Boston Children's Museum, President & Chief Executive Officer, Boston, MAThe Search for our Next President & CEOBoston Children's Museum (BCM) is entering an exciting new chapter and is seeking its next President & Chief Executive Officer to build upon more than a century of impact, innovation, and joyful learning. This leadership transition comes at a moment of organizational strength. BCM is financially stable, guided by a highly skilled senior leadership team, and supported by an engaged Board of Trustees. The next President & CEO will inherit a mission-driven organization with a clear strategic direction, a strong national and international reputation, a robust balance sheet, and a talented staff grounded in the values of equity, curiosity, and inclusive learning. This role is central not only to BCM's continued success but also to the cultural, educational, and civic life of Boston. The new President & CEO will serve as a public voice for children and families, a champion of accessible learning, and a steward of an enduring community resource. About Boston Children's MuseumBoston Children's Museum (BCM) is Boston's best place to play—a joyful, welcoming space where young children lead with curiosity, imagination, and laughter. But it's more than that, too. As one of the oldest and most influential children's museums in the world, BCM is a civic landmark, a living laboratory for early learning, and a global leader in child development. Founded in 1913 at the forefront of the progressive education movement, BCM helped shape modern ideas of child-centered, experiential learning. For more than a century, the Museum has enriched the lives of millions of children, caregivers, and educators—and continues to influence how our society understands what it means for children to learn and thrive. Through its four-part operating model—working in the Museum, in schools, in communities, and in homes—BCM reaches more than 500,000 children and caregivers each year with our exhibits, family-friendly programs, learning kits, curricula, professional development, and playgroups. These resources are especially focused on expanding access in historically marginalized communities; over 30% of BCM visitors attend with free or reduced admission. One of only a handful of collecting children's museums in the world, BCM activates its 30,000-object collection across programs and exhibitions to spark meaningful reflection across generations. Whether it's a school group in the STEAM Lab, a playgroup in a rural part of the state, or a family exploring with their young child for the first time in our PlaySpace exhibit, BCM's experiences are backed by research, shaped by community voices, and designed to help children thrive. BCM is building a more joyful, equitable future—one child, one family, and one playful moment at a time. For more information, please visit our website at Boston Children's Museum.
The Opportunity:
The President & CEO serves as the strategic, operational, and cultural leader of Boston Children's Museum (BCM), the second oldest and one of the most influential children's museums in the world. For over 100 years, it has been engaging children in joyful discovery experiences that instill an appreciation of our world, developing foundational skills, and sparking a lifelong love of learning. The President & CEO is responsible for advancing the institution's mission: engaging children and families in joyful discovery experiences that instill an appreciation of our world, develop foundational skills, and spark a lifelong love of learning. They are also responsible for ensuring the sustainability of the organization, so BCM will continue to be a welcoming, imaginative, child–centered learning environment that supports diverse families in nurturing their children's creativity and curiosity for generations to come. The President & CEO leads the management and operations of the Museum, delivering hands-on learning experiences that inspire curiosity, learning, creativity, and joy. Through high-quality exhibits, programs, and community engagement, they ensure the organization is a leader in early childhood development and sparks lifelong curiosity and learning. Working closely with a dedicated senior management team, they also foster an inclusive, mission-centered culture that promotes innovation, collaboration, organizational development, administrative excellence, accountability, and fiscal responsibility. The President & CEO reports to the Board of Trustees and serves as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Board, cultivating strong governance practices, effective diverse representation, and maximizing the contributions of trustees, donors, staff, and volunteers. In addition, this role builds and sustains meaningful community relationships, forging collaborations with civic leaders, cultural partners, and public entities to ensure BCM is a vital and influential resource for children and families in Boston and beyond. The role is also central to advancing fundraising efforts through engagement with trustees, donors, and the business community, through donations, endowments, sponsorships, community events, and capital campaigns. Through dynamic leadership, vision, and stewardship, the President & CEO ensures that the Boston Children's Museum continues to thrive as the premier educational and cultural resource for all children and families. Contact DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Liz Lombard, Managing Director and Angie Sessoms, Managing Associate. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing Angie Sessoms directly at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential. About DSG | KoyaDSG | Koya, a DSG Global company, is the nation's premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, DSG | Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. DSG | Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world. DSG Global is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of "America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms" and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams. Learn more about DSG | Koya via the firm's website.
