Job Listing
🔗Executive Director
Website Ellwood House Museum
The Ellwood House Museum is a historic site situated on ten acres of parkland in the heart of DeKalb, Illinois. The museum campus consists of seven historic structures, including the 1879 Ellwood Mansion and 1900 Ellcourt House, four gardens, and 6,000 square feet of exhibit space in the Patience Ellwood Towle Visitor Center, a converted and expanded 1912 multi-car garage. Originally built for barbed wire entrepreneur Isaac Ellwood, the Mansion was home to three generations of the Ellwood family from 1879 to 1965. In 1965, the Ellwood Mansion was given to the DeKalb Park District by Mrs. May Ellwood and her three children. In 2011, Mrs. Shirley Nehring donated the Ellcourt House to the non-profit Ellwood House Association, Inc. Today the Ellwood House Association and the DeKalb Park District operate the entire site as a museum.
WORK SUMMARY:
The Executive Director is responsible for advancing the organization’s mission, strategic vision, and long-term sustainability and implementing the mission and policies established by the Board of Directors. This position oversees all aspects of the museum’s operations including: strategic planning, fundraising, community engagement, collections and preservation, education and exhibits, financial management, and staff development. As the public face and primary advocate for the Ellwood House Association, the Director builds meaningful partnerships with community leaders, donors, and stakeholders to position the museum as a dynamic cultural destination.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Strategic Leadership:
- Lead the organization in executing its mission, vision, and strategic priorities as established in partnership with the Board of Directors.
- Develop and implement multi-year strategic plans, annual goals, and measurable performance outcomes.
- Provide transparent and forward-thinking leadership that fosters collaboration, accountability, and organizational growth.
- Provide both support and leadership to the Board of Directors.
- Involve Board Members in decisions that affect the future of the Association.
Financial Management & Fundraising:
- Oversee all financial activities, including budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and audit preparation in coordination with the Treasurer and Finance Committee; provide accurate and timely financial reports to the Board of Directors.
- Identify and cultivate relationships with individual donors, foundations, corporations, and government entities; sustain and deepen relationships with current members and donors.
- Pursue revenue streams through strategic partnerships, earned income, programmatic innovation, and sustained engagement with long-term donors.
- Work with the Board of Directors to meet overall fundraising goals, collaborate with staff to conceptualize, develop, and produce successful proposals for foundations and governmental grants.
Organizational Leadership & Human Resources:
- Recruit, mentor, and supervise a talented and diverse team of staff, interns, and volunteers.
- Cultivate an inclusive, mission-driven workplace culture emphasizing collaboration, professional growth, and innovation.
- Oversee compliance with employment laws, museum standards, and organizational policies.
- Review each staff member on a regular basis, and establish raises within established guidelines.
- When necessary, restructure staff positions according to budget and financial conditions or to better achieve the goals and mission of the Association.
- With the Board of Directors, work to identify and recruit community members for board service, guide new members through a thoughtful orientation process.
Community Engagement & External Relations:
- Initiate collaborative projects with community organizations to build positive awareness and fruitful relationships throughout the region.
- Build and sustain positive relationships with the City of DeKalb, the DeKalb Park District, County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and community partners, such as Northern Illinois University.
- Lead the development and implementation of comprehensive marketing and communications strategies to expand reach and the Ellwood House Museum’s brand awareness.
- Serve as the primary ambassador of the Ellwood House Museum at community events, professional conferences, and in local and regional media.
Exhibitions, Collections, Education, and Preservation:
- Create and maintain standards of excellence for all collections, exhibitions, education, and preservation of the historic structures.
- Oversee the development of exhibitions, programs, and interpretive initiatives that inspire public engagement and inclusivity.
- Support innovative approaches to interpretation, accessibility, and educational outreach.
- Set guidelines for responsible acquisition, care, storage, and exhibit of artifacts.
- Steward the preservation, restoration, and maintenance of the historic structures, ensuring compliance with preservation standards and applicable rules and regulations.
