Description

About the Foundation: The Alan I W Frank House Foundation is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit dedicated to acquiring, restoring, and opening to the public the historic Frank House — one of the most significant examples of modernist residential architecture in the United States. Designed by Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer between 1939 and 1940, the house was conceived as a Gesamtkunstwerk, or total work of art, with architect-designed elements throughout.

The Foundation is at an exciting and pivotal moment, having recently seated a new Board of Trustees and launched a comprehensive strategic framework encompassing governance, legal and property matters, fundraising, building preservation, programming, community engagement, and operations. We are now seeking an Interim Executive Director to lead and execute this work as we build toward an unveiling of this masterwork. For more information, visit thefrankhouse.org.

Position Overview: The Interim Executive Director (IED) will serve as the Foundation's senior leader and primary public face during a critical early phase of organizational development. This is a rare opportunity for a mission-driven professional to shape the future of an internationally significant cultural institution from the ground up.

The ideal candidate is both a strategic thinker and a practical, hands-on executor — someone who can help chart the Foundation's long-term course while also rolling up their sleeves to get essential work done. The IED will work closely with the Board of Trustees, coordinate with specialist consultants, including preservation architects, legal counsel, and collections professionals, and oversee the Foundation’s employee.

This position is well-suited to a seasoned nonprofit leader, preservation professional, or cultural institution administrator who thrives in a capacity-building environment and is energized by the opportunity to build something for future generations.

Requirements

Strategic Leadership & Board Partnership

• Work in close partnership with the Board of Trustees to implement the Foundation's strategic framework
• Help set priorities, develop timelines, and track progress across governance, fundraising, preservation, programming, and operations
• Prepare board meeting materials, reports, and strategic updates
• Identify and help recruit specialist consultants and vendors as needed as well as a permanent Executive Director

Fundraising & Development

• Cultivate and steward relationships with key individual donors, foundations, and corporate prospects
• Research, develop, and submit grant applications to local, regional, and national funders, including the Hillman Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, and The Pittsburgh Foundation among others
• Support the development and launch of a founding donor campaign and capital campaign
• Represent the Foundation at cultivation events and in donor meetings
• Community Engagement & Government Relations

Build and maintain relationships with neighbors, civic organizations, and community stakeholders

• Engage Pittsburgh City Council members, local government agencies, and public officials in support of the Foundation's mission and property plans
• Navigate zoning, permitting, and land use processes in coordination with legal counsel
• Serve as a trusted neighbor liaison as the property transitions toward public use

Historic Preservation & Property

• Lead or support the preparation of a National Register of Historic Places nomination
• Coordinate with the preservation architect and other specialists on conditions assessment, restoration planning, and conservation work
• Oversee compliance with Secretary of the Interior Standards and other applicable preservation requirements
• Support pursuit of local and state historic landmark designations as appropriate

Programming & Public Engagement

• Organize and lead VIP and preview tours for donors, press, civic leaders, and community partners
• Help develop the Foundation's interpretive framework and early public programming
• Continue to build relationships with universities, cultural institutions, and architecture and design communities locally and inter/nationally
• Support media and communications efforts, including press outreach and digital presence

Operations & Administration

• Manage day-to-day Foundation operations, asset maintenance, vendor relationships, and administrative functions
• Help establish financial controls, budgeting processes, and reporting systems
• Ensure the Foundation maintains compliance with nonprofit regulatory requirements
• Support the development of policies, procedures, and organizational infrastructure