Job Description

Organization

The Bruce Museum, Inc. (the Bruce) is an American Alliance of Museums accredited institution that highlights art, science, and natural history in numerous permanent and changing exhibitions. Ahead of its time for taking this multidisciplinary approach over a century ago, the Bruce is a leader in bringing together art, science, technology, and creativity to generate moments of discovery and dialogue. The Museum plays an integral role in the cultural life of area residents and attracts approximately 100,000 visitors annually.

In April 2023, the Bruce opened its expanded facility following a transformative $68 million capital campaign. The three-story, 43,000-square-foot addition more than doubled the size of the Museum and includes cutting-edge exhibition galleries and new education and community spaces. The nearby Seaside Center offers seasonal maritime experiences. The Bruce cultivates discovery and wonder, engaging a broad audience through the power of art and science. Its vision is to be a center for inspiration and learning, where extraordinary art and science spark conversation, connection, and creativity.

Current major exhibitions include a retrospective of Passamaquaoddy weaver Jeremy Frey’s work and On Thin Ice: Alaska’s Warming Wilderness, which explores the startling impacts of climate change using taxidermy mounts and interactives. Art exhibitions currently on view include selections from the collection of William L. Richter, Hockney/Origins: Early Works from the Roy B. and Edith J. Simpson Collection, Isamu Noguchi: Metal the Mirror in the Sculpture Gallery, The Art of Work: Painting Labor in Nineteenth-Century Denmark from the collection of Ambassador John L. Loeb, Jr., and landscape highlights from the Museum’s permanent collection. Permanent science installations include The Robert R. Wiener Mineral Gallery and Natural Cycles Shape Our Land.

The Bruce is governed by a 36-member board of trustees led by Co-Chairs John C. Hart and Karen S. Keegan, and the position reports to Dr. Mary-Kate O’Hare, the Susan E. Lynch Executive Director & CEO. There are 55 full-time and 20 part-time staff members. The total operating revenue in fiscal year 2025 was $8.2 million, including approximately 56% from contributions, grants, and special events, 6% from admissions and other programs, 9% from earned revenue, and 29% from municipal and investment income. The operating budget for fiscal year 2025 is approximately $10 million.

Position Summary

The Chief Operating Officer (COO ) will provide strategic and operational leadership for the Bruce and be an active and positive agent of change. This key leadership role offers a unique opportunity to join one of the region's most dynamic cultural institutions at an exciting moment following its transformative expansion. The COO will build strong relationships throughout and across the organization while serving as a strategic advisor and implementation partner to the Executive Director. They will be an important public face of the Bruce with the Town of Greenwich and neighboring communities. The COO will supervise a significant portion of the Museum's staff, with direct oversight of Finance & Accounting, Human Resources, Information Technology, Security & Facilities, Visitor Services, Museum Store, and Café. Peer Departments include Audience Engagement, Collections Management & Registration, Curatorial Art, Curatorial Science, Development, Exhibitions, and Marketing.

Principal Roles and Responsibilities

Strategic Planning and Implementation

• Collaborate closely with the Executive Director and COO's peers to create and implement an inspired multi-year strategic plan, as approved by the Board of Trustees.
• Translate strategic priorities into annual, concrete, actionable projects with defined leadership, budgets, staffing, special resources, and timelines; while conducting periodic, collaborative execution reviews.
• Guide the creation and management of the site master plan and related policies as governed by and in collaboration with Town of Greenwich officials.
• Make timely and effective decisions that advance institutional priorities and solve operational challenges, relying upon sound data and transparent dialogue with important stakeholders.
• Lead with a continuous improvement mindset, guiding change management consistent with the Bruce's culture to improve internal systems (streamline, eliminate duplication of effort, repurpose talent to higher value add), keeping an eye on balancing future needs and budget realities for growth.
• Embrace other strategic planning and implementation duties as needed.

Financial Oversight and Institutional Advancement

• Provide strategic financial leadership while managing the Director of Finance & Accounting and related teams.
• Guide the development of annual, coordinated operating budgets, capital budgets, and financial forecasts.
• Ensure best practices in financial systems, controls, and procedures.
• Participate in financial reporting to the Board, Finance Committee, Investment Committee, Audit Committee, and external stakeholders.
• Play a key role in an upcoming endowment campaign, providing operational perspectives, and supporting Development as a partner engaging with high level donors, corporations, and foundations.
• Embrace other financial oversight and institutional advancement duties as needed.

External Relations and Town Partnership

• Navigate complex political environments with diplomacy and strategic insight.
• Serve as a primary liaison with the Town of Greenwich to maintain relationships and secure ongoing support.
• Build and maintain productive partnerships with local businesses, cultural and educational organizations, community groups, and civic forums in partnership with peer leaders.
• Embrace other external relations and town partnership duties as needed.

Project Management and Cross-Functional Leadership

• Oversee the development and expansion of the Bruce’s project management system, serving as an expert advisor for departmental and cross-functional teams’ application to major initiatives and capital projects.
• Conduct comprehensive project planning, including critical path analysis, resource allocation, and prioritization/agile re-prioritization across the full suite of initiatives.
• Lead identification of pre-emptive project course correction and/or process improvement to free up valuable resources and eliminate duplication of effort/waste.
• Translate execution learnings simultaneously across all existing programs to strengthen departmental and cross-functional team performance as tracked by an internal metrics dashboard.
• Embrace other project management and cross-functional leadership duties as needed.

Direct Line Leadership of Operation Departments

• Manage the successful operation of the Museum Store by developing a sound business plan supported by staff and offerings consistent with the Bruce visitation experience.
• Lead the successful performance and value-add of the Cafe to the Bruce visitation experience, a part of the operation that is 100% provided by an outside partner.
• Oversee the management of the Bruce's newly expanded facilities, grounds, and total historically significant campus via sound environmental, health, and safety best practices.
• Ensure all People and Technology systems, including those that support emergency preparedness and business continuity, maximize visitor experiences while preserving the collection and all objects in the institution's care.
• Administer vendor relationships and service contracts to enhance skills/training and operational effectiveness.
• Make critical decisions and steward facility improvements, managing preventative and episodic maintenance priorities, and capital investments in a cost-effective way.
• Guide the development and implementation of a Digital Transformation Plan, providing contemporary technology (innovation investments, integrated common tools, shared file systems, etc.) that enhances each Department and the integrated Enterprise’s efficiency and effectiveness.
• Guarantee data security and privacy in all Museum operations, including the appropriate use and management of social media and internet platforms.
• Embrace other direct line leadership of operation departments duties as needed.

Human Resources and Team Leadership

• Foster a collaborative, inclusive workplace culture that embodies the Museum's values and is extended to all staff—full-time, part-time, contract, volunteer, and partner vendor services coworkers.
• Nurture an environment of trust, collaboration, and transparent communication to skillfully guide the organization through periods of change and growth with an eye on talent development for the future.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a talented team of operational staff, serving also as a visible, approachable sounding board, role model, and resource for peer leaders.
• Manage the staff recruitment, hiring, performance evaluation, professional development, and retention processes for the full institution.
• Make decisive personnel decisions in concert with Senior Leadership to maintain and advance total organizational health and excellence.
• Embrace other human resources and team leadership duties as needed.

Traits and Characteristics

The COO will be a collaborative and people-oriented professional who is rece]]> <

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