Director of Powdermill Field Station & Nature Reserve

Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH) seeks a Director for Powdermill Field Station and Nature Reserve (Powdermill), its research station and environmental education center located approximately one hour southeast of Pittsburgh in the beautiful Laurel Highlands region of western Pennsylvania. Powdermill was established in 1956 to be a ‘living museum’ to complement CMNH’s vast collection of specimens and artifacts, now numbering around 22 million. Today, Powdermill encompasses roughly 2,200 acres, and includes the Richard P. Mellon Avian Research Center, home to the longest continuously running, year-round bird banding station in North America and newly housed within a purpose-built, LEED-certified building that opened in 2022. Other facilities and amenities include GIS and DNA labs, a LEED Gold-certified nature center with classrooms and exhibits, miles of publicly accessible walking trails, and multiple residential cabins. Powdermill is a member of the Organization of Biological Field Stations (OBFS), the Association of Nature Center Administrators (ANCA), and designated as a site of “Global Significance” in a 2021 assessment by the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. 

The Director of Powdermill will be the senior on-site administrator, with responsibility for daily operations, including management of staff, facilities, finances, and research and educational programs. Powdermill is home to a community of ten full-time staff, as well as numerous seasonal staff, visiting scientists, students of all levels, and interns. We are seeking an empathetic people manager and entrepreneurial leader with a demonstrated interest in nature and community engagement who will promote an inclusive, creative, and productive environment.

Reporting to the Director of CMNH and serving on the museum’s senior leadership team, the successful candidate will be an enthusiastic internal collaborator who will seek opportunities to connect the scientific, educational, and administrative expertise of Powdermill and the CMNH campus in Pittsburgh. Externally, the Director of Powdermill will develop and deepen partnerships with other organizations to maximize the potential of Powdermill as a vital scientific and community resource. 

The Director of Powdermill will have the significant opportunity to finalize and implement a 3–5-year strategic action plan that situates Powdermill within the ten-year vision of CMNH and new mission statement:

To deepen wonder and advance understanding of our natural world—past and present—in order to embrace responsibility for our collective future.

Grounded in this mission and ten-year plan, CMNH is undertaking an ambitious comprehensive campaign, and the new Director of Powdermill will be a key partner in fundraising and will serve as a spokesperson and public representative more broadly.

This is an administrative leadership position. Candidates with an active research program will have the opportunity to continue research and this can be discussed during the interview process. Local residence is required, and housing may be included with the compensation package.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least ten years of progressive experience in administration of a field station or research laboratory; or nonprofit environmental, educational, or community organization.
• Proficiency in non-profit finance management and a successful track record of obtaining financial support from public and private sources.
• High emotional intelligence, superb communication skills, and demonstrated commitment to mentoring and motivating staff.
• Experience developing and implementing multi-year projects and/or strategic plans.
• Advanced degree in scientific area applicable to the field station preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Work will be a mixture of solo administrative, public-facing, and collaborative.  Some sedentary work. The director will need to be able to easily walk/hike off trail across the Reserve (2200 acres) and may support field research experiments, requiring hours at a time outside.  

SCHEDULE: Occasional travel may be required.  Typical work week will be Monday-Friday, but occasional evening, weekend, and holiday work will align with programs and initiatives.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Foster a culture of inclusion, collaboration, creativity, and mentorship.
• Finalize 3–5-year strategic plan and then ensure effective delivery of initiatives, programs, and operations consistent with plan.
• Provide visionary and strategic leadership for advancing Powdermill’s mission.  
• Oversee the biodiversity conservation and land stewardship of Powdermill’s >2,000 acres of primarily forested landscape in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains.  
• Elevate the scientific profile of the field station by deepening collaborations with other CMNH scientists, supporting existing long-term research programs, attracting new research and academic collaborations and initiatives, and ensuring compliance with the standards and policies of museum collections, field research, and scientific publishing.
• Expand upon a broad spectrum of environmental educational offerings for K–12, families, undergraduates, and adult learners, and grow high-impact, signature programs.
• Maximize earned revenue opportunities and seek out novel partnerships.
• Maintain high-quality facilities to meet needs of all users and ensure best practices that reflect institutional commitment to sustainability and biodiversity conservation.
• Evaluate, introduce, and innovate on standard operating procedures, policies, and processes.
• Serve as positive, professional representative of CMNH and embrace involvement in the local community.

• Develop and oversee the Powdermill budget and work with the CMNH Director of Finance to ensure fiscally responsible implementation.

• Collaborate with CMNH Director and Carnegie Museums Development team on securing grants and gifts from a diversity of sources (government, foundation, corporate, and individuals).
• Coordinate with shared services teams across Carnegie Museums (Information Technology, General Counsel, Finance, Human Resources, and Facilities Planning and Operations) as needed in the day-to-day management of the field station.
• If applicable, the successful candidate may maintain an active scientific research program.
• Other duties as assigned.

Expected starting pay range, based on experience, $80,000 - $100,000. 

The following PA Act 153 clearances, or proof of application of clearances, are required beginning employment and as a condition of continued employment: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check FBI Fingerprint Criminal Background Check Obtaining the required clearances is completed as part of the new hire process.

Carnegie Museums is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer – Minorities / Females / Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity

The above job description reflects the essential functions and qualifications for the position identified, and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the position. The job description does not constitute an employment contract and does not alter the at-will relationship between CMP and the employee.   

*GUIDANCE ON ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:   The Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) requires employers to consider and accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities.  An individual is qualified if he or she can perform the essential functions of a job with or without reasonable accommodation. An essential job function is any task that is a fundamental part of the job.  When considering essentiality, one must focus upon whether the function is essential to this particular job and not to the department as a whole. Some additional guidance on essential functions follows below.  Please note that the following guidelines are non-exhaustive.  If you have any questions or need additional guidance, please contact Human Resources. A. Is the function required to be performed on a regular basis? If the function is rarely performed, it may not be essential. B. Is the function highly specialized? Is the incumbent hired for his/her expertise or ability to perform the function?  The need for special expertise is an indication of an essential function. C. Does the position exist, at least in part, to perform the function?  If so, the function is more likely to be essential. D. How much time is spent performing the function and how often?  Note that even functions performed 10% of the time could be essential if they are required on a regular basis. E. Would elimination of the function fundamentally alter the job?  If so, the function is more likely to be essential. F. What are the consequences of not requiring the incumbent to perform the function? If they are significant, the function is more likely to be essential.  G. Are there a limited number of employees among whom the performance of the function could be distributed if the incumbent could not perform it?  If so, it is more likely to be essential.