Benefits
All NCPE interns received an hourly stipend, the rate is listed at each position description. Additionally, interns receive paid time off (PTO), paid Federal holidays if working full-time, and access to NCPE's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for career and personal counseling, coaching, and referrals. Project sites may also offer a housing allowance and/or commuting stipend; this information is also listed in the description or offered during the interview.
Eligible NCPE interns who successfully complete their internships may count their position towards earning a Public Land Corps (PLC) Non-Competitive Hiring Authority certificate. To be eligible to earn a PLC certificate, an intern must be 30 years old or younger (or 35 if a veteran). Once earned, the PLC hiring authority certificate may be used to apply for eligible Federal temporary, term, or permanent positions. Successful completion of a NCPE internship does not guarantee Federal employment. Contact manager@preservenet.org for more details.
Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must be
*at least 18 years old;
*no older than 30 years of age (or 35 years if a Veteran) when beginning the internship; applicants who are 31 or older (or 36 or older if a Veteran) are not eligible;
*currently enrolled in a degree-seeking academic program at the college level (or recently graduated within the past 12 months)
*be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident.
Interns are not allowed to work more than 1200 hours total in the program; previous interns must stay within this overall limit. The length of an internship can vary from 10 to 30 weeks if full-time (40 hours per week) or longer if on a part-time schedule. If selected, the exact starting date will be determined by you and the NPS supervisor. The stipend rate is $17.00 per hour unless otherwise listed.
The successful candidate is responsible for finding and paying for travel to and housing at the internship location; some exceptions apply. The supervising office may be able to assist in locating housing but it is ultimately up to the individual accepting the internship to find accommodation.
The National Council requires all interns working in-person at Federal facilities and/or with Federal employees receive the Covid-19 vaccination. Please be advised that you may also be required to wear a mask, depending on the protocols adopted by your work site. Also be aware that, due to Government-wide security requirements, a background check will be required if you are selected for a position. This will include providing information about recent housing and employment history. The position supervisor will have more information about these requirements and procedures at the time of hiring. You may direct any questions to NCPE's Internship Program Director, Julee Johnson, at manager@preservenet.org.
Please note that interns are not NCPE or NPS employees. Stipends are academic awards and taxes are not withheld, nor are social security contributions made on your behalf. These funds may be taxable, however, so consult a tax preparation professional if you have questions.
How to Apply
You may review NCPE's internship opportunities anytime without registering. Use the search function to find listings by location, keyword, or area of interest/category. Once you identify one or more positions of interest, there is a 3-step application process.
Step 1: Click on the Apply for Job button, then select Universal Application. Click on Register to create a User Account, which requires a username and email. A link will be sent to you from manager@preservenet.org to create a password. We suggest that you add this email to your safe senders list so you don't miss receiving this important link. You will be instructed to Log In to Preservenet using your username or email and password, which will take you back to the Universal Application.
Step 2: The Universal Application is required to apply for all NCPE internships. You fill out this form only once. In addition to contact information, educational status, work history, and experience, it requires two attachments: (1) the 2 most recent years of academic transcripts. These may be unofficial transcripts if official versions are unavailable. A PDF is preferred, labeled Your Your Last Name_Your First Name_Transcript. (2) a resume or CV (curriculum vitae). Please limit to a maximum of 4 pages; 2 pages are preferred. A PDF is preferred but jpg, png, doc, or docx file types are accepted. Label Your Last Name_Your First Name_Resume. This form may be saved as a draft and completed later. Use the link provided to return to the form.
Step 3: Once you submit the Universal Application, you may browse and apply for NCPE internships using the link provided. Complete the application process by clicking on the Apply for job button found at each internship listing and upload the required Essay. Use the essay to explain why you are applying for an internship, including how your interest areas will benefit the National Park Service (NPS) and how the internship will further your studies and career goals. Be as specific as possible; there is a 400-word maximum length. Submit the essay to finish the application for that position. You may apply for a maximum of 6 internships during an application round; there is no limit at other times of the year. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!
Logging in with a Registered User Account and completing the Universal Application is required to apply for NCPE Internships. Please visit the Universal Application page to register for an account and complete the form. After logging in and completing the form, refreshing this listing will display the Job Application to apply online.