Public Garden Career Center - View Job

Organizational Overview:

Cheekwood  Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art is located on 55-acres in Nashville, Tennessee, and is considered one of the finest examples of an American Country Place Era Estate in the United States. Designed by Bryant Fleming for the Cheek Family who amassed their fortune through the Maxwell House Coffee business, Cheekwood was built between 1929 and 1932.  The estate was opened to the public as a garden and art museum in 1960 and currently operates with an annual budget of $6 million and over 100 full and part-time staff members. A Fodor’s Destination of Choice, Cheekwood welcomes over 200,000 visitors from around the world annually and has 11,000 member families.

Named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 for its 30,000 square-foot Georgian Mansion and original boxwood gardens, Cheekwood boasts 10 additional distinct gardens, numerous botanical collections and a Tennessee Level IV Arboretum.  Cheekwood is also an accredited art museum with strengths in American painting, works on paper, photographs, and decorative arts.  The Carell Woodland Sculpture Trail showcases an outstanding collection of outdoor sculpture by internationally acclaimed artists along a natural hiking trail. 

MISSION:

Preserve Cheekwood as an historical landmark where beauty and excellence in art and horticulture stimulate the mind and nurture the spirit.

VISION:

Cheekwood will be a nationally recognized destination renowned for its distinctive beauty, historical significance and excellence in art and horticulture.

VALUES:

• Celebration of BEAUTY that nurtures the spirit
• Historical PRESERVATION that pays tribute to the past
• EDUCATION that stimulates the mind
• FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY in stewarding our resources
• CREATIVITY that ensures we are dynamic and innovative
• COLLABORATION that embraces our community
• EXCELLENCE as our standard of operation in all areas

Position Description:

Reporting to the President/CEO the Deputy Director of External Affairs will be one of five members of the President’s Leadership Team and will serve as a key participant in strategic decision making. This position is responsible for all areas of the institution that provide earned and contributed revenue including  fundraising and development, marketing, education and public programs, and sales.  The Deputy Director of External Affairs serves as the second most senior position in the institution and may as directed, act on behalf of the President.

Responsibilities:

The Deputy Director of External Affairs is responsible for all fundraising and development activities including the planning, direction and implementation of programs to realize financials goals for annual giving, major gifts, planned gifts, corporate sponsorship, foundation and government grants and membership. This position will also have direct responsibility for identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding a personal portfolio of major donors, and will work closely with high-level volunteers including the Board of Trustees as well as staff in directing their involvement in fundraising.

The Deputy Director of  External Affairs will lead and manage the institution’s Vice Presidents and Directors responsible Marketing and Communications, Education and Public Programs, Rental/Food Services and Retail Sales to achieve annual financial goals. This position will mentor and develop staff using an integrated collaborative approach, developing goals, setting objectives, assigning accountabilities, and monitoring performance to ensure that specific initiatives outlined in the institution’s strategic plan are being implemented in a timely, effective, and budget conscious manner, and that annual revenue goals are being achieved.

Marketing and Communications:

Oversee the development and implementation of an integrated strategic marketing  and public relations plan to broaden awareness and visibility of Cheekwood’s programs and priorities; drive admissions, membership and philanthropic giving; and advance the institution’s new brand identity and vision for national renown. This includes overseeing the creation of a new graphic identity to encompass all collateral, signage, print, broadcast, outdoor and social media as well as website and new media.

Education and Public Programs:

Oversee the development and implementation of educational programs and activities to educate key audiences including children, students, youth, and adults on art, horticulture and history relevant to the institution; and enhance and create new public programs and activities for audience development that will generate increased gate admissions and community outreach.  This will include directing the launch of a music-oriented initiative that will embrace and integrate Nashville’s Music City brand within Cheekwood’s extensive programming.

Sales: Rental/Food Services and Retail:

Oversee the development and implementation of a business plan designed to aggressively increase and enhance rental sales and profitability of the operation and position Cheekwood as the #1 rental location for high quality events in Nashville.  Monitor and seek new opportunities to improve food services, both catering and restaurant, to maximize revenue and enhance Cheekwood’s image as a food provider.  Provide guidance and direction in the operation and growth of retail sales at Cheekwood. 

In partnership with the President/CEO the Deputy Director of External Affairs will be responsible for researching, leading, directing and overseeing the development of new business opportunities to generate additional revenue stream(s) for Cheekwood within 18 months of hire.

Educational/Experience Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree, Master’s preferred.    A minimum of 10 years experience in non-profit fundraising with a proven track record of successfully managing a development team and personally cultivating and securing major gifts.  Familiarity with the Nashville philanthropic community is desirable. Past experience should include responsibility in marketing communications, public programming, and rental/food/retail sales related to a museum, botanical garden or similar institution. 

We offer competitive compensation package and the opportunity to work in an exceptionally beautiful setting in a dynamic and growing city.  Successful candidates subject to background check. Send resume, letter of interest, and names of three references to Penny Bruckse, Vice President of Human Resources, Cheekwood, 1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville, TN  37205 or email Pbruckse@cheekwood.org  EOE