Executive Director, Woodlawn

The board of directors of Woodlawn, a prized cultural institution in Ellsworth, Maine, invites applications for the executive director position. Encompassing a significant historic home, a museum collection, beautiful grounds, and distinctive event space, Woodlawn is well positioned to advance its mission: nurturing curiosity and a sense of place by promoting Downeast Maine’s cultural heritage and offering diverse educational and recreational experiences.

The organization’s next executive director will be pivotal in ensuring Woodlawn’s sustainability through responsible stewardship, entrepreneurial initiative, and robust community connections.

Woodlawn is governed by the Hancock County Trustees of Public Reservations, which formed in 1901 from a concern for the imminent loss of the natural landscape of Mount Desert Island available for public use. Empowered by the Maine Legislature in 1903 to own lands of "scenic beauty, historical significance, scientific study or sanitary value," the Trustees acquired nearly 5,000 acres, which they subsequently donated to the United States, forming the core of what became Acadia National Park;

their contributions continued intermittently through 2016. The Trustees’ legacy extends beyond the confines of Acadia National Park; they have owned and made the Woodlawn estate available for public use and enjoyment since 1929.

The centerpiece of the Woodlawn estate is a three‑story brick mansion with elegant Federal and Greek Revival styling, built between 1824 and 1827 for John Black, his wife Mary, and their eight children. The Black House includes a wing that John used as his office to run his lumber, shipping, and mercantile businesses; five bedrooms; and seven chimneys; and behind the main house is an attached Ell originally used for cooking and housework.

A registered National Historic Landmark, the Black House serves as a museum today, open seasonally and housing a collection of furnishings, portraits, books, souvenirs, silver, china, glassware, and other items directly connected to three generations of the Black family and their employees.

New to the estate is The Barn, a state‑of‑the‑art event center constructed on the footprint of the Black family’s original carriage and horse barn. Since spring of 2024, The Woodlawn Barn has been available to the public for meetings, weddings, educational programming, and special events.

The Woodlawn property spans 220 acres with 180 acres of usable space, including three miles of field‑walking and forest‑hiking trails (where leashed dogs are welcome), Maine’s only regulation‑size croquet court, a sledding hill, and pond.

• With strategic direction from the Trustees, advance Woodlawn’s mission, vision, and goals in collaboration with the board, staff, and community stakeholders across the region.
• Organize, motivate, and mentor staff and volunteers to ensure alignment and optimize organizational impact.
• Oversee human resource processes including hiring, professional development, compensation and benefits, and separation if necessary.
• Maintain a business‑oriented, professional, results‑driven environment across the organization.
• Establish goals, objectives, and operational plans in collaboration with the board, staff, and community partners.

• Drive development and fundraising initiatives, leveraging the board and staff as needed, to ensure sufficient funding for annual operations and capital projects and adequate reserves.
• Initiate, cultivate, and extend relationships with the organization’s portfolio of individual, foundation, governmental, and corporate donors.
• Participate in grant writing and management as needed.
• Work with the board and staff to plan and host fundraising and friend‑raising events.

• In collaboration with the board president, treasurer and finance committee, develop the annual budget for board approval and provide accurate financial reports to the board as directed.
• Prudently direct resources and manage all financials within budgetary guidelines and according to current nonprofit…