HARRIS RAND LUSK
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The Theodore Roosevelt Association
Executive Director
Job Description DRAFT

Background: 

Chartered by an act of Congress in 1920, the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) encourages scholarship, secures significant sites and materials related to Theodore Roosevelt for public use and enjoyment, creates opportunities and events centered around the life of TR, and supports youth and community development. TR’s accomplishments and ideals provide a historical lens that can inform our approach to today’s spectrum of challenges from conservation and social justice to great power competition. His legacy is celebrated and perpetuated by the TRA through programs and activities that promote the study of history, recognize brave and gifted individuals, inspire public service, bring comfort to sick children, and develop tomorrow’s leaders.

The TRA supports new scholarship in its quarterly journal, through conferences and presentations by leading historians and authors, and through various programs with its partners. The TRA has been instrumental in preserving historic sites and maintains close relationships with: Sagamore Hill, the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace, Harvard University’s Houghton Library, the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic site in Buffalo, Pine Knot (the presidential retreat in Charlottesville, Virginia), and the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota.

The Position:

The Theodore Roosevelt Association is seeking an experienced, passionate, and goal-oriented Executive Director to lead the organization in expanding its impact and fulfilling its congressional charter through the implementation of its strategic plan. In the execution of this role, the Executive Director will be a forward-facing representative of the TRA, and will be responsible for fundraising, programmatic resources, and day-to-day operations of the Oyster Bay, New York office. The position requires an individual with strong interpersonal skills, as well as excellent executive-level written and oral communication skills. They must be able to work independently and collaboratively with a wide range of organizations as both a leader and a participant.

The ideal candidate will be well versed in organizational development and possess the skills and experience to implement the Executive Committee’s vision for growth. The next Executive Director will serve as a passionate advocate for TR’s legacy, implement plans for modernization in communications and marketing, ensure the quality and consistency in programming, expand educational resources and opportunities, build and develop TRA staff, support partnerships within the TR community, and develop new sources of revenue.

Responsibilities: 

Leadership:

• ·         In partnership with the Board, provide leadership and operational direction for the TRA that covers overall programmatic, financial, member and partner relations, policy, and practices
• ·         Assess, evolve, and refine TRA programs and activities in alignment with strategic goals and development objectives
• ·         Cultivate a strong working relationship with the Board and staff that will facilitate implementation of the strategic plan and promotion of the Board’s vision for growth

• Set long- and short-term financial objectives and implement efforts for growth

 Development:

• Lead and pursue major gift cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship with current and new donors
• Create and implement a strong fundraising plan that ensures the growth of a diversified funding stream, including individual gifts, corporate, TRA membership revenue, foundation support, and grants

• ·         Oversee all marketing and public relations activities, including the enhancement of social media presence to effectively communicate the mission and work of the TRA
• ·         Drive engagement through focused programming and member support; create and implement a strategy to attract young and diverse members
• ·         Oversee the establishment and implementation of communications that provide a clear and concise message that builds awareness about the mission and programming
• ·         Represent the TRA at events (local, national, and international), and partner with relevant organizations to enhance the position of the TRA as the center of gravity for Theodore Roosevelt studies and legacy efforts
• ·         Expand the reach of the TRA in new communities, increasing audience diversity

Programmatic Resources:

• ·         Evaluate and assess the success of the organization’s programming while seeking opportunities for increased impact
• ·         Incorporate member, partner, and the scholarship field reflections to refine current programs and develop new programs
• ·         Plan and oversee annual meetings and other TRA events

• Oversee existing resources, including websites and scholarly digital platforms, ensuring their visibility, influence, and relevance
• Maintain and develop partnerships in the “TR community,” both locally, nationally, and internationally

Day-to-Day Administration:

• Lead, collaborate, and support current staff in the development, planning, and execution of the organization’s programs, events, partnerships, and membership

