Executive Director

Lake Superior Railroad Museum is seeking an experienced and strategic Executive Director to lead the museum and its North Shore Scenic Railroad subsidiary in Duluth, Minnesota.

About the role

The Executive Director will provide overall leadership and strategic direction for Lake Superior Railroad Museum and North Shore Scenic Railroad, working with the boards, executive staff, employees, volunteers and wider community to support the organisations' continued success.

The successful candidate will oversee the overall operations and fiscal health of the organisations, developing and managing the executive team while ensuring that resources are used effectively to deliver their mission and long-term objectives.

Fundraising and relationship building will be important elements of the position. The Executive Director will cultivate relationships with donors, members, community partners, industry stakeholders and other supporters, while identifying opportunities to strengthen the organisations and their financial sustainability.

As a visible representative of Lake Superior Railroad Museum and North Shore Scenic Railroad, the new leader will also play an important role in maintaining and developing relationships across Duluth and the wider region.

The position combines the leadership of a major railroad museum with responsibility for an operating heritage railway, offering the successful candidate the opportunity to oversee both the preservation and interpretation of an important historic collection and the delivery of visitor experiences.

About Lake Superior Railroad Museum

Located in the historic Duluth Union Depot, Lake Superior Railroad Museum preserves, interprets and shares the history of railroading, with a particular focus on its importance to the Lake Superior region.

Established in 1973, the museum has grown to become one of the country's largest railroad museums. Its collection includes historic locomotives, rolling stock and railroad artefacts, complemented by interactive exhibits exploring the role railroads have played in the development of the region.

The museum also operates North Shore Scenic Railroad, which runs heritage passenger excursions from Duluth along the Lake Superior shoreline using historic railroad equipment from the museum's collection.

Together, the museum and railroad combine preservation, education and tourism, providing visitors with opportunities to explore railroad history and experience heritage rail travel.

The organisation is supported by its staff, volunteers, members, donors and partners, with volunteers contributing across museum interpretation, archives, restoration and railroad operations.

The new Executive Director will have the opportunity to build on the organisations' established position and guide Lake Superior Railroad Museum and North Shore Scenic Railroad through their next phase of development.

Experience and skills

Lake Superior Railroad Museum is looking for an experienced leader with the strategic, financial and organisational skills required to oversee a complex museum and visitor attraction.

The successful candidate will be a strong communicator and relationship builder, comfortable working with boards, staff, volunteers, donors, community partners and industry stakeholders. Experience in organisational leadership, fundraising, financial management and developing teams will be particularly valuable.

Candidates should also have an appreciation for the museum's heritage and educational mission and the ability to balance preservation with the operational and commercial requirements of North Shore Scenic Railroad.