Chief Executive Officer

The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center (“IHMEC”) is a leading international institution dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Holocaust by honoring the memories of those who were lost and by teaching universal lessons that combat hatred, prejudice and indifference.  IHMEC has grown into the third largest Holocaust Museum in the world and the second largest in the United States, with more than 40 full time employees, nearly 70 members on its board of directors and board of trustees, and more than 400 volunteers who play a key role in the IHMEC experience.

In addition to its stunning physical collections, the Museum provides a first-of-its-kind virtual reality exhibition, engaging visitors on a virtual reality journey as they travel through concentration camps with Holocaust Survivors who experienced them.  Vanguard technology is further employed, as high-definition 3-D holographic interview recordings paired with voice recognition technology enable Survivors to tell their deeply moving personal stories and then respond to real-time questions from the audience.

Passion for the Mission. The IHMEC seeks a CEO who is a proven leader and who is passionate about the mission to “Remember the Past; Transform the Future.” The next CEO must be knowledgeable and be able to articulate IHMEC’s mission credibly to a diverse set of stakeholders, internally and externally.

Vision and Strategic Planning Skills. Candidates will possess the strategic, leadership and emotional intelligence skills necessary to build a shared consensus around a compelling and inspired vision as well as mobilizing the organization in its achievement.

Strong External Relations & Communications Skills. Candidates will be strong public speakers, charismatic and engaging, capable of building upon the  effective community outreach programs that currently exist and representing the “face” of the institution.

Ability to Nurture Positive Internal Culture & Develop People. Experience with nurturing a culture of collaboration, mutual respect, innovation and continuous improvement among staff is critical. A proven track record of successful strategies to identify, recruit and retain talent is essential, as is an appreciation for intellectual and creative talent.

Business and Financial Acumen. Candidates will possess strong leadership and management skills and utilize sound business principles. Experience managing a similar or greater sized budget with a track record of strong fiscal understanding and responsibility is critical.

Creativity.  Candidates will have experience initiating, as well as overseeing, the development and implementation of innovative projects and programs, as the successful candidate will bring ambition for the institution and will encourage and recognize “outside the box” thinking.

Fundraising.  Candidates will have success leading fund raising campaigns, with a proven track record and a hands-on role with significant asks and measurable results.

Board Relations and Engagement. Track record of close working relationships with boards of directors, boards of trustees and other volunteer leadership in a collaborative fashion.

Minimum Qualifications. A bachelor’s degree from a four-year accredited college or university is required; an advanced degree in management or in a field of study related to IHMEC’s work would be beneficial. Candidates will have 10 or more years either managing a similar or larger-sized institution or acting in the capacity of a second in command of a much larger entity.

Compensation will include a base salary, incentive bonus and benefits competitive with non-profit institutions of the similar size and scope, taking into consideration the successful candidate’s unique skills, accomplishments, experience and expected immediate and long-term impact to IHMEC. This position will be based in Skokie, Illinois (suburban Chicago). For more information about the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, please visit https://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org/

To apply, please submit a current resume and letter of introduction to Kittleman & Associates, LLC at https://bit.ly/3RqV85v (click on the Apply button at the bottom of the page).