JOB TITLE: Executive Director

INSTITUTION: Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History

JOB LOCATION: Kingston, NY 

INSTITUTION WEBSITE: https://www.rehercenter.org

About the Institution: 

The Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History, located in the historic Rondout neighborhood of Kingston, NY, has become a leader in the historic Hudson Valley in its efforts to broaden the interpretation of New York State, immigrant history and in reaching communities that have remained beyond the grasp of the majority of its colleague institutions. For nearly a century, two generations of the Reher family lived in and operated a bakery from the storefront, located at 101 Broadway. Residents of the surrounding Rondout neighborhood, mostly working class and immigrant, came to the bakery for bread, canned goods, gossip, and community. The space was left untouched since Hymie Reher closed his family’s business in the early 1980s.

Today, the Reher Center serves as a museum and cultural center that preserves the Reher legacy and immigrant stories of the Hudson Valley, past and present, through engaging exhibitions, education programs, and community partnerships. The Reher Center today includes historic bakery spaces, an oven room and retail shop, family apartments, administrative offices, and a climate-controlled gallery in which the Center welcomes visitors and presents exhibitions and programs. It is currently undergoing a capital project to repair its roof, which will allow the public to experience the family quarters above the bakery.

As the Reher Center enters its 20th year, the organization remains committed to researching and interpreting the impact immigration had and continues to have on the Rondout through the lens of the Reher Family who lived and worked in the historic site for over 100 years. With a commitment to expanding, digitizing, and making its collections publicly accessible, the Reher Center’s collections include the bakery, storefront, and family apartments, machinery, furniture, textiles, clothing, photographs, previously digitized primary source documents, and other ephemera. Annually, The Reher Center serves more than two thousand annual visitors through school and public programs, inclusive exhibitions in the gallery space, and interpretative tours of its historical building.

As a leading local journalist wrote, “An amazing museum located in a small storefront in the historic Rondout waterfront district...the museum acts as a catalyst for community fellowship, events, and the continuing exploration of the thousands who came to this city at the turn of the 20th Century.”

Community and Location
Kingston’s Rondout, once a bustling shipping hub in the 19th century, was home to diverse immigrant communities, including Irish, Italian, and German groups, alongside African American residents who contributed to its industrial growth. Today, the neighborhood has transformed into a vibrant residential community with historic architecture and a growing arts scene, fostering engagement through local events and initiatives that connect long-time residents and new immigrants from Latin America, Asia, and other regions.

Kingston is situated in the Hudson Valley region of New York State, a strategic location that has made it a significant transportation and trade hub throughout history. Kingston has a rich history as the first capital of New York State and is also known for its vibrant waterfront and diverse architecture. Historically, its economy was anchored in shipping and trade. Today, with a varied ethnic makeup including significant Hispanic, African American, and European communities, Kingston plays a crucial economic role in Ulster County, balancing its historical heritage with modern development and a thriving local arts scene. The city thrives on tourism, small
businesses, and a diverse community shaped by various immigrant groups and its ongoing revitalization efforts make Kingston an important economic and cultural hub in the region.

Job Description:

The Executive Director (ED) will serve as the leader of the Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History and will have the opportunity to shape the future direction of the organization. As a strategic and people-oriented executive who values community engagement and leads with a clear sense of purpose and direction, the Executive Director will be the face of the organization. The ED will build authentic relationships with the community by regularly communicating with civic leaders and public officials and developing and nurturing partnerships with community groups, and the greater Kingston nonprofit and business communities. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the ED will oversee all operations and will be an active manager and support for the staff. This individual will ensure that widely held museum and public history best practices are followed in the care and stewardship of collections. All matters related to the Center’s operations and strategic priorities, including the care and maintenance of a historic home and bakery, is also part of the position. The ED must share the Reher Center’s commitment to inclusion and community building. The new Executive Director must be committed to leading the Center into its next chapter. This is a full-time, on-site position with some weekend hours and nominal travel.

