Description
Job Title: Museum Director
Organization: Buttonwoods Museum
Location: Haverhill, Massachusetts
Job Type: Part-Time
Hours: 24–28 hours per week, including occasional evening and weekend meetings and events
Compensation: Up to $28/hour, commensurate with skills and experience
Start Date: October 1, 2025
Organization Overview:
The Buttonwoods Museum (founded in 1897 as the Haverhill Historical Society) is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to preserving and interpreting the rich history of Greater Haverhill. The
museum property includes three historic buildings plus modern spaces. Together, these buildings
showcase period rooms, exhibit galleries, a collection of over 25,000 artifacts, and an Essex
National Heritage Area Visitor Center. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the
museum is committed to serving the diverse Greater Haverhill community through engaging
exhibits, educational programs, and community events that connect the past to the present.
Position Overview:
Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Museum Director is a part-time leadership role
responsible for the strategic and operational management of the museum. The ideal candidate is
collaborative and passionate about local history, with a strong commitment to making the
museum a welcoming and dynamic destination.
Requirements
Key Responsibilities:
- Implement institutional policies and ensure adherence to professional museum standards.
- Work with the Board to support governance and to set clear fiscal and curatorial goals.
- Manage the museum’s budget and project budgets.
- Introduce new revenue and fundraising strategies. Secure sustainable funding to support museum operations and growth.
- Participate actively in various types of fundraising efforts.
- Supervise part-time staff members, contractors, and volunteers, including tour guides.
- Oversee the maintenance and use of museum facilities, including historic buildings.
- Develop changing exhibits that highlight local history and engage diverse audiences.
- Oversee the management of the museum’s collections.
- Develop and implement tours, programs, and school field trips.
- Foster an inclusive, welcoming environment, positioning the museum as a vibrant, ever evolving destination for the community.
- Serve as the organization’s public face at community events, with flexibility to add up to four hours per week if needed (with prior approval from the Board).
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in museum studies, history, public history, nonprofit management, or a related field (master’s preferred).
- Strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication, including speaking to groups. (Spanish language skills are a plus.)
- Strong organizational, financial, and administrative skills.
- Commitment to work occasional evening or weekend meetings or events.
How to Apply:
Please submit a cover letter and resume with the subject line: "Museum Director Application - Buttonwoods Museum". Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