• ·         Provide positive leadership and set quality standards for performance with measurable outcomes while promoting a culture that reflects the TRA’s values
• ·         Negotiate contracts
• ·         Construct and oversee the management of the annual budget; work with the treasurer to oversee accounting and financial reporting
• ·         Examine the evolving needs of resources and staff for TRA office functions and operations

Qualifications:

• Proven success and experience in senior nonprofit management positions

• ·         Ability to provide dynamic, visionary, and credible advocacy for TRA to ensure its continued excellence of programs; passion for American history and the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt
• ·         Accomplished fundraiser at ease with all aspects of fundraising and proven success of seeking individual and major gifts, as well as securing grants and sponsorships; proven success in diversifying revenue streams
• ·         Superior executive-level writing and verbal communication skills with the ability to serve as a compelling spokesperson for the TRA
• ·         Entrepreneurial and innovative builder who has had success growing an organization with oversight of daily operations, including strategic implementation
• ·         Demonstrated ability in public relations, including branding and marketing to enhance organizational visibility and positioning
• ·         Strong organizational skills: flexible, able to focus, prioritize and implement, as well as to address and meet challenges

• An agile and innovative mindset to respond to evolving opportunities for growth and innovation

For more information about the Theodore Roosevelt Association, please visit their website at https://www.theodoreroosevelt.org

All positions at The Theodore Roosevelt Association are filled without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, HIV/AIDS status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All are encouraged to apply.

The annual salary range for this position ranges $130-150,000, based on experience. This is a flexible hybrid position with the office in Oyster Bay, NY.

To Apply:
The Theodore Roosevelt Association has retained the services of Harris Rand Lusk to conduct this search. Inquiries, nominations and applications may be directed in confidence to:

Jack Lusk, Managing Partner & CEO

Harris Rand Lusk

260 Madison Avenue, 15^th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Email your resume and cover letter to Sabrina Stoker at: sstoker@harrisrand.com
Please put “TRA ED” in the subject line of your emailed application.

Book Prize and Publication Grant

The University of Virginia Center for Cultural Landscapes invites you to submit publications for this year’s 2025 John Brinckerhoff Jackson Book Prize and 2025 David R. Coffin Publication Grant. We welcome nominations for the John Brinckerhoff Jackson Book Prize and the David R. Coffin Publication Grant from both publishers and authors. Detailed descriptions of the eligibility requirements, application procedures, and past winners for each award can be found on the Center for Cultural Landscapes website.

The David R. Coffin Publication Grant supports the production costs, up to $7500, of a future publication manuscript already under contract in the field of landscape studies. The application deadline for the David R. Coffin Publication Grant is January 1, 2025. Please send all documents required, listed on the CCL website to Lsibookprize@virginia.edu for consideration with the subject heading: 2025 Coffin Grant. 

The John Brinckerhoff Jackson Book Prize is awarded to a book published in the last three years that has made a significant contribution to the study and understanding of historical landscape studies across scales from the plant to the garden to the region. We are especially interested in books that focus on the landscape as a subject and not merely a context, and that explore new topics or new methods. The prize winner will be invited to give a book talk at the University of Virginia and presented with a monetary award. The application deadline for the John Brinckerhoff Jackson Book Prize is May 1, 2025. Please submit all inquiries to Lsibookprize@virginia.edu with the subject heading: 2025 Book Prize Nomination. Include the book title, publisher and author contact name, address, email, and phone number in your email query. We will reply with the jurors’ individual mailing addresses. Please include author and publisher contact information with each of the four individual packages sent to the jurors. This will facilitate the award notification process.

Award recipients will be selected by a jury composed of landscape studies scholars who serve staggered three-year terms. The jury chair and non-voting member is Professor Elizabeth Meyer, founding director of the Center for Cultural Landscapes, University of Virginia. Associate Professor Sarah Lopez, University of Pennsylvania, continues her term. We are joined by two new jurors: 2023 JB Jackson winner and Associate Professor Laura J. Martin, Williams College, and Professor Bradley Cantrell, University of Virginia.