The International African American Museum seeks a dynamic, entrepreneurial Chief Executive Officer to build and lead our new museum. The museum will be located at the site of the former Gadsden’s Wharf, a major center of the Atlantic slave trade in Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston is where nearly half of enslaved Africans brought to the North America mainland took their first steps. Here, we will tell their often untold stories of resilience, courage and creativity, while situating them within the framework of South Carolina, the nation and the larger African diaspora. These objectives will be achieved through compelling exhibits and educational programming; a preeminent genealogical research center; and an African Ancestors Memorial Garden. In doing so, this important new institution will enliven the ideal of equality among all people. This position offers a unique opportunity to lead the organization at an exciting time. All funds needed to construct the museum have been raised—over $100 million—which includes funding from the City and County of Charleston, the state of South Carolina and many corporate and individual donors. A $7 million endowment is in place with the goal of increasing the corpus to $15 million before the museum opens. The museum is under construction and is scheduled to open in 2021.
The ideal candidate will have at least ten years of leadership experience; excellent managerial and team building experience; strategic planning skills; proven ability to cultivate, solicit and steward large gifts; and the ability to tell the museum’s powerful story to our diverse community of stakeholders in Charleston and around the country.
All inquiries, nominations and applications may be directed in strict confidence to IAAMCEOSearch@iaamuseum.org. Applications will not be accepted unless submitted in compliance with the guidelines in this position description. More information about the International African American Museum can be found on the museum’s website: IAAMuseum.org.
