Join the Team

Executive Director

About the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (MSDC) is New Hampshire's premier science museum, inspiring curiosity, discovery, and lifelong learning through interactive exhibits, educational programming, and immersive planetarium experiences. MSDC serves tens of thousands of visitors annually and operates with an annual budget of approximately $1.2 million.

As the organization looks toward its next chapter, the Board of Directors seeks an Executive Director who can strengthen the Center's financial sustainability while advancing its mission throughout New Hampshire and the broader New England region.

Position Summary

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center seeks a dynamic, relationship-driven Executive Director whose primary responsibility will be securing the financial resources necessary to advance the organization's mission and ensure its long-term sustainability.

This position is first and foremost a fundraising and revenue-generation leadership role. The successful candidate will serve as the organization's chief fundraiser, principal ambassador, and strategic leader, responsible for cultivating the relationships and resources necessary to support the Discovery Center's future growth and impact.

Candidates should demonstrate a documented track record of successfully securing major gifts, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, government funding opportunities, and individual donor contributions.

Strong preference will be given to candidates with established professional relationships and fundraising experience within New Hampshire and the broader New England region. Familiarity with New Hampshire's philanthropic, business, educational, governmental, and nonprofit communities is highly desirable.

The successful candidate must be comfortable personally identifying prospects, cultivating relationships, and directly soliciting financial support from individuals, businesses, foundations, and public-sector partners.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising & Revenue Development (65%)

The Executive Director will serve as the Discovery Center's chief fundraiser and chief development officer.

Responsibilities include:

  • Developing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy.

  • Cultivating major donors and donor prospects.

  • Soliciting individual, corporate, foundation, and government support.

  • Expanding annual giving programs and donor engagement initiatives.

  • Building corporate sponsorship partnerships.

  • Partnering with the Board of Directors on fundraising efforts and donor cultivation.

  • Identifying and pursuing grant opportunities.

  • Establishing measurable fundraising objectives and performance metrics.

  • Reporting regularly to the Board on fundraising performance, donor pipeline development, and revenue goals.

  • Building a culture in which fundraising is viewed as a year-round organizational priority.

  • Strengthening and diversifying the organization's revenue streams to ensure long-term sustainability.

Other Responsibilities (35%)

Board Relations & Strategic Leadership

  • Partner with the Board of Directors to establish strategic priorities and organizational goals.

  • Support sound governance practices and board development.

  • Assist the Board in long-term planning and institutional growth initiatives.

  • Maintain regular communication regarding financial performance, fundraising progress, and operational objectives.

  • Develop annual organizational goals, accountability measures, and performance benchmarks.

  • Help position the Discovery Center for future capital, programmatic, and strategic opportunities.

External Relations & Community Partnerships

  • Serve as the Discovery Center's principal ambassador and spokesperson.

  • Strengthen relationships with community leaders, educators, business leaders, elected officials, donors, and nonprofit partners.

  • Expand the organization's visibility and reputation throughout New Hampshire and New England.

  • Represent the Discovery Center at community, business, educational, and philanthropic events.

  • Develop partnerships that advance both the organization's mission and revenue-generating objectives.

Staff Leadership

  • Recruit, mentor, support, and retain high-performing staff.

  • Foster a collaborative, accountable, and mission-driven organizational culture.

  • Provide leadership and guidance to department managers and team members.

  • Promote professional development and organizational effectiveness.

  • Ensure that staff activities align with strategic priorities and fundraising goals.

Programs & Operations

  • Maintain excellence in exhibits, educational programming, and visitor experiences.

  • Support operational planning and financial stewardship.

  • Ensure that organizational resources are deployed effectively and responsibly.

  • Maintain alignment between mission delivery and available financial resources.

Required Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess:

  • Demonstrated success in fundraising and revenue generation.

  • A documented track record of securing major gifts, sponsorships, grants, and donor support.

  • Experience working effectively with a Board of Directors.

  • Strong financial literacy and budget management experience.

  • Outstanding interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.

  • Experience leading staff and managing organizational operations.

  • The ability to serve as the public face of an organization.

  • A commitment to the mission of science, technology, aviation, aerospace, and STEM education.

  • The confidence and experience necessary to personally solicit financial support and close fundraising opportunities.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference will be given to candidates who possess:

  • Existing relationships within New Hampshire and the broader New England region.

  • Museum, science center, educational, or nonprofit leadership experience.

  • Capital campaign planning or execution experience.

  • Experience securing major gifts and developing major donor programs.

  • Foundation grant-writing and grant-management experience.

  • Corporate sponsorship development experience.

  • A demonstrated history of successful community engagement and partnership development.

Search Process

The Search Committee is particularly interested in understanding how candidates have achieved fundraising success in prior roles.

During the interview process, finalists will be asked to discuss a specific fundraising success story, including:

  • How the opportunity was identified.

  • How the relationship was cultivated.

  • The strategy used to secure support.

  • Challenges or objections encountered.

  • How the solicitation was made.

  • The ultimate outcome and lessons learned.

Finalists will also be required to provide three professional references.

At least one reference must be capable of directly speaking to the candidate's fundraising effectiveness, including donor cultivation, relationship development, solicitation of gifts, sponsorship generation, and overall ability to secure financial support for an organization. This reference may be a donor, community leader, board member, corporate sponsor, philanthropic partner, or other individual with direct knowledge of the candidate's fundraising capabilities.

Compensation

Salary Range: $115,000 - $135,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

MSDC offers a competitive benefits package including health insurance, retirement benefits, paid time off, and an incentive compensation opportunity tied to organizational performance and fundraising success

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate will be an energetic, visible, and highly effective leader who embraces fundraising as a core responsibility, builds strong community relationships, inspires confidence among donors and stakeholders, and secures the financial resources necessary to ensure the long-term success of the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center and its mission.

How to apply

Send letter of interest, brief bio, and resume to jtgerulskis@gmail.com