About the organization

Contending with the climate crisis at scale requires a transformation of our public culture. The Climate Museum, the first museum in the U.S. dedicated to climate change, mobilizes the power of arts and cultural programming to accelerate this crucial shift toward climate dialogue and action, empowering visitors with the understanding that they can take meaningful action for climate justice, creating community for collective action, and popularizing solutions that emphasize justice and equity. The public trust held by museums situates them as unparalleled spaces for bringing people together to join the fight for a brighter future. 

The Museum has pioneered an activist cultural approach to community engagement with climate, recognizing that most Americans are worried about the climate crisis but unsure how to take meaningful action. The Museum’s free, accessible exhibitions, art installations, advocacy tools, events, and youth programs have received wide recognition in the cultural sector and beyond, and empowered hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and visitors to exercise their agency in the global climate movement. 

Building on the success of previous pop-up exhibitions, the Museum has launched an initiative to scale up to year-round space to make its pathbreaking work accessible to more people. This vision is being implemented through a period of intense fundraising and collaborations with partner organizations over the next 12-18 months. 

About the role

This challenging and wide-ranging role presents the opportunity to learn about nonprofit arts management and work at the intersection of climate and culture in a formative period of growth for the Climate Museum. Jump headfirst into justice-centered, cultural work on the climate emergency with a small, close-knit team of driven, passionate, and kind individuals. Work in close tandem with the Museum’s director as an executive assistant; lead operational projects; and be immersed in high-level strategy and planning for the Climate Museum’s horizon, with room for growth through both your own initiative and special projects. 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a final deadline of June 30; we are looking to fill this position immediately.

Responsibilities:

• Assist the director in managing their day-to-day activities in a dynamic, transitional period, including prioritization, time management, scheduling meetings and travel, research, note-taking/transcription, development, and outreach.
• Develop, implement, and manage organizational operations and protocols.
• Manage IT systems and software, including Google Workspace, Salesforce, Slack, and more.
• Participate in organizational strategy and planning meetings.
• Act as office manager and as internal point person for staff.
• Assist with fundraising and development responsibilities including outreach, research, grant writing, and data management.
• Schedule quarterly and special meetings of the Board of Trustees and prepare Board reports.  
• Manage payroll, compliance, insurance, and additional HR tasks via Paychex.
• Assist with bookkeeping and accounting. The Museum works with an external accounting firm, but this position includes substantial lifts and learning opportunities in labor contracting, vendor interactions, budgeting, nonprofit governance of accounting, and recordkeeping.
• Oversee intern recruitment, onboarding, and project assignments. 
• Manage email and phone inquiries regarding collaboration and development opportunities.
• Execute occasional special projects and research, collaborating across departments. 
• Troubleshoot complex problems.
  

Qualifications:

• Job fundamentals:     
  • Commitment to supporting, extending, and improving the work of the director across development, strategy, program, and operations.
  • Enthusiasm for mastering basic accounting and other operational/technical skills.
  • Passion for climate issues, social justice, and/or museums.
  • Regular in-person office hours are Monday - Thursday, 10am - 6pm. Fridays are remote. In this dynamic workplace, staff members often work significant additional hours (including some weekends), with potential for comp time.

   

• Organizational culture fundamentals:     
  • Kindness and humor under pressure.
  • Independent thinking and assertiveness.
  • Flexible, enterprising, and ambitious mindset.
  • Strong orientation toward collaboration and the success of the team.

   

• Essential job skills:     
  • Highly organized and detail-oriented habits with excellent time management skills; ability to be a steel trap.
  • Exceptional research, writing, and communication skills.
  • Consistent attention to maintaining excellent and warm email and phone manners.
  • Comfort with error and adjustment in an ambitious and dedicated work environment; a growth mindset.
  • Comfort with learning new technology.

   

• Experience level:     
  • Candidates with 0-2 years of pertinent experience will be considered.

   

Salary and benefits 

The starting salary at the Museum for new college graduates without relevant post-university work experience is $65,000, with increases made on a gradual basis for experience. The Museum offers an excellent benefits package including health, dental, and vision, as well as a retirement savings account without matching.

The Climate Museum highly values diversity and views the climate crisis as, among other things, a multilateral social justice crisis. Our aspiration is for our team to represent NYC both demographically and through a multitude of experiences and viewpoints. The Climate Museum is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals where required, in employment and in its services, programs, and activities. Applicants may request a reasonable accommodation for interviews and to satisfy the essential functions of the job.