Pillar Search & HR Consulting, a nonprofit-focused, woman-owned recruiting firm based in Boston, is proud to partner with the board of the Schooner Adventure in Gloucester, MA on the search for their new Executive Director.

About Schooner Adventure:

Schooner Adventure (d.b.a. The Gloucester Adventure) is a 501(c)(3) maritime historic preservation and educational organization. They are the proud stewards of the 1926 Schooner Adventure, one of the last surviving Grand Banks dory-fishing schooners. When Adventure was built in 1926 in the salt marshes of Essex, MA, no one thought that she would survive into the next century. Indeed, only a handful of the more than 4,000 wooden schooners built in Essex exist today.

Adventure is a national treasure that has, following an extensive, two decade-long, nearly $6 million restoration to ensure her preservation, resumed active sailing as an icon of the American fisheries and as a floating classroom for maritime history and environmental education programs. Adventure is operated at sea, primarily along the New England coast, as a living monument to Massachusetts’ fishing heritage. As such, Adventure is important not only to Gloucester, but also to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and all of America. In 1994 Adventure was awarded National Historic Landmark status in recognition of the significant role of the vessel in the nation’s history.

This is an exciting new chapter for Schooner Adventure. With an extensive historic restoration of the vessel now complete, the organization is poised to launch its next chapter, focused on a robust offering of programs and educational opportunities.

Learn and see more about Schooner Adventure here.  

Mission:

The mission of Schooner Adventure/The Gloucester Adventure, Inc. is to:

• Restore and preserve the Schooner Adventure for the enrichment of future generations and their love of the sea
• Enable the Schooner Adventure to serve as a community resource for educational programming focusing on maritime, cultural, and environmental issues
• Operate the Schooner Adventure at sea as a living symbol of America’s maritime heritage

Job Description/Responsibilities:

The Executive Director is responsible for overall management of Schooner Adventure, working together with the Board of Directors to further the mission pertaining to preservation and operation of the vessel and position Adventure as a focal point for education focused on themes of fisheries, maritime history and the ocean environment.

The Board is seeking a dynamic and experienced Executive Director to maintain Schooner Adventure’s successes, drive program development and growth, enhance community awareness of the mission, programs, and activities, and develop diversified revenue streams. This unique opportunity will allow the new Executive Director to advance the mission of this historic organization while strategizing for the future.

Job Duties:

• Further organizational mission by developing and implementing a thoughtful and cohesive organizational strategy and goals
• Work with key senior staff to encourage their capacity to manage and oversee day-to-day operations and people creating a supportive, diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Hire, train, develop and retain competent, qualified staff. The Executive Director, with board input, manages and hires all office staff and the Captain of the vessel
• Work with the Board of Directors to establish and support the strategic priorities of the organization, and identify and assess opportunities and risk
• Take a leadership position in furthering new ideas and initiatives for the organization
• Participate in various board committees, including communicating necessary organizational information and delegating tasks and projects as appropriate
• Ensure the financial wellbeing through continuous growth of donated support and earned revenue streams, and providing for the creation and monitoring of budgets and adherence to financial policies, bylaws, and guidelines
• Work within the organizational model and culture to support the Captain as she/he oversees the operation of the vessel
• Oversee program development, working with education staff, vessel crew, and volunteers
• Work with the Board to establish a joint presence of The Gloucester Adventure in the community and among members, and donors and in professional organizations
• Work with Board and key senior staff to build enduring, collaborative relationships with area cultural institutions
• Execute and sign contracts and leases, with Board review and oversight as deemed appropriate
• Speak publicly at events to promote awareness of Schooner Adventure
• Oversee marketing and communications
• Work with the Development Director to establish and achieve fundraising goals
• Participate in meetings of the Board and assigned standing or ad hoc committees

Skills & Qualifications:

• Minimum of 5-7 years of nonprofit experience (this may be professional work experience or involvement with a nonprofit board or volunteer roles)
• Minimum of 5-7 years managing a professional staff
• Passion for and commitment to the mission of Schooner Adventure
• Bachelor’s degree or higher preferred
• Experience overseeing, creating and/or executing high-quality programs
• Experience with fundraising and/or speaking with donors
• Strong leadership skills. A collaborative, high integrity, transparent, accessible leadership style is desired
• Ability to oversee, collaborate with, and foster teamwork among staff and vessel crew
• Experience working with a Board of community volunteers
• Attend events, meetings, and donor tours on the vessel, both while docked and on the open water
• Willingness to take on new program ideas
• Ability to multi-task and meet challenges
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Demonstrated skills in planning, delegating and program development
• Ability to work with diverse groups of volunteers and staff
• Comfort with public speaking
• Strong computer proficiency
• Able to work flexible hours, including some evenings and occasional weekends as needed for events/programs

Physical Demands of the Job (With or Without Reasonable Accommodation):

The office is in a historic landmark building, and the Schooner is a traditional, National Historic Landmark fishing schooner. This requires frequent standing, walking, and the use of stairs and ladders, as well as being on the open water frequently.

Other:

Adventure requires that all staff be fully vaccinated with an FDA or WHO authorized vaccine (or approved for an exemption as a reasonable accommodation due to a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief). If moved forward to the phone screen stage, you will have the chance to ask the Executive Search Consultant about this requirement.

Schooner Adventure is an employment at-will organization and an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws.

Please note that the hired candidate will be required to participate in a background check.

To Apply:

Schooner Adventure has partnered with Cindy Joyce of Pillar Search & HR Consulting on the Executive Director search. Please submit your cover letter and resume to Cindy at cindy@pillarsearch.com.