Special Assistant to the Director

About the organization

Contending with the climate crisis at scale requires a transformation of our public culture. The Climate Museum, a national hub for climate arts and culture, accelerates this crucial shift toward climate dialogue and action. Its work empowers visitors with the understanding that they can take meaningful action for climate justice, creating community for collective action, and popularizing solutions that emphasize justice and equity. The public trust held by museums situates them as unparalleled spaces for bringing people together to join the fight for a brighter future. 

The Museum has pioneered an activist cultural approach to community engagement with climate, recognizing that most Americans are worried about the climate crisis but unsure how to take meaningful action. The Museum’s free, accessible exhibitions, art installations, advocacy tools, events, and youth programs have received wide recognition in the cultural sector and beyond, and empowered hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and visitors to exercise their agency in the global climate movement. 

Building on the success of its previous exhibitions in temporary spaces, the Museum has launched an initiative to scale up to a year-round home for its pathbreaking work, deepening the impact of what we do and making it accessible to more people. The Museum is advancing toward this vision through a period of intensive fundraising over the next 36 to 48 months. The Museum will also present exhibitions and special programs during this time.

About the role

This wide-ranging, challenging, and rewarding role presents the opportunity to become involved in nonprofit arts fundraising and management as well as work at the intersection of climate and culture in a formative period of growth for this start-up enterprise. Jump headfirst into justice-centered, cultural work on the climate emergency with a small, close-knit team of driven, passionate, and kind individuals. Work in tandem with the Museum’s director as an executive assistant; lead operational and other special projects; and be immersed in high-level strategy and planning for the Climate Museum’s future.  

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a final deadline of September 7, 2026; we are looking to fill this position by October 15, 2026. 

Responsibilities:

• Closely assist the director in managing their day-to-day activities in a dynamic, transitional period, including task prioritization and execution and maintaining a clear focus on fundraising in particular, time management, troubleshooting, drafting emails, scheduling meetings and travel, research, note-taking/transcription, and outreach. 
• Support external fundraising team with development responsibilities including research, grant writing, and data management. 
• Participate in and contribute to organizational strategy and planning meetings across teams and functions (development, strategy, operations, and programming).
• Manage, and as necessary develop and implement, organizational operations and protocols.
• Act as office manager and as internal point person for staff and cultivate a positive team culture through activities at weekly all-staff meetings.
• Schedule quarterly and special meetings of the Board of Trustees and prepare Board materials. Communicate with Trustees regarding other matters, such as state charity registration processes.
• Manage payroll, compliance, insurance, and additional HR tasks via Paylocity and other HR platforms.
• Assist with bookkeeping and accounting. The Museum works with an external accounting firm, but this position includes substantial lifts and learning opportunities in labor contracting, vendor interactions, budgeting, nonprofit governance, monthly reconciliation, credit card coding, and recordkeeping. 
• Assist with intern and staff recruitment. Onboard new team members. 
• Work with external IT team to oversee technological systems and software, and to improve cybersecurity. 
• Manage email and phone inquiries regarding collaboration and development opportunities. 
• Troubleshoot complex and unpredictable problems.

Qualifications:

• Job fundamentals:
• Commitment to supporting, extending, and improving the work of the director across development, strategy, operations, and programming.
• Curiosity and commitment to learning about fundraising. 
• Enthusiasm for mastering basic accounting and other operational/technical skills.
• Passion for climate issues, social justice, and/or museums.
• Exceptional judgment, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and ability to navigate critical external relationships.
• Experience or willingness to be trained on technological platforms including Google Workspace, Salesforce, Slack, Asana, Zoom, Adobe, and more.
• Regular in-person office hours, which are currently Monday - Thursday, 10am - 6pm. Fridays are remote. In this dynamic workplace, staff members may work additional hours (including some weekends).
• Organizational culture fundamentals:
• Kindness and humor under pressure.
• Independent thinking and assertiveness.
• Flexible, enterprising, and ambitious mindset.
• Strong orientation toward collaboration and the success of the team.
• Commitment to continual learning and improvement.
• Essential job skills:
• Comfort with managing up.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented habits with excellent time management skills.
• Exceptional research, writing, and communication skills.
• Consistent attention to maintaining professional and cordial email and phone manners.
• Comfort with error and adjustment in an ambitious and dedicated work environment; a growth mindset.
• Comfort with learning new technology.
• Experience level:
• This position is ideal for someone with up to three years of relevant experience.

Salary and benefits 

The salary range for this position is $75,000-80,000, depending on relevant post-university work experience. The Museum currently offers an excellent benefits package, including paid time off; health, dental, and vision insurance; basic life insurance; Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts; and a 401(k) retirement savings account with up to 3% matching. 

To apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter detailing why you are a strong candidate and why you would be a good fit with the Museum. Apply via our Submittable page (link below). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a final deadline of September 7, 2026

Submittable page: https://theclimatemuseum.submittable.com/submit/363416/special-assistant-to-the-director

The Climate Museum is an equal opportunity employer, will not discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of any legally protected characteristic, and is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals where required, in employment and in its services, programs, and activities.