Employment Opportunities

Executive Director

Our Opportunity

This is an extraordinary opportunity to lead a growing organization into its next phase as the official philanthropic partner of Chicago’s first national park.  You will play an integral role in driving Historic Pullman Foundation’s (HPF) mission to preserve and protect the cultural heritage at Pullman National Historical Park and to amplify its uniquely American stories for current and future generations.

We seek a passionate, multifaceted leader who will ensure our financial health, strong staff and operational effectiveness, and strong relationships with people to build support for the national park and advance its potential as one of Chicago’s top visitor destinations.  

Reporting to the Board of Directors and collaborating with the Superintendent of PNHP, you will undertake long- and short-range planning and implementation to raise funds, develop policy, and promote the park in our community, our region and across the nation. You will manage employees, contractors, consultants and volunteers; build strong strategic partnerships and optimize our buildings and collections in support of our mission. 

The position is full-time and located in Chicago’s historic Pullman community.  The salary range is $100,000 to $125,000 commensurate with experience.

Who We Are

Since 1973, Historic Pullman Foundation has preserved Pullman’s architecture, stories and artifacts, and educated the public on Pullman’s place in American history.In 2020, we becamethe official friends group of Pullman National Monument, now PNHP. The Pullman story is an American one, steeped in the resiliency and ingenuity of its people and its built landscape. Its history is built on industrial innovation and social movements that have shaped this nation. HPFis committed to telling the stories of Pullman’s past – of rail and manufacturing innovation, immigration, labor rights, civil rights, urban planning and preservation – with the aim that every time someone visits, they will see America’s stories, including their own, in Pullman. 

Essential Functions

Strategy and Asset Development – 60% 

• Drive the realization of our 5-Year Strategic Plan  
• Develop and sustain key relationships and collaborate with PNHP, donors, foundations, elected officials, civic leaders, community members, and partner organizations to continue the growth of PNHP
• Inspire a culture of fundraising among our staff and board members
• Increase our revenue from donors and membership to realize our strategic goals
• Facilitate our annual work planning process 
• Collaborate closely with the Board of Directors, keeping them informed, supporting policy decisions, and facilitating their involvement in HPF’s work and fundraising 
• Collaborate with the Development Committee to develop and achieve ambitious fundraising plans that include corporate, foundation, and government grants, individual and major gifts; track performance and report to board
• Oversee and ensure the success of all earned revenue sources

Operations and Organizational Management – 25%

• Lead staff to fulfill our strategic goals and mission
• Nurture a congenial atmosphere and culture of equity and excellence in recruiting, mentoring, and advancing staff and volunteers
• Oversee development and implementation of programs that align with our mission, such as educational initiatives, volunteer activities, and park improvement projects
• Develop innovative approaches to quality programming that expand audiences and visitors to Pullman
• Lead the staff and board in developing HPF’s yearly budget
• Co-create Annual Work Plan with PNHP and manage HPF performance to the plan goals 
• Partner with treasurer and outsourced accountants to produce financial records and prepare for external audit.  Maintain all government filing requirements
• Adhere to sound business practices; and comply with legal standards 
• Direct maintenance and safe operation of our buildings, grounds, and equipment
• Oversee execution of projects and manage grants to ensure projects are completed and reporting submitted
• Ensure items owned or donated to HPF are appropriately reviewed, accessioned, conserved, preserved, and cataloged

External Relations and Advocacy – 15%

• Act as a spokesperson, representing HPF at community events, advocating for our mission and the park, and managing our public image 
• Participate in key associations and organizations, serve on committees and advisory groups, and speak in public settings, as appropriate
• Advocate to increase PNHP budget, staff, and project funding with the federal, state, and city governments 
• Oversee development of our annual communications plan and all marketing materials 
• Use external presence and relationships to garner new opportunities

Core Competencies

To excel in the role, the Executive Director needs a passion for Pullman, America’s national parks, and historic preservation as well as the following set of competencies:

Leadership

• Ability to define vision, set goals, and guide HPF toward achieving our mission
• Strong development experience and hands-on knowledge of managing fundraising programs
• Experience in building and supporting a board transitioning from a working board to a governance and fiduciary board
• Ability to lead, motivate, and develop staff and volunteers in a collaborative environment
• Skill in mobilizing partners toward a common goal
• Experience structuring and running complex and changing program and policy initiatives
• Flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances and recommend innovative solutions
• Commitment to our core values of:
  • Commitment (passion and dedication to excellence for our work and mission) 
  • Inclusion (diversity of background, culture, skills, and thought)
  • Honor (accountability to each other, partners, members, and mission)
  • Innovation (embracing all ideas and thoughts toward new solutions)

Asset Development

• Experienced and skilled at identifying, cultivating, and engaging donors at all giving levels, including individuals and foundations
• Proven experience building strong and authentic relationships externally that contribute to positive organization/program outcomes
• Skilled at attracting and strategically activating volunteers

Administration

• Experienced at identifying organizational priorities and re-prioritizing as warranted
• Strength in developing program benchmarks before launching an initiative and capturing stories and metrics to report on progress/impact
• Expert in managing finances and ensuring an organization’s financial health: developing balanced budgets, tracking expenses, and being accountable to grant/donor deliverables
• Ability to identify and nurture needed talent; provide effective direction and coaching
• Commitment to inclusion in managing an organization and collaborating with communities
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize, delegate, hold others accountable, and allocate resources

Qualifications and Personal Attributes

• Bachelor’s degree, with at least 3-5 years of senior leadership experience in non-profit, government, cultural institutions or related settings
• Confident in your leadership abilities 
• Strong active listening skills, timely follow-up and accountability
• Works quickly without sacrificing quality or collaboration
• Comes prepared to all meetings and responds to requests in a timely manner
• Clear and concise when communicating in writing and speaking 
• Curious and eager to learn
• Caring, committed, and empathetic – passionate about preserving history
• Strong ethics, sound judgment, good sense of humor

Other Skills and Expectations

• Strong skills in G Suite, Microsoft, PastPerfect, DonorPerfect, QuickBooks
• Ability to travel, work evenings, weekends and holidays (as needed) while adhering to, at a minimum, the core hours of HPF as defined in our Wage and Hours Policy

Work Environment, Salary, and Benefits

This is an executive-level position that is classified as exempt under the FLSA. The successful candidate will report directly to our board president and partner with the board’s executive committee on organization strategy and implementation.

Salary range is $100,000-125,000 plus benefits (e.g., healthcare) stipend

Benefits include:

• Starting paid time off (PTO) of 2 weeks
• 11 Paid Holidays

Search and Application Process

The search process will remain open until the position is filled. Applications will be considered as they are received. Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter that speaks to the core competencies above and resume to careers@pullmanil.org. Please put only your first and last name in the subject line.

This job description is intended to indicate the general nature of work performed by the Executive Director rather than a comprehensive inventory of all expected duties and qualifications. HPF is an equal opportunity employer. HPF evaluates applicants based on qualifications, merit, and work-related criteria without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by law. All offers of employment are subject to and contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.