Discovery Center. The not-for-profit organization’s board of directors is comprised of community-minded volunteers and leaders with a passion for the mission of preserving and sharing the unique history and environment of the Florida Keys, particularly that of the Upper Keys. More information can be found at www.keysdiscovery.com