McLaughlin Foundation seeks executive director

SOUTH PARIS - The McLaughlin Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving one of Maine's renowned historic landscapes, announces that it is seeking applicants for a new executive director. Jennifer O'Rourke has served as interim director for the past eight months following the resignation of Michael Desplaines in February 2010.

The mission of the McLaughlin Foundation is to rehabilitate and sustain the garden created by Bernard McLaughlin, maintain the garden's integrity, preserve the 19th century home and barn, and host an educational center where horticulture and historic preservation are nurtured for the local community as well as for visitors from other areas.

The ideal executive director candidate will be a proven leader with a successful track record in the areas of fund raising, board and staff development and strategic as well as operational planning. This individual must have a demonstrated ability to provide overall leadership in a wide range of areas including community outreach and media relations, membership development, property management and educational program development.

The executive director oversees the educational programs, gift shop and summer café and also manages the building and grounds and collaborates with the horticultural director who manages the garden. The Foundation has an annual operating budget of $220,000 and paid staff is supplemented by volunteers who are involved in every aspect of the organization’s activities. Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume no later than December 15 to: McLaughlinGardenSearch@gmail.com. Please visit www.mclaughlingarden.org for more information about the McLaughlin Foundation and its mission.