Vice President Of Museum Operations

OVERVIEW

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center proudly serves as a Smithsonian Affiliate. We not only house Smithsonians largest artifact we also curate the worlds largest assemblage of space hardware. Our roots trace back to the very dawn of space exploration and were also home to the one and only worldrenowned Space Camp.

As Vice President for Museum Operations youll enjoy a rare opportunity to lead this worldclass organization during a period of growth and investment. Youll work with the upper echelons of Aeronautics and Aerospace Industry leadership to tell the fastpaced story of technology advancement and human space exploration. Youll build a topperforming team around a core of passionate and experienced museum professionals.

Bring your experience as a leader to rally your team and craft inspiring out of this world experiences for guests. Work with your peers to expand our vision for the future of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and translate that vision into reality through excellence of .

As an ideal candidate youll be able draw on examples of your managerial acumen your datadriven decision making your effective communication skills and your ability to take highfunctioning organizations to new levels.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Museum Operations

• Lead and manage all aspects of museum operations ensuring the highest standards of visitor experience.
• Provide vision and leadership for developing new or updated exhibits improving storytelling and customer flow and envisioning new immersive interactive experiences.

• Develop and implement plans for museum growth and development aligned with the Centers overall vision mission and strategic plan.

• Build mentor and inspire a highperforming team of museum professionals fostering a culture of collaboration innovation and customer service.
• Drive datadriven decisionmaking utilizing metrics and analytics to optimize operations financial outcomes and the visitor experience.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders including the Smithsonian Institution industry leaders sponsors/donors and community partners.

• Effectively communicate the Centers mission and vision to a variety of audiences including staff visitors and the broader community.

• Champion the U.S. Space & Rocket Centers commitment to education innovation and the celebration of human space exploration.

Guest Operations

• Oversee all guest services functions ensuring a welcoming and engaging visitor experience.
• Develop and implement policies procedures and best practices to optimize service quality and operational efficiency.
• Supervise and train customer service staff including ticketing personnel museum guides and managers to ensure highperformance teams.
• Collaborate with Facilities and Exhibit Maintenance teams to ensure exhibits buildings and grounds are wellmaintained visually appealing and secure at all times.
• Work with Marketing to support admissions programs promotions and membership engagement.
• Lead volunteer and docent recruitment training and management to enhance visitor education and engagement.

Retail & Merchandise Operations

• Develop and execute strategic business plans to drive profitability and growth for gift shops and ecommerce.
• Provide leadership to the Retail General Manager ensuring strong performance in physical and online retail operations.
• Foster brand partnerships and align retail strategy with the museums overall mission.
• Maintain financial accountability oversee budgeting forecasting and cost management.
• Implement datadriven strategies to optimize sales and customer engagement.

Food & Beverage Operations

• Drive revenue growth and customer satisfaction across all food service operations including camp dining museum dining and catering.
• Develop innovative food and beverage programs to enhance quality and costeffectiveness.
• Oversee financial performance budget management and cost optimization strategies.
• Collaborate with the Food & Beverage Director to create unique dining experiences aligned with the museums brand.
• Ensure proper training and development of all food and beverage leadership and frontline staff.

Planetarium

• Provide executive oversight for the planetarium ensuring engaging educational and highquality programming.
• Develop strategic plans to enhance the planetariums role in STEM education outreach and visitor engagement.
• Oversee planetarium staff ensuring proper training and professional development.
• Work with education and marketing teams to promote planetarium shows special presentations and collaborations with industry experts.
• Ensure proper maintenance and upgrades of planetarium equipment and technology to enhance visitor experience.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
The Vice President of Museum Operations holds executivelevel supervisory responsibility overseeing multiple departments including Museum Operations Guest Services Planetarium Merchandise and Food Service. This role directly supervises senior department heads and managers ensuring alignment with strategic goals operational excellence and financial performance. The VP is responsible for fostering a culture of collaboration innovation and accountability. Ensuring the highest standards of visitor experience artifact preservation and educational programming.

Travel Requirements:
This role may require occasional travel for industry conferences professional development vendor negotiations partnership meetings and business development opportunities. Travel may also be necessary to collaborate with external stakeholders Smithsonian affiliates aerospace industry leaders and other museum professionals to advance the strategic initiatives of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Education

• Bachelors degree in business museum studies hospitality management or a related field. Graduate degree preferred.

Required Experience

• At least five 5 years of highlevel museum management experience preferably in a leadership role within a hightraffic visitor destination.
• 10 years of senior leadership experience in museum operations guest experience hospitality retail food & beverage or event management.
• Proven ability to drive operational excellence increase revenue and enhance customer experience.
• Strong financial acumen with experience in managing budgets revenue streams and cost optimization strategies.
• Exceptional leadership team development and crossfunctional collaboration skills.
• Experience managing hightraffic visitor destinations ensuring seamless operations and guest satisfaction.
• Strong strategic planning problemsolving and analytical skills to guide decisionmaking and longterm vision.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with internal teams executive leadership and external stakeholders.
• Passion for space exploration science and education is a plus.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Physical Requirements

• This role requires the ability to stand walk and move throughout the facility for extended periods as well as occasionally lift and carry up to 25 pounds for operational needs. The position may involve climbing stairs bending stooping and reaching as necessary for inspections event setup and overall operational oversight. Given the fastpaced and highenergy nature of the environment the VP must be comfortable managing multiple responsibilities while frequently interacting with staff guests and external stakeholders. The role also requires flexibility to work extended hours including evenings weekends and holidays particularly during special events and peak operational periods. Occasional travel may be necessary for industry conferences business development and professional networking.

Eligibility Qualifications

• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Environmental Factors

This role will work in a dynamic fastpaced and visitorfocused environment at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center a hightraffic museum and educational facility. The role involves a combination of office work onsite operational oversight and handson leadership across various departments including guest services retail food and beverage and special events. The VP will regularly move throughout the museum exhibits event spaces and outdoor areas to ensure seamless operations and highquality guest experience. This position requires the ability to work in both indoor and outdoor settings with exposure to varying temperatures and weather conditions particularly during special events and peak visitation periods. The role demands flexibility including evening weekend and holiday hours to accommodate the museums schedule and major events. Collaboration with internal teams executive leadership and external partners is a key aspect of the job requiring strong communication and problemsolving skills in a fastpaced guestdriven environment.

Expected Hours of Work

While standard business hours typically apply the Vice President of Guest Experience & Operations must be available to work evenings weekends and holidays as needed particularly during peak visitation periods special events and highprofile engagements. Occasional extended hours may be required to ensure seamless operations address urgent matters and support major museum initiatives.

DISCLAIMERS

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex pregnancy sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability or veteran status.

Duties and Responsibilities May Change with or Without Notice

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Required Experience:

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