The Museum Director leads the Oshkosh Public Museum in the achievement of its strategic goals through superior interpersonal management skills. The Museum Director will provide strong strategic and organizational guidance and effective leadership to Museum staff. The Museum Director occupies a leadership position within the Oshkosh community, so our next Museum Director must have outstanding communications skills, be exemplary in building community relationships and outreach, and maintain a positive public image. The Director will be a professional with demonstrated experience in Museum leadership.
Qualified candidates will also possess a Master's Degree in Museum Museum Studies (or related field), a Bachelor's Degree in History, Anthropology, Education (or related field) and at least 6 years of experience working in a museum, including 3 or more years in a leadership position.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: The City of Oshkosh values its employees and is committed to providing a balanced workplace where staff are supported through development and enrichment opportunities. We offer excellent benefits and a salary ranging between $87,925 – $120,588, depending on qualifications.
Our Employee Recognition Program allows us to recognize the achievements and successes of our staff, and our Wellness Committee provides a variety of opportunities to support staff health and wellness. Our Employee Development Program encourages our staff to pursue educational advancement and compensates them for a portion of their continuing education costs.
An attractive program of benefits and an outstanding work environment await the successful candidate, including a generous paid time off plan, a stable state pension plan with employer match, and a no-cost employer sponsored clinic available to those enrolled in our health insurance plan.
ABOUT THE MUSEUM: In 2024, OPM proudly marks a century of preserving and sharing the vibrant history and culture of our community. For 100 years, OPM has been a cornerstone of our city's cultural legacy. Throughout the year, we're paying tribute to the countless stories, artifacts, and moments that have shaped our past and continue to inspire the future.
The cornerstone of the Oshkosh Public Museum is the Historic Sawyer Home: a world-class example of the vision and artistic craftsmanship of Louis C. Tiffany. Today, the Sawyer Home stands as the only original Tiffany Studios commission that is still open to the public.
One of the most recognizable features of the home is a magnificent stained glass landscape window designed by famed Tiffany Studios designer Agnes Northrup. Northrup also designed the Wisteria Window that welcomes visitors as they enter the Museum. This stained-glass archway depicts the iconic design of wisteria blossoms and intertwined vines, noted recently by scholars as possibly the oldest example of Tiffany's wisteria motif. The Sawyer home, particularly the den and wisteria archway, was heavily featured in Tiffany advertisements.
The Permanent Collection of the Museum represents prehistory to the modern day. In addition to the Tiffany collection, other key collections include cameras and original photographs belonging to renowned American photographer Lewis Hine, artifacts from Menominee Chief Oshkosh, an extensive archival collection relating to American sculpturist Helen Farnsworth Mears, and more.
OPM's Education Program offers a variety of opportunities for lifelong learners of all ages, including workshops for adult learners, Family Discovery Days, and field trips (virtual and in person) to expand classroom learning. Our programs help build strong community citizens for the future through multi-faceted learning experiences. Field trips enhance critical thinking, creativity, innovation, historic awareness, civic literacy, and more. Public cultural events, such as Día de los Muertos, have expanded our reach into underserved communities in the region.
The OPM features a 30,000+ square foot facility, home to permanent and changing exhibition galleries, staff offices, workspaces, OPM Archives and storage for collections. The 2024 annual budget of over $1.3 million supports the operations of the Museum. Additionally, the Museum, Arts, and Culture Board oversees trust and endowment funds totaling over $4.5 million.
ABOUT OSHKOSH: The City of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with a population of approximately 66,000, is an award-winning community in the heart of the Fox River Valley. A water lovers dream, Oshkosh is located on the western shore of Lake Winnebago, is bisected by the Fox River and banked on the east by Lake Butte des Morts.
Oshkosh is a progressive community that offers small-town friendliness with big city features and a high quality of life for people of all ages and interests. We offer a low cost of living, a clean environment, easy and stress free commutes, and much more.
Oshkosh has a strong tradition of education and offers one of the finest school systems in the nation. A unique draw for Oshkosh is the presence of a major state university in the heart of the downtown area.
Oshkosh has an outstanding health care system, with two hospitals and 5 clinics staffed by over 180 physicians/nurse practitioners. The median household income is $59,186 (2022) and the median home value is $156,900 (2022).
Oshkosh provides a wealth of entertainment opportunities, playing host to hundreds of events, from local to international, each year. Unique attractions include the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), the historic Grand Opera House and the Paine Art Center and Garden.
Additional amenities include 29 community parks, numerous marinas and boat landings, a renowned Farmer's Market, the Leach Amphitheatre, the Wisconsin Herd basketball team, six golf courses, and numerous entertainment venues that host festivals and activities. Oshkosh is a place for anyone interested in living their best life, no matter the season!
