Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer, Upcountry History Museum, Greenville SC

The Upcountry History Museum – Greenville County (UHM) seeks a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who will advance UHM’s mission by building on the momentum of the past decade and shaping its next phase of visibility and public impact. The ideal candidate will be a visionary leader, an astute manager, a relationship builder, and an advocate who will continue to strengthen the organization and its financial position, provide quality visitor experiences, and build connections throughout the Greater Greenville community, the state of South Carolina, and the nation.

The Upcountry History Museum

The mission statement of the Museum is as follows:  “The Upcountry History Museum connects people, history, and culture.  Through its collections, programs, and exhibitions, the Museum preserves and interprets historical subjects about the Upcountry South Carolina while bringing quality museum offerings from around the world to the Upcountry to encourage people to discover the world and the Upcountry’s role in it.”

Established in 2007 and designated a Smithsonian Affiliate in 2015, the 43,000 square foot museum shares the stories that shaped the community through semi-permanent and changing exhibitions, a broad array of programs and educational experiences, and the stewardship of artifact and archival collections. The Museum has experienced significant growth in exhibitions, public programming, partnerships, and community engagement over the past decade.

In addition to the semi-permanent exhibitions that illustrate the history of the Upcountry, the Museum has featured a broad array of changing exhibitions from partnerships with Walt Disney Archives, Marvel Studios, Norman Rockwell Museum, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Delaware Museum of Art, the Naval History and Heritage Command, along with private collectors, such as Tim Burton and Ken Burns.  The Museum also contracts for exhibit research, design and fabrication with local businesses and organizations that desire to preserve their history and share it with the broader community.              (Learn more about UHM at www.upcountryhistory.org)

Greenville, South Carolina

The Museum is situated on historic Heritage Green, an urban cultural campus in downtown Greenville, which also includes the Children’s Museum of the Upstate, the Greenville County Museum of Art, the Sigal Music Museum, the Greenville Public Library, and the Greenville Theatre.  Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville offers big city amenities with small town appeal. A vibrant Main Street, a thriving arts community, access to outdoor activities, and award-winning restaurants are just a few of the reasons why Greenville regularly appears on a wide variety of “Best Of” lists. With new businesses regularly moving to the area and a cost of living below the national average, the City of Greenville and Greenville County continue to experience significant growth.  (Learn more at www.visitgreenvillesc.com and www.greenvillesc.gov)

The Chief Executive Officer’s Responsibilities and Expectations

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO is responsible for the long-term direction of the museum and the exhibitions, programs, and relationships that align the Museum with its goals.  Managing a $1.2 million annual operating budget, the CEO is charged with balancing a passion for history and public education with a business mindset to ensure the museum’s long-term financial viability.

Leadership and Strategy

·      Assess the evolving needs of the Museum and its community stakeholders and lead the development and implementation of strategic plans and priorities that meet those needs.

·      Provide leadership across an organizational structure that includes collections, semi-permanent and changing exhibitions, educational programs, museum store, and facility rentals, ensuring that operations align with mission and strategy.

·      Provide hands-on involvement in implementing initiatives when dictated by capacity constraints.

Fundraising and Financial Management

·      Maintain primary responsibility for UHM’s fundraising and development activities, including individual and corporate donor cultivation and stewardship, exhibit and program sponsorships, annual appeals, grants, and foundation and corporate relationships.

·      Develop and manage grant proposals.

·      Develop the annual operating budget in collaboration with the Fractional Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and the Board Treasurer.

·      Monitor organizational assets, financial statements, and budget and make adjustments as warranted.

·      Work with the Board of Directors in fundraising efforts, in identifying opportunities to expand revenue sources, and in strengthening UHM’s long-term financial viability.

Staff Supervision

·      Recruit, supervise, evaluate, and support UHM staff, which currently consists of seven full-time and eleven part-time members.

·      Establish priorities and provide staff with clear directions and resources.

·      Provide opportunities for staff development and cross-training.

·      Modify staffing structures, positions, and position descriptions as needs and resources evolve.

External Relations

·      Serve as the primary spokesperson and ambassador for UHM by building and sustaining relationships with donors, funders, collectors, scholars, community/civic leaders, community organizations, businesses, schools, universities, cultural institutions, and others.

·      Maintain strong working relationships with Greenville County, City of Greenville, Heritage Green peers, and other government officials, legislators, and public partners.

·      Continue expanding UHM’s engagement with the community’s diverse populations.

·      Represent UHM at community events, meetings, programs, and regional and national cultural/museum networks, which may occur during evenings and weekends.

Exhibitions, Programs, and Collections

·      Provide strategic oversight and staff support for the semi-permanent and changing exhibitions, educational programs, public programs, and other community outreach initiatives.

·      Support the continued evolution, updating and revision of the semi-permanent exhibitions to ensure that they remain dynamic, relevant, welcoming, and grounded in scholarship.

·      Provide oversight and policy management for UHM collections and archives.

·      Work with Greenville County departments, museum staff, and Board members to evaluate facility and infrastructure needs, as well as other long-term capital needs that support the Museum’s mission and visitor experience.

Relationship with Board of Directors

·      Serve as the principal staff liaison to the Board of Directors.

·      Work with the Board Chair on board member recruitment and preparation for Board meetings.

·      Work closely with the Board Chair, Executive Committee of the Board, and standing committees on governance, planning, fundraising, and organizational priorities.

Qualifications and Application Process

·      A minimum of seven years of senior-level leadership experience in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization, preferably a museum or historic site.

·      Bachelor’s degree is required; advanced degree preferred.

·      Demonstrated experience developing and implementing strategic and operational plans, setting priorities, and guiding an organization through a period of growth and change.

·      Successful record of securing major philanthropic support, including cultivating and stewarding donor relationships.

·      Demonstrated experience in grant writing and grants management.

·      Experience overseeing budgets and organizational resources.

·      Experience leading and managing professional staff, fostering collaboration, and supporting a positive and inclusive organizational culture.

·      Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to serve as an effective ambassador with internal and external stakeholders.

·      Commitment to an inclusive, accessible, and community-centered practice.

Compensation and Benefits

·      This is a full-time, salaried (exempt) position with a minimum salary of $105,000, commensurate with experience.

·      Benefits include availability of healthcare insurance, paid vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.

How to Apply

A complete application should include:

·      A cover letter and resume.

·      The names and contact information of three professional references, with relationship indicated for each. Supervisors and/or direct reports are preferred.  Applicants will be notified before references are contacted.

Submit application materials to ceosearch@upcountryhistory.org

Review of applicant materials will begin on December 1, 2026 and continue until the position is filled.

The Upcountry History Museum (the “Museum”) is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. The Museum strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against applicants, employees, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity), physical or mental disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, and termination.

The Museum complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities, and for known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship. The Museum will also, where appropriate, reasonably accommodate sincerely held religious beliefs and practices absent undue hardship. Applicants who need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process may contact Demie Garcia, Senior HR Consultant, Find Great People at dgarcia@fgp.com.