Responsibilities:
1. Leadership and Strategy

• Set a strategic vision for the organization.
• Provide leadership to advance the mission and objectives of the museum.
• Develop and implement plans for organizational growth, program expansion, and sustainability.
• Foster a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and innovation among staff, Board, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
• Leading, managing and growing a small staff on site, including the daily oversight of staff responsibilities.

• Maintain the daily operation of the institution including management of a historic building and collections.
• Manage the day to day upkeep of the site.

3. Financial Management

• Oversee the finances of the organization, including adherence to financial systems and policies on a regular basis.
• Develop, administer, and maintain an annual budget in collaboration with the Finance Committee.
• Drive fundraising efforts, including grant writing and donor cultivation.
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations and reporting requirements.

4. Program Development

• Direct the development and implementation of high-quality exhibitions and educational programs.
• Expand community outreach efforts to engage diverse audiences and enhance visitor experience.
• Maintain excellence in collections management.

5. Community Engagement and Marketing

• Serves as the primary spokesperson and advocate for the museum through public speaking engagements, media appearances, and networking opportunities.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with partners, donors, government agencies, and cultural organizations.
• Leveraging marketing channels to promote the museum’s mission, programs, initiatives and impact.

6. Governance and Board Relations

• Work closely with the Board of Trustees to fulfill the museum’s strategic goals and objectives.
• Provide regular updates and reports to the Board on organizational performance, financial health, and programmatic impact.
• Support Board development and engagement in fundraising and advocacy efforts.

Traits and Characteristics
The Executive Director will be a collaborative, people-oriented, emotionally intelligent leader who values teamwork, staff development and collaboration with others. An active member of the community, this individual will enthusiastically interact with a diverse constituency with cultural acuity to develop partnerships that support the Reher Center and enhance the community. The Executive Director will have the capacity to respond to changing priorities while maintaining focus on the organization’s goals and priorities. The ED will bring a balance of professional expertise, credibility, and interpersonal skills along with a strong capacity for self-management and the highest levels of personal accountability and integrity. Versatile and receptive to new ideas and methodologies, this individual will be an intellectually curious, innovative, and harmonious professional with a proven track record of successful leadership.

Other key competencies include:

1. Interpersonal Skills – The ability to build rapport and develop and nurture relationships with people across the organization and throughout the community, demonstrating a sincere interest in others.
2. Diplomacy – The aptitude to handle situations gracefully and with sensitivity, and communicate effectively by listening, observing, and appreciating cultural and personal perspectives.
3. Self-Starting and Personal Accountability – The capacity to prioritize and complete tasks necessary to meet or exceed the agreed-upon expectations of the role, and to assume accountability for personal actions.
4. Leadership and Teamwork – The capacity to articulate a vision and create a sense of purpose and direction for internal and external stakeholders, build trust by demonstrating respect and integrity, and create an environment where team members are appreciated and supported, enabling their success.
5. Qualifications
6. Demonstrated effective leadership experience, including strategic planning, financial management, and staff supervision within a museum, arts, educational, historical and/or cultural organization is required.
7. Bachelors (minimum) Masters (preferred) or compatible combination of education and experience.
8. Shown success in adopting and applying new methodologies essential to historic interpretation.
9. Proven success in fundraising, grant writing, and donor relations.
10. Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage and inspire diverse audiences.
11. Possess a passion for community outreach and resource development as well as knowledge of the needs, best practices, and standards of the field and the ability to generate enthusiasm, inspire others, and translate vision into workable priorities.
12. Commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in all aspects of museum operations.
13. Having knowledge of and appreciation for the Hudson Valley.

This Position is: In-Person

Position Type: Full-Time

Salary range: $75,000 to $90,000

Benefits: Paid time off, Contribution to Retirement Plan

How to Apply: Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to resume@rehercenter.org

Job Closing Date: 12/31/